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

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 deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven,” its meaning is assuredly with respect to future time—to the time at which the Lord shall begin to judge the secrets of men—to the time at which we must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ—to the time at which many shall begin to say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?”24    Matt. vii. 22, 23. And yet they shall hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Depart from me, all ye that have worked iniquity: I know you not.”25    Matt. vii. 22, 23. Then shall it be fulfilled that He says, “I also will deny them.” But whom will the Lord Christ chiefly deny, if not all of you heretics, and schismatics, and strangers to His name?  For ye who were some time Christians, but now are Novatians, no longer Christians, have changed your first faith by a subsequent perfidy in the calling of your name. I should wish you to reply to your own proposition. Read and teach: whom of those who had failed or denied Him, while He was still with them, did our Lord deny?  Yet also to the others of the disciples who had remained with Him He saith, “Will ye also go away?”26    John vi. 67. Even Peter, whom He had previously foretold as about to deny Him, when he had denied Him, He did not deny, but sustained; and He Himself soothed him when subsequently bitterly bewailing his denial.

VIII. Respondebimus eis ad istam pronuntiationem Domini, quam male intelligant et male sibi interpretentur. Quod enim ait: Qui me negaverit coram hominibus, et ego negabo eum coram Patre meo, qui in coelis est, utique futuri temporis significatio est; quo tempore incipiet Dominus secreta hominum judicare; quo tempore tribunali Christi omnes nos oportet adstare (II Cor. V, 10); quo tempore multi incipient 1211B dicere: Domine, Domine, nonne in tuo nomine prophetavimus, et in nomine tuo daemonia exclusimus, et in tuo nomine virtutes multas fecimus (Matth. VII, 22, 23)? et tamen audient vocem Domini dicentis: Discedite a me omnes qui operati estis iniquitatem: non novi vos (Joan. VI, 68). Ibi adimplebitur quod ait: Negabo ego et illos. Quos autem maxime negabit Dominus Christus, nisi vos omnes haereticos, et schismaticos, et nominis sui alienos? Qui enim aliquando Christiani, nunc Novatiani, jam non Christiani, primam fidem vestram perfidia posteriore per nominis appellationem mutastis; velim propositioni vestrae respondeatis. Legite et docete, quem Dominus de his qui se dereliquerant vel negaverant, cum adhuc ipse esset, negavit. 1211C Atqui et caeteris qui secum remanserant de discipulis ait: Numquid et vos vultis abire (Joan. VI, 68)? Petrum etiam quem negaturum ante praedixerat, cum negasset, ipse non negavit, sed sustinuit; et amare illam suam negationem flentem ipse postmodum lenit.