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 cries, and says, “Repent, ye who err: be converted in heart;”27 Ezek. xviii. 30. and when the same prophet also exhorts, and says, “Be converted unto me with all your heart, in fasting, and weeping, and mourning; and rend your hearts, and not your garments; be ye converted to the Lord your God: for He is merciful, and one who pities with great compassion?”28 Joel ii. 12, 13.
IX. Quaenam est tua, Novatiane, dementia, ut illa quae ad exitium salutis pertineant, tantum legas: et quae ad misericordiam, praetereas? clamante Scriptura et dicente: Poenitentiam agite qui erratis, convertimini corde (Ezech. XVIII, 30). Et eodem quoque Propheta similiter exhortante et dicente: Convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro, in jejunio, et ploratione, et planctu: et scindite corda vestra, et non vestimenta: convertimini ad Dominum Deum vestrum, quoniam 1211Dmisericors est, et miserator multae miserationis (Joel. II, 12, 13).