the Congregations that joyned with them were the true Churches of Christ and all the rest were Apostates Gaudentius one of their Faction undertook to maintain That the Article of the Catholick Church was Figmentum humanum an Invention of Man and not agreeable to the Ordinance of Christ And Donatus who gave the Name to the Faction used all diligence to gain the face and reputation of a Church to the separated Brethren to which end he teacheth it to be necessary that they who were admitted to their Communion should make a Publick confession of their Errors and submitting themselves to the Discipline of their new pastors should be rebaptized for by these means he knew he should secure as many as came to his communion without any fear of their return to the Catholick Church And to the Sacrament of Baptism they added Exorcisme which is still retained in the Church of Rome in this form of words Maledicte exi foras Come forth thou wicked Spirit whereby as Optatus observes they did blaspheme the blessed Trinity in whose Name they had been formerly baptized The Catholick Bishops are not remiss in the Vindication of Cecilian but prevailed with Zenophilus a Man of Consular dignity to take cognizance of the difference between Cecilian and Majorinus and in the inquiry to the merits of the cause it was affirmed by one Nundinarius a Deacon who was sometime privy to the transactions of that Party that most of those who opposed Cecilian were Traditors and particularly that Sylvanus whom they made Bishop of Cirta had betrayed the Holy Scriptures and some Ornaments of his Church and sacrilegiously with-held what was devoted to the use of the Poor For the truth whereof he appealed to the Bishops and Presbyters of his own Party who knew the certainty of the particulars and of a great Summe of Mony Quadringinta folles Baronius Vol. 3. P. 352. each Follis weighing three Pound and half of Silver sent by Lucilla and divided among the chief of that Party to condemn Cecilian and to advance Majorinus into his Chair And that Victor who had been by Occupation a â—uller gave Twenty Folles to be ordained a Priest and all this Nundinarius affirmed to be true as in the presence of Christ and his holy Angels And thus the Schisme is begun by erecting Altare contra Altare a Presbyter or Mock-bishop against Cecilian the lawful Bishop of Carthage But the first Invader of this Holy Office was short-lived for about the Year 306. Majorinus the Mock-bishop dyed and none is thought so fit to succeed him as Donatus who hence-forth gives the Denomination to the Schisme which was no longer Pars Majorini but Pars Donati for as much as in him lay he did not only re-baptize particular Persons but the whole Church which was no longer known by the appellation of Christian or Catholick but Donatist and now he takes on him a power to silence and depose the Catholick Bishops and Presbyters or to impose such Penance on them as he thought fit and to prevent any prejudice that might arise to his Party by the restimony pf Nundinarius which was by Zenophilus certified to the Emperor he is resolved to complain first and to cast the Odium of the Schisme and all the sad consequences thereof upon Cecilian whom he accuseth to be a Traditor and contrary to the custome of the Church desireth transmarine Bishops to be appointed Judges in the case The Petition was to this effect Rogamus te O Constantine we intreat thee O Constantine most gracious Emperor whose Father never exercised Persecution that your Piety would appoint us Judges from France because that Country is free from this dissention This Petition was subscribed by Lucianus Dignus Nassutius Capito Fidentius and the other Bishops of the Party of Donatus The good Emperor was much grieved to hear of these differences which he had rather might have been determined among themselves than be brought to his Court where were many Heathen that would rejoyce at them or to trouble Foreign Churches with them However he grants their desire and appoints Marinus Maternus and Rheticius three Bishops of France to whom he adjoyneth the Bishop of Rome to determine the cause And sendeth his Epistle to Meltiades Bishop of Rome which is recorded by Eusebius l. 10. c. 5. The Epistle is as followeth Whereas I have received from Anilinus Lieutenant of Africa many Letters signifying that Cecilian Bishop of Carthage is accused by divers of his Colleagues It being grievous to me that there should be dissention among the Bishops before the People who are so prone to evil It seemeth good to me that Cecilian himself with Ten of his Accusers and Ten others whom he shall choose on his behalf do Sail to Rome where I have appointed Meltiades Bishop of Rome together with Rheticius Marinus and Maternus Bishops of France to hear and judge of the differences in question You cannot be ignorant that I would have you suffer no Schisme in any part of the