A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

488 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[445]the dead are not opposed to the Apostle's words: “For we mustall appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one mayreceive the things done in his body, according to that he hathdone, whether it be good or bad” [Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10]. Forthat merit that renders services profitable to a man, each one hasacquired while he lives in the body. For it is not to every one thatthese services are profitable. And why are they not profitableto all, except it be because of the different kinds of lives thatmen lead in the body? When, therefore, sacrifices either of thealtar or of alms of any sort are offered on behalf of the dead whohave been baptized, they are thanksgivings for the very good;they are propitiations [propitiationes] for the not very bad; andfor the case of the very bad, even though they do not assist thedead, they are a species of consolation to the living. And to thoseto whom they are profitable, their benefit consists either in fullremission of sins, or at least in making the condemnation moretolerable.§ 83. Augustine and the Donatist SchismAfter the recall of the Donatists by the Emperor Julian, the sectrapidly increased, though