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Du baptême contre les Donatistes

1.

Dans ma réponse à la lettre de Parménien, j’ai promis de traiter plus à fond la question du baptême (Contre la lettre de Parménien, liv. II, ch. XIV); et même, en dehors de toute promesse de ma part, je devrais encore entreprendre ce travail, pour faire droit aux instantes supplications qui me sont adressées par mes frères. M’appuyant donc sur le secours du Seigneur, je me propose, non-seulement de réfuter et de résoudre les difficultés que nous opposent les Donatistes, mais encore de justifier de tout schisme le bienheureux martyr Cyprien, sur l’autorité duquel ils osent s’appuyer pour s’obstiner dans leur perversité, et fermer les yeux à l’évidence de la vérité. A tous ceux que n’aveugle pas la fureur du parti pris, je prouverai que Cyprien, loin de les autoriser, les condamne et les réprouve.

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The Seven Books of Augustin, Bishop of Hippo On Baptism, Against the Donatists

1.

In the treatise which we wrote against the published epistle of Parmenianus ¹ to Tichonius, ² we promised that at some future time we would treat the question of baptism more thoroughly; ³ and indeed, even if we had not made this promise, we are not unmindful that this is a debt fairly due from us to the prayers of our brethren. Wherefore in this treatise we have undertaken, with the help of God, not only to refute the objections which the Donatists have been wont to urge against us in this matter, but also to advance what God may enable us to say in respect of the authority of the blessed martyr Cyprian, which they endeavor to use as a prop, to prevent their perversity from falling before the attacks of truth. ⁴ And this we propose to do, in order that all whose judgment is not blinded by party spirit may understand that, so far from Cyprian's authority being in their favor, it tends directly to their refutation and discomfiture.