Church The Great God preserve you These Bishops met at Rome in the House of Fausta in the Laterane Meltiades took to his Assistance Fifteen Italian Bishops to assist for the expedition of the cause These with great deliberation heard all that was objected against Cecilian Donatus himself being present The Bishops also agreed to take publick Notaries for the more orderly and speedy dispatch that the examinations and proofs in this cause might be reduced into publick Acts. The first thing that was inquired was who were the Accusers and what Witnesses were present to give Evidence against Cecilian To which the Party of Donatus answered that their Accusation was contained in the Libels which they had presented to the Emperor and by him were transmitted to them which they desired might be read One of the Libels was superscribed thus Libellus Ecclesiae Catholicae c. A Libel of the Catholick Church so they called their Faction containing the Crimes whereof Cecilian is accused What was contained in the Libel is not particularly mentioned by any Author nor are Ecclesiastical Writers agreed concerning the charge then in question Those who in this last Century have defended the Authority of the Pope say that nothing came in question besides the grounds of the Schisme on pretence that Cecilian himself was a Traditor And hereby they hope to avoid the Appeal which was made from the sentence of the Pope to the Emperor because say they the questions discussed afterward in the Council of Arles were of a divers nature from those at Rome but of this hereafter It is very probable that the Donatists had stuffed their Libel with more than a single accusation some particulars whereof I shall give an account The Libel being read it was demanded who were Cecilian's Accusers They answered the People of Carthage It was replyed that the Voice of the People assembled in a tumultuary manner was not a sufficient ground to condemn any and therefore the Bishops ordered
them to produce some competent Witnesses to attest the accusation Whereupon Donatus produced some Persons whom he brought with him from Carthage to depose against Cecilian The Charge against him was high viz. That while Cecilian was a Deacon under Mensurius he was set by Mensurius near the Prison Doors where many Catholicks lay who were appointed to suffer Martyrdome and did by force Loris flagris Armatorum multitudine withstand such Friends as came to comfort and relieve them To this the Witnesses for Donatus being examined could say nothing on their Personal knowledge but only from the report of the People This Optatus urged against Parmenian p. 36. Nullis certis personis aut nominibus Traditores accusastis The second Article insisted on was That Cecilian was condemned by a Synod of 70. Bishops at Cirta who being all of them Neighbours to Carthage could not be ignorant of the matters of fact whereof they judged and that they judged that both Cecilian and Mensurius his Predecessor and Felix who ordained Cecilian were Traditors To which Cecilian replyed that he was condemned in that Assembly being absent and unheard That he could not without great hazard of his life appear among them who being his professed Enemies made themselves his Judges That many of them were corrupted by the Money of Lucilla to Vote against him and that generally they were such as had confessed themselves to have been Traditors but had absolved one another And also that he had received many threatning Messages from some of them especially from Purpurius Bishop of Limatia Lastly That they had long before held private Conferences among themselves how to destroy him as well as to depose him of which things he was advised by several Catholick People who were ready to attest the same and by their advice he did forbear to appear The next Article was that Felix who ordained Cecilian was a Traditor and so his Ordination was null But this the Bishops thought not fit to inquire into Felix not being present nor having been at any time convicted by any Ecclesiastical censure and so long he had a lawful Power of Ordination And as in the case of Baptisme the Catholâ—cks did not rebaptize such as had been baptized by the Donatists So they resolved in this case Canon 13. That Crimen Ordinantis non transiret in Ordinatum After this Donatus promised to produce other Witnesses against Cecilian which he never did for divers that came with him deserted him and returned to Carthage The Bishops therefore acquitted Cecilian in the Sentence recorded by Optatus Cum constiterit Cecilianum ab iis qui cum Donato venerunt juxta professionem suam non accusari nec à Donato convictum esse suae Ecclesiasticae Communioni integro statu retinendum merito esse censeo Then Cecilian accused Donatus for rebaptizing those that came to his Party from the Catholick Church and for abusing the Bishops and it appeared by proof and by Donatus his own