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

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 our repentance, all the angels rejoice, and Christ also rejoices, who once again with full and merciful moderation exhorts us, laden with sins, overwhelmed with crimes, to cease from wickedness, saying, “Turn ye, and return from your impieties, and your iniquities shall not be to you for a punishment. Cast away from you all your impieties which ye have committed against me; and make to yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. And why do ye deliver yourselves over to death, O house of Israel? For I do not desire the death of the sinner.”73    Ezek. xviii. 30–32.  “I am He, I am He who blot out thy crimes, and I will not remember them. But do thou have in mind, and let us judge; tell thou thy wickednesses first, that thou mayest be justified.”74    Isa. xliii. 25, 26.  While the way of mercy, brethren, is open,75    [A virtual refutation of the dogma of purgatory, and all the trading in Masses which it involves. The pious Hirscher, in his Kirchlichen Zustände der Gegenwart (Tübingen, 1849; a translation of which, by the American editor of this series, was published, Oxford, 1852), bewails the corrupting influences of this system, though he died in the Papal communion.] let us entreat God with full atonements; let us humble ourselves, that we may be exalted; let us acquiesce in the divine exhortation, whereby we may escape the day of the Lord and His anger. For thus He says: “Look, my son, upon the nations of men, and know who hath hoped in the Lord, and has been confounded; or has remained in His commandments, and has been forsaken; or has called upon Him, and He has despised him. For the Lord is loving and merciful, and forgiving in time of tribulation their sins to all those that seek after Him in truth.”76    Ecclus. ii. 10, 11.  Therefore He says, “First tell thou thy sins, that thou mayest be justified.” Let there be first in your hand that prayer full of confession.77    [The Lord’s prayer; p. 454, note 1, supra.]

XVIII. Demus igitur totis viribus fidei nostrae Deo laudem, demus plenam confessionem: quandoquidem super poenitentia nostra gaudeant virtutes coelorum, gaudeant Angeli omnes, gaudeat et Christus; qui nos denuo peccatis oneratos, delictis obrutos, plena et clementi moderatione cessare a facinore hortatur, dicens: Convertite vos, et redite ab impietatibus vestris: et non erunt vobis iniquitates vestrae ad poenam. Projicite a vobis omnes impietates vestras quas fecistis adversum me: et facite vobis cor novum et spiritum novum. Et ut quid vos morti traditis, domus Israel? Non enim 1218Bdesidero mortem peccatoris. (Ezech. XVIII, 30-32) Ego sum, ego sum, qui deleo facinora tua; et non commemorabor te: tu autem in mente habe, et judicemus. Dic tu facinora tua prius, ut justificeris (Isa. XLIII, 25, 26). Dum patet, fratres, indulgentiae aditus, Deum plenis satisfactionibus deprecemur. Humiliemus nos, ut exaltari possimus. Acquiescamus divinae exhortationi, qua evadere liceat diem Domini et iram. Dicit enim sic: Respice, fili, nationes hominum, et scito. Quis speravit in Domino, et confusus est; permansit in mandatis illius, et derelictus est; aut invocavit eum, et despexit illum? quoniam pius et misericors Dominus, et remittens in tempore tribulationis peccata, omnibus inquirentibus se in veritate (Eccli. II, 11-13). Ait ergo: Dic tu facinora tua prius, ut justificeris. Prae manu sit vobis oratio illa exomologeseos plena.