A Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian by an Anonymous Bishop.

 1. While I was meditating and impatiently tossing in my mind what I ought to do concerning those pitiable brethren who, wounded, not of their own will

 2. Why, therefore, shouldst thou be lifted up with vain things? Thou wilt gain loss rather than profit. Why, from the very fact that thou art become p

 3. And I, beloved brethren,—as I not heedlessly meditate these things, and not in harmony with human wisdom, but as it is permitted to our minds by th

 4. Let us now take the second character also of the dove sent forth from the ark, that is to say, in the time of the deluge, when all the abysses brok

 5. That ark bore the figure of the Church, as we have said above, which was stricken hither and thither to such a degree by the tumultuous waters. The

 6. Moreover, that that dove could not find rest for her feet, as we have said above, this signified the footsteps of those who deny that is, those, w

 7. Behold how glorious, how dear to the Lord, are the people whom these schismatics do not shrink from calling “wood, hay, stubble ” the equals of who

 8. We will answer them as to that utterance of the Lord, which they ill understand, and ill explain to themselves. For that He says, “Whosoever shall

 9. What sort of folly is thine, Novatian, only to read what tends to the destruction of salvation, and to pass by what tends to mercy, when Scripture

 10. Thus we have heard that the Lord is of great compassion. Let us hear what the Holy Spirit testifies by David: “If his children forsake my law, and

 11. Moreover, this is proved in the Gospel, where is described that woman who was a sinner, who came to the house of a certain Pharisee whither the Lo

 12. And now blush if thou canst, Novatian cease to deceive the unwary with thy impious arguments cease to frighten them with the subtlety of one par

 13. I beseech thee, hast thou not read, “Boast not, and speak not loftily, and let not arrogancy proceed out of your mouth: for the Lord lifteth the p

 14. O impious and wicked as thou art, thou heretic Novatian! who after so many and great crimes which in past times thou hadst known to be voluntarily

 15. Who is it that says these things?  Certainly He who, having left the ninety and nine sheep, went to seek that one which had wandered from His floc

 16. Let us then arouse ourselves as much as we can, beloved brethren and breaking away from the slumber of indolence and security, let us be watchful

 17. Like things to these also says Daniel:  “I beheld a throne placed, and the Ancient of days sat upon it, and His clothing was as it were snow, and

 18. Let us, then, with the whole strength of our faith, give praise to God let us give our full confession, since the powers of heaven rejoice over o

6. Moreover, that that dove could not find rest for her feet, as we have said above, this signified the footsteps of those who deny; that is, those, wounded by the poison of the shining serpent, who sacrifice, turned towards their fall; which could not any further step upon the asp and the basilisk, and tread upon the dragon and the lion. For this power the Lord gave to His disciples, as He says in the Gospel: “Lo, I give unto you power to tread on all the power of the enemy, and upon serpents and scorpions; and they shall not harm you.”19    Luke x. 19. When, therefore, these so many and such malignant spirits are attacking and bestirring themselves for the destruction of the lapsed, a way of salvation is provided for the wounded, that with whatever strength they have they may drag themselves with their whole body, and betake themselves to their camp, wherein being received, they may heal their wounds with spiritual medicaments. Thus the dove received, after the intervention of a few days, is again sent forth from the ark; and returning, not only shows its firm footsteps, but moreover the signs of its peace and victory, in those olive leaves which it bore in its mouth.  Therefore that twofold sending forth shows to us a twofold trial of persecution: the first, in which they who have lapsed have fallen conquered; the second, in which they who have fallen have come out conquerors. For to none of us is it doubtful or uncertain, beloved brethren, that they who in the first struggle—that is, in the Decian persecution—were wounded; afterwards, that is in the second encounter, persevered so bravely, that, despising the edicts of the princes of the world,20    Scil. Gallus and Volusianus (Pamel.). they maintained that unconquered; in that they did not fear, after the example of the good Shepherd, to give up their life, and to shed their blood, and not to shrink from any barbarity of the raging tyrant.

VI. Quod autem requiem pedibus columba illa, sicut superius diximus, invenire non poterat, hoc significabat vestigia negantium, hoc est, sacrificatorum, lubrici veneno serpentis sauciata, in lapsum conversa: quae ulterius non possent super aspidem 1210B et basiliscum conscendere, et draconem et leonem calcare (Psal. XC, 13). Quam potestatem tradidit Dominus discipulis suis, sicut in Evangelio ait: Ecce do vobis potestatem calcandi super omnem potestatem inimici, et super serpentes et scorpiones, et non nocebunt vobis (Luc. X, 19). Isti ergo tot et tantis malignis spiritibus infestantibus, et in lapsorum necem insurgentibus, provisa est vulneratis salutis via: ut quibuscumque viribus possent toto se corpore protrahere, castris suis recipere; quibus recepti possent medelis spiritalibus vulnera sua curare. Recepta igitur columba, paucis etiam diebus interjectis, iterato emittitur ex arca, quae reversa, non tantum firma vestigia, sed et insignia suae pacis atque victoriae, per illa olivae folia quae suo ore 1210C portabat, ostendit. Duplex ergo illa emissio, duplicem nobis persecutionis tentationem ostendit: prima in qua qui lapsi sunt, victi ceciderunt; secunda in qua hi qui ceciderunt, victores extiterunt. Nulli enim nostrum dubium vel incertum est, fratres dilectissimi, illos qui prima acie, id est, deciana persecutione vulnerati fuerunt; hos postea, id est, secundo praelio ita fortiter perseverasse, ut contemnentes edicta saecularium principum, hoc invictum haberent, quod et non metuerunt exemplo boni pastoris animam suam tradere, et sanguinem fundere, nec ullam insanientis tyranni saevitiam recusare.