confession that he had not only rebaptized many whom he seduced from the Catholick Church but also degraded the Bishops and Priests which Optatus expresseth by occidere Honores but also by a certain Ceremony of laying his Hands on their Heads and shaking them injoyned them to do severe Penance contrary to the priviledges and custome of the Church Hereupon they condemned Donatus and acquitting Cecilian received him into their Communion Of these proceedings Meltiades certifieth the Emperor but Donatus instead of acquiescing in the Sentence of these Bishops works secretly with Fuliminus a Proconsul to Mediate with the Emperor on a pretence of preserving peace Bono pacis that Cecilian might be confined a while at Brixia p. 44. Which being granted on that pretence Donatus hastneth to Africa and there boasteth of a Victory against Cecilian and gives out that he was imprisoned at Brixia Which as soon as Cecilian understood he gets leave to return to Carthage to undeceive the People and shortly after the Emperor sends two Bishops thither Eunomius and Olympius â—o assist in the establishing of one Bishop where the People were as yet divided by two These having tarried at Carthage Fifty Days and diligently inquired into the causes and grounds of the Schisme and finding that Donatus did Schismatically defend Altare contra Altare i. e. Bishop against Bishop they joyn in communion with Cecilian condemning Donatus and his Party But that hardy Man being not daunted by all these Sentences against him his Faction as well as his Spirit growing the greater for this opposition addresseth himself in another supplication to the Emperor complaining that Meltiades and his Colleagues at Rome being but a few and very partial for he reported that Meltiades himself was a Traditor did precipitate the Sentence not inquiring into the grounds of the difference and therefore he desired a more full Council might be called for a final determination of that controversieâ— Constantine is pleased of his clemency to appoint a more frequent Council at Arles Anâ—â— 314. Of which before I speak it may be material to inquire Whether the Donatists did Appeal from the Sentence of Meltiades and his Colleagues to the Emperor For if Meltiades was called to the determination of this Controversie by a delegated Power it will necessarily follow saith Albaspinaeus in the fourth Observation on Optatus that the Popes in those days were not Universal Pastors nor had the Supreme Authority of determining Ecclesiastical matters And the reason of the consequence is evident for he that submits to the command of another doth ipso facto confess that he is not Supreme nor will the Supreme Judge suffer his determinations to be rescinded by another Power Now it is not denied 1. That Meltiades did sit together with the other Bishops at the Emperor's command 2. And that Silvester his Successor did afterward send his Delegates into France by the same command 3. That the Emperor did appoint other Bishops to sit with Meltiades and Meltiades did joyn with them as coordinate which he would not have done if the Supreme Power had been his own 4. The Donatists did Appeal thinking themselves aggrieved from the Sentence of Meltiades and his Colleagues to the Emperor Optatus is so plain herein that Valesius de Schismate Donatistarum could find no other evasion but to say Optat. p. 44. that Optatus is corrupted in that place the words are Donatus appellandum esse ab Episcopis credidit but he saith less against the second Appeal from the Council of Arles to the Emperor where the Pope's Delegates being sent Silvester the present Pope being himself not able to be present did acknowledge that they were Voluntate Imperatoris adducti and Valesius grants that the Gallican Bishops did take place of the Delegates as appears by their Subscriptions 5. That the Emperor did understand it as an Appeal and acted accordingly for he did not only appoint such Judges as were desired but at last determined the case in his own
large confession of his Faith which he had learned à Catholico Hierarchâ i. e. from the Pope And the fourth Day after his Baptism He confirmed the Donation Wherein he granted that all the Clergy should honour the Bishop of Rome as their King whose Throne he exalted above his own giving him Imperial Dignity and Principality as well above the four Sees of Alexandria Antioch Hierusalem and Constantinople as above all other Churches He grants him also his Imperial Palace of the Lateran and taking a Crown of Gold set with precious Stones offered to put it on his Head but the good Pope as the story says refused that and desired only a white Coronet and to maintain his dignity he gave him not only his Palace but the City of Rome and all the Cities and Provinces of Italy Concedimus relinquimus we grant and yield up as the words are and thereupon the Emperor transfer'd his Court from Rome to Byzantium which he builded and called after his own name Constantinople and bound all his Successors under a Curse which was habeant Petrum Paulum sibi contrarios not to violate any part of this grant I think it not fit to tire my Readers patience to give a full Copy of all the Regalia given to the Pope the Lorum superhumerale quod Imperiale collum assolet circundare Chlamidem purpureum Tunicam coccineam omnia Imperialia Sceptra Signa Banna And how he appointed all Officers to attend the Pope as he was attended in his own Person and that the Clergy should be honoured after the same manner as the Senators of the Emperor were c. Doubtless Pincernus or some other that imposed on him wrote a History of the Pomp of the Court of Rome which he saw in the days of Pope Julius the Second and not of what was intended by Constantine for if that noble Emperor had given the Pope any of those Dominions he would not have left them to his Children and Successors who still had them in possession for many Hundred Years after all which time we hear nothing of the Pope's claim in the days of Constantius Valentinian Theodosius Arcadius Honorius c. Some of which were so pious that they would not have Usurped the Rights of the Church and by violating the Will of their Renowned Progenitor incur the Curse of God I have mentioned many Latine words in this Donation because from them which are of a later Date than the time of Constantine the Divines of the Reformed Churches have raised shrew'd suspicions of forgery to evade which the Romanists plead that these were to be imputed to the Translator who rendred it from the Greek but the Original if there be any is kept so secret in the Pope◠Archives that the greatest Favourites are not admitted to see it and doubtless if it had been published there would have been more objected against the Original than against the Translation For it is very unlikely that the grant should be made in an unknown Tongue for Eusebius says l. 3. de vitâ Const that at the Council of Nice the Bishop of Rome who was this very Bishop spake Latine And the Decrees and Epistles of Constantine were generally written in the Latine Tongue l. 10. c. 4. out of which Eusebius says he translated them into Greek when he inserted them into his History and it is strange that neither Eusebius who wrote the Life of Constantine nor any other Historian within some Centuries of Years should acquaint the World with this bounty of the Emperor Nor do they tell us of his Apostasie and Persecution of the Church nor of his Leprosie Cured at his Baptism which was not long before his Death and that not by Silvester at Rome but by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia in the 65. Year of his Age Silvester being dead about Five Years before See Eusebius de Vita Constantini l. 4. St. Hierome in his Chronicle Ruffinu◠l. 1. c. 11. Socrates l. 1. c. 39. And lastly it is strange that none of those Authors that have written the History of his Empire and Actions many of which I have consulted in compiling this his History should say any thing of his revolt to Idolatry but on the contrary do all agree in his constant care of the Church and defending it against Heresie and Schisme Especially considering his early institution in the Christian Faith and the many Victories which he obtained in the Name of Christ whom he was wont solemnly to invocate before his Battles as he did in the Fight with Maxentius in answer to whose Prayers there appeared in the Heavens to the view of all his Army the Sign of the Cross with this Motto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and accordingly Maxentius was overthrown at the River Tiber wherein he and a great part of his Army perished And thereupon the Emperor did bear this Sign afterward in his Standard and stamped it on several Coins This shall suffice concerning that fable I return now to the History The Emperor as you have heard yielding to the Donatists importunity and to leave them without excuse appoints a Council to meet at Arles in France and being at that time as Baronius saith on the River Rhine intended to be present at it Accordingly he signified his pleasure to Silvester Bishop of Rome to Marinus Bishop of Arles and to Chrestus Bishop of Syracusa and generally to all the chief Bishops in his several Dominions that each of them taking to them two other Bishops whom they should choose should hasten to Arles The Number of the Bishops as St. August contra Parmen was Two Hundred some say 600. so Baronius from whom Dr. Heylen tells us that Restitutus Bishop of London was there present Marinus Bishop of Arles sate President though Fr. Baldwine contends that the Delegates of the Pope were President but Valesius and others of that Party confess that Marinus was and the Order of Subscriptions confirms it The time of Assembling being come the Emperor meets the Bishops and commanding