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

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 walk not in my commandments; if they should profane my righteousness, and should not keep my precepts; I will visit their crimes with a rod, and their sins with stripes. But my mercy will I not utterly disperse from them.”29    Ps. lxxxix. 30 et seq.  Words like to these we read that the Lord said also by Ezekiel:  “Son of man, the house of Israel has dwelt on its own land, and they have defiled it by their crimes: their uncleanness has become like that of a menstruous woman before my face. I have poured out my anger upon them, and I have scattered them among the nations; and I have judged them according to their sins, because they have defiled my holy name; and because it was said of them, “This is the people of the Lord, I have spared them, because of my holy name, which the house of Israel despised among the nations.”30    Ezek. xxxvi. 17–23. And in conjunction with this he says, “Therefore say to the people of Israel, Thus saith the Lord, I spare you not, O house of Israel; but I will spare you on account of my holy name, which ye have defiled among they nations: and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall be sanctified in you.” Also the Lord to the same:  “Son of man, say unto the people of Israel, Wherefore have ye spoken, saying, We are pining away in our sins, and how shall we be able to be saved? Say unto them, I live, saith the Lord:  for I do not desire the death of the sinner; but I desire that the sinner should turn from his evil way, and live: therefore return ye from your evil way: why do ye give yourselves over to death, O house of Israel?”31    Ezek. xxxiii. 10, 11. So, too, by Isaiah the prophet: “I will not be angry with you for ever, nor will I abstain from defending you always.”32    Isa. lvii. 16. And because Jeremiah the prophet, in the person of the sinful people, prays to the Lord, saying, “Amend us, O Lord, but in judgment, and not in anger, lest Thou make us few;”33    Jer. x. 24. Isaiah also added, and said, “For his sin I have slightly afflicted him; and I have stricken him, and have turned away my face from him: and he was afflicted, and went away sadly in his ways.”34    Isa. lvii. 17. And because he labours, he added and said, “I have seen his ways, and I have healed him; and I have given him a true exhortation, peace upon peace;”35    Isa. lvii. 19. that to those who repent, and pray, and labour, restoration is possible, because they would miserably perish, and because they would decline from Christ.

X. Adeo quia multae miserationis est Dominus, audivimus: audiamus quid per David contestatur Spiritus sanctus: Si dereliquerint filii ejus legem meam, et 1212Ain mandatis meis non ambulaverint; et si justificationes meas profanaverint, et praecepta mea non custodierint: visitabo in virga facinora eorum, et in flagellis delicta eorum: misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eis (Psal. LXXXVIII, 31-34). His similia et per Ezechielem legimus dixisse Dominum: Fili hominis, domus Israel habitavit super terram suam, et coinquinaverunt eam facinoribus suis. Sicut mulieris menstruatae facta est immunditia eorum ante faciem meam. Effudi iram meam super eos, et disseminavi eos inter gentes, et secundum peccata eorum judicavi eos: quia coinquinaverunt sanctum nomen meum. Et quia dictum est de his: Hic est populus Domini; peperci eis propter nomen sanctum meum, quod sprevit domus Israel inter 1212Bgentes (Ezech. XXXVI, 18-23). Et conjungens ait: Propterea dic populo Israel: Haec dicit Dominus: Non vobis parco, domus Israel, sed propter nomen sanctum meum parcam, quod coinquinastis inter gentes; et scietis quia ego Dominus, cum sanctificatus fuero in vobis. Item Dominus ad eumdem: Fili hominis, dic populo Israel: Quare locuti estis dicentes: Erroribus nostris contabescimus, et quomodo salvi esse poterimus? Dic eis: Vivo ego, dicit Dominus: quia non desidero mortem peccatoris; sed desidero ut avertatur peccator a via sua pessima, et vivat. Redite ergo a via vestra pessima. Quid morti vos traditis domus Israel (Ezech. XXXIII, 10-11)? Sic per Esaiam prophetam: Non in aeternum indignabor vobis, neque semper non defendam vos1212C (Isa. LVII, 16). Et quoniam Hieremias propheta in persona populi peccatoris deprecatur Dominum, dicens: Emenda nos, Domine, sed in judicio et non in ira, ne paucos facias nos (Jer. X, 24); adjecit et dixit Esaias: Propter peccatum modice contristavi eum, et percussi eum, et averti faciem meam ab eo; et contristatus est, et abiit tristis in viis suis (Isa. LVII, 17). Et quia operatur, adjecit et dixit: Vias ejus vidi, et curavi eum, et dedi ei exhortationem veram, pacem super pacem; poenitentibus, deprecantibus, et operantibus restitui posse, quod male perierint, quodque a Christo declinaverint.