A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 42. The Penitential Discipline 205For Hermas and the Pastor, v. supra, § 15.I heard some teachers maintain, sir, that there is no other repentancethan that which takes place when we descend into thewaters and receive remission of our former sins. He said to me,That was sound doctrine which you heard; for that is really thecase. For he who has received remission of his sins ought not tosin any more, but to live in purity.… The Lord, therefore, beingmerciful, has had mercy on the work of His hands, and has setrepentance for them; and He has intrusted to me the power overthis repentance. And therefore I say unto you that if any one istempted by the devil, and sins after that great and holy calling inwhich the Lord has called His people to everlasting life, he hasopportunity to repent but once. But if he should sin frequentlyafter this, and then repent, to such a man his repentance will beof no avail, for with difficulty will he live.(b) Tertullian. Apology, 39. (MSL, 1:532.)We meet together as an assembly and congregation that, offeringup prayer to God, with united force we may wrestle with Himin our prayers.… In the same place, also, exhortations are made,rebukes and sacred censures are administered. For with a greatgravity is the work of judging carried on among us, as befitsthose who feel assured that they are in the sight of God; and youhave the most notable example of judgment to come when anyone has so sinned as to be severed from common union with usin prayer, in the congregation, and in all sacred intercourse.(c) Tertullian, De Pœnitentia, 4, 9. (MSL, 2:1343, 1354.)According to Bardenhewer, § 50:5, this work belongs to theCatholic period of Tertullian's literary activity. Text in part inKirch, nn. 175 ff.