off his Guards sets Himself in the midst of them and acquaints them that to satisfie the importunity of Donatus who complained of partiality in the Sentence at Rome where as he pretended a few Bishops having shut themselves up Causâ non satis cognita sententiam praecipitabant did precipitate judgment without inquiring into the merits of the cause He had called them to consult and determine of the differences that had miserably divided the Churches of Africa and setting before them the Proceedings in this cause at Rome he also adds the purgation of Felix who had ordained Cecilian which by the Emperor's care and direction was dispatched about four Moneths before by Aelian his Proconsul in Africa for the Donatists had alledged at Rome that Felix Bishop of Aptung was a Traditor and they pretended that this particular was not examined at Rome and that it was the opinion of the Church that the Ordination by Traditors was
during the Conference and intreats them to direct their discourse to the causes and grounds of the difference which was between them But the Donatists who as St. Augustine observes Contra Emeritum hoc unum agebant ut nil ageretur make use of all possible cavils and subterfuges as if the chief business that they had to do were to take care that nothing might be done and to return with as much Pride and Pomp as they came First therefore they object that the time appointed was elapsed then that there was no certain Date to the Imperial Edict because the Names of the Consuls were not inserted These being answered they desire to know who procured the Edict for that Meeting that the Names of the Legates and their Petition might be read tacitely reflecting upon the Catholicks saith St. Augustine for referring the cause of the Church to the Emperor To this it was answered that the Catholicks who confessed that they procured it had done no other than they themselves appealing from the Sentence of Meltiades in the case of Cecilian unto the Emperor Constantine Then they begin to reflect on the Persons of Felix and Cecilian and having almost tired Marcellinus to keep them from impertinencies repetitions and evasions he brought them at last to the merits of the cause But Quid dignum tanto I know not any thing that may raise greater admiration than to consider what trifles and apples of contention like the forbidden fruit ingaged all Africa in such desperate fewds as made it an Aceldama for blood-shed and slaughters and imployed so many Emperors Bishops and Councils for more than an Hundred Years together without any considerable effect For when the differences and causes of that confusion came to be considered in this Conference we do not hear that the Donatists could plead in justification of their Schisme that their supposed Enemies did deny God or Christ or the Resurrection or did actually persecute them or that they did with pride and contempt deny to admit them to their Communion nor did the Catholicks charge the Donatists with Apostasie from the Faith and denying Fundamentals of Christianity We do not hear them urging as they might their rebaptizing and joyning with the Macedonians or Jews and Pagans against those whom they knew to be Orthodox Bishops They all professed an agreement in all such necessary points of Faith that it is strange how they could differ in any thing And yet the Donatists persecuted the Catholicks so cruelly as if they had not been agreed in any principle of Christianity Marcellinus having heard the whole Conference declared against the Donatists and charged the inferior Officers speedily to execute the Imperial Laws in seizing their Churches for the Catholicks scattering their Conventicles and confiscating their Meeting places which Edict the Emperors confirm and cause to be entred among the publick Acts. That which was pretended by the Donatists as the ground of the Schism was that Cecilian who was Bishop of Carthage for almost 100. Years before was a Traditor that he and other Catholick Bishops had admitted lapsed Persons into their Communion whereby all their Churches were defiled and ought not to be communicated with Quia lapsi vel haeretici qui resipiscerent admittebantur Prosper de promiss praedict So I find the Question expresly stated by consent of both Parties Vtrum Ecclesia permixtos malos usque id finem habitura praedicta sit an omnion omnes bonos sanctos atque immaculatos ab hoc seculo usque in finem habitura sit Whether the Church of God according to the predictions concerning it were to consist of a mixture of good and evil or only of such as were holy and undefiled The Catholicks maintained the former from the predictions of the Prophets concerning the Universal extent of Christ's Kingdome from many Parables of our Saviour concerning his Church from the Commission he gave to his Apostles to Disciple all Nations from the event which succeeded upon the Apostles