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

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 the hairs of His head as it were white wool: His throne was a flame of fire, its wheels were burning fire. A river of fire came forth before Him:  thousand thousands ministered to Him, and thousand thousands stood before Him: He sat to judgment, and the books were opened.”69    Dan. vii. 9, 10. And John still more plainly declares, both about the day of judgment and the consummation of the world, saying, “And when,” said he, “He had opened the sixth seal, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as of blood; and the stars fell to the earth, even as a fig-tree, shaken by a mighty wind, casteth her unripe figs. And the heaven departed as a book when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved from their places. And the kings of the earth, and all the great men, and the tribunes, and the rich men, and the strong men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the caverns of the mountains; saying to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall upon us, and hide us from the sight of the Father that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: because the day of destruction cometh; and who shall be able to stand?”70    Rev. vi. 12–17.  Also in the same Apocalypse John says that this too was revealed to him. “I saw,” says he, “a great throne, and one in white who sat upon it, from whose face the heaven and the earth fled away; and their place was not found. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the sight of the Lord’s throne: and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life: and every one was judged according to those things that were written in the book, according to their own works.”71    Rev. xx. 11–13. Moreover, too, the apostle, giving good advice, thus exhorts us, saying, “Let no one deceive you with vain words: for because of these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience. Be not partakers with them.”72    Eph. v. 6, 7.

XVII. His similia et Daniel: Vidi, inquit, thronum positum, et Vetustus dierum sedebat super eum, et vestitus ejus erat tamquam nix, et capilli capitis ejus tamquam lana alba, thronus illius flamma ignis, rotae illius ignis ardens. Flumen ignis prodibat ante eum: millia millium serviebant ei, et millia millium assistebant ei. Ad judicium sedit, et libri aperti sunt (Dan. VII, 9, 10). Joannes autem manifestius et de die judicii et consummatione saeculi declarat dicens: Et cum aperuisset, inquit, sigillum sextum, ecce terrae motus factus est magnus: et factus est sol niger ut saccus cilicinus, et luna tota sanguinea facta est: et stellae ceciderunt in terram, quomodo ficus a vento magno agitata 1217Bmittit grossos suos: et coelum recessit ut liber cum involvitur: et omnis mons et insulae de locis suis motae sunt: et reges terrae, et maximi quique et tribuni et divites et fortes, et omnis servus et liber absconderunt se in speluncis et in cavernis montium, dicentes montibus et petris: Cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a conspectu Patris sedentis super thronum, et ab ira Agni: quoniam venit dies interitionis: et quis poterit stare (Apoc. VI, 12-17)? Item in eadem Apocalypsi hoc quoque Joannes dicit sibi revelatum: Vidi, inquit, thronum magnum; et candidum sedentem super eum, a cujus facie fugit coelum et terra; et locus eorum inventus non est, et vidi mortuos magnos et pusillos stantes ante conspectum throni Domini: et libri aperti sunt. Et alius liber apertus est qui est vitae: et judicati sunt singuli secundum ea quae scripta erant in libro sesecundum 1217Copera ipsorum (Apoc. XX, 11-13). Sed et 1218A Apostolus bonum consulens, sic hortatur nos, dicens: Nemo vos decipiat inanibus verbis: propterea enim venit ira Dei super filios contumaciae. Nolite esse participes eorum (Ephes. V, 6, 7).