preaching the Conversion of all Nations from many Arguments used by St. Cyprian against the Novatians and lastly from their own practice in readmitting the Maximianists who had revolted from the Donatists and used another Baptism And most unreasonable it was to think that the wickedness of one Man should ruine the whole Church of Christ St. Aug. Epist 50. Nec peccavit Cecilianus haereditatem suam perdiâ—â— Christus Against this the Donatists urge that the same Prophets foretold that the Church of Christ should be Holy as well 〈◊〉 Catholick that Hierusalem was to be a Holâ— City the Spouse of Christ must be withouâ— spot a chast and undefiled Virgin To whicâ— St. Augustine replies Perfectio promissa non data that these things oughâ— to be endeavoured in the Church in thiâ— World but would never be effected untâ—â— Christ do come in the end of the World wheâ—â— he will thoroughly cleanse his Flowr gather the Wheat into his Garner and burn up the chaff with unquenchable Fire Then the Donatists begin to recriminate Mensurius and Cecilian that had been long dead To which it is presently answered That they were absolved by the Emperor and Councils of the Church then in being as did appear by most ancient Records which were ready to be produced and thereby also Donatâ—â— stood condemned But saith St. Augustine if those Bishops had been wicked the Church of God cannot be judged to have perished with them Whether they were good or bad they were our Brethren if we knew them to be evil we would joyn with you to condemn them but not to desert the Church of God because of them If Cecilian were good and innocent he hath the reward of his innocence and I rejoyce at it but I never placed my hope and faith in his innocence if he had been evil yet the Church thought fit to continue in his Communion and so do we Melius est per patientiam ferre malos quam per calumniam relinquere bonos St. Aug. in Colloq Carthag The several Arguments and Answers are too large to be here set down Upon the whole Marcellinus adjudged that the Donatists arguments and pretences were invalid their Schisme unjust their practices cruel and therefore he willed them to return to the Communion of the Church and live in peace and unity otherwise he would provide that the Imperial Laws should be executed upon them In the mean time he prevailed with them to subscribe the Records of the Conference which had been faithfully taken by the Notaries on both sides and so dismissed them After the Publication of this Conference and of the Emperor 's reinforcing the Laws for pecuniary Mulcts and Banishment against them some Thousands of the common People deserted them and returned to the Catholick Church and to their honest and lawful callings which they had long omitted as generally the Circumcellians did But the Donatist Bishops and Presbyters were for the most part obstinate and
endeavoured to continue the Schisme There were many imprisoned and condemned for Murther and Robberies committed in that Tumult wherein Restitutus and Innocentius were slain for these St. Augustine mediates and obtains Pardon But the Donatist Bishops return in great discontent and report among the People that they were not permitted to speak with that liberty and freedome as they ought And Petilian who went off from the Conference before it was ended having lost his Voice by raving and passion pretended afterward that he was dissatisfied with the partiality of Marcellinus and therefore he perswaded the rest to Appeal from his Sentence pretending that they had been kept as Prisoners and were not suffered to prosecute their Arguments and that Marcellinus was corrupted and pronounced the Sentence at Midnight which was contrary to Law And St. Augustine going afterward to Mauritania was challenged by Emeritus one of the Donatist Bishops who undertook to defend the Conference in a Personal disputation which St. Augustine agreed to and hath given us a particular account of it But as St. Augustine saith Hoc proprium Donatistis eandem cantilenam canere It was their custome to inculcate the same Arguments again which had been often confuted many Years before There being no reformation among the Leaders of the Faction who continue several Tumults Cruelties and Murthers Thirty of their Bishops were condemned to be banished who met together and resolved rather to cast themselves over the Precipices as the practice of the Circumcellians was and to dye Martyrs for the cause And some did destroy themselves in Wells and by throwing themselves from the Rocks In so much that Dulcitius who was joyned with Marcellinus in the Government of Africa advised with St. Augustine what was most fit to be done with those obstinate Persons that still seduced the People and what counsel St. Augustine gave him we read in the 61. Epistle Furiosus error paucorum non debuit tot populorum salutem impedire Proculdubiò melius est ut quidam suis ignibus perirent quam pariter sempiternis ignibus Sacrilegae dissentionis ardeant universi That the error of a few distracted Persons should not be permitted to involve all the People in confusion and ruine and that without doubt it was better that such as were Incendiaries should dye in the flames which they had kindled than that all the People should still suffer in the fires of sacrilegious Dissention Thus I have given you a Summary of the History of these dangerous Persons for full an Hundred Years and might pursue it yet farther but considering how troublesome and unsafe it may be to follow them too nigh I shall desist and only add some Reflections upon the Faction And first Of their several Sects The Luciferians as the most moderate shall have precedency These were so called from Lucifer Calaritanus Bishop of Sardinia who in the Nicene Council was a zealous Defender of the Catholick Faith against the Arians for which he was banished while they had the power He is commended for it by Athanasius Hilarion and St. Hierome When the Arians were suppressed he was recalled and restored to his Bishoprick but perceiving that many of the Arians were on very easie conditions admitted to the Catholick Communion and made capable of Ecclesiastical Dignities he was much dissatisfied and denyed to hold Communion with the Church for being so charitable to those new Converts He therefore lays the Foundation of his Schisme in Sardinia where the Catholicks solicite him by all gentle and rational means not to divide that Church whose Faith and unity he had so strenuously asserted but finding that he was not only resolutely obstinate but indefatigably industrious to propagate the Schisme the Catholicks thought fit to suspend him and to dissipate his adherents Whereupon he transports himself into Africa whither great numbers of his perswasion follow him and joyn themselves to the Donatists but kept themselves as a distinct Faction in this respect that they did not rebaptize as the Donatists generally did but their Pride and contempt of the Catholicks was in a short time equal to that of the Donatists St. Augustine commends them for not renouncing their Baptism but condemns them as much for cutting themselves off from the Catholick unity and much urgeth that known Axiom Extra Ecclesiam non est salus Oratio de obitu Satiri St. Ambrose writing to his Brother Siricus who espoused this Schisme doth thus acquaint him with the danger of it Non est fides in Schismate cum enim propter Ecclesiam passus est Christus Christi corpus sit Ecclesia non videtur ab his Christo exhiberi fides à quibus evacuatur ejus passio corpus distrahitur There is no true faith in Schism for whereas Christ suffered for his Church and that Church is his Body it doth not appear that true faith in Christ is in them by whom his Passion is frustrated and his Body divided for Christ gave his Natural Body for the preservation of his Mystical Body the Church Saint Hierome therefore comparing these Donatists with the Novatians calls them both Non Ecclesiam Christi sed Antichristi Synagogam These Luciferians stood as independent on the Donatist Congregations or any of the other Factions which were generally Anabaptistical For they did not only Rebaptize the adult that came over to them but refused to baptize Children contrary to the practice of the Church as appears by several discourses of St. Augustine The most desperate Sect of all were the Circumcellians who were as so many Hectors to fight for the Donatists on all occasions These were the Zealots which did abound in every faction and pretended to higher dispensations than their Brethren for they believed that they were inspired by God to act and suffer extraordinary things which they were ready to attempt as often as their Brethren or their own lusts did prompt them thereunto They met sometime in lesser and sometime in greater Numbers either as Robbers to abuse and plunder all that were not of their own Perswasion Slaves would rob their Masters and Debtors would force their Creditors to deliver up their Obligations and had the perfect Principles of Levellers holding that none had right to any of their Possessions but by partaking of the same Faith and Profession with themselves Dominium fundatur in gratiâ was their Maxime Or else they would meet in great Numbers well armed and able to affront the chief Armies of the Emperor And were often the Aggressors provoking the Roman Souldiers to their own destruction Thus they set upon Paulus and Macarius who were sent with Presents to the Church of Carthage from the Emperor Constans who being assisted by the Proconsul slew great Numbers of them These were animated by their Leaders who were generally Donatist Bishops and called Sanctorum Duces Captains of the Saints and were animated by a Perswasion that as many as suffered a violent Death in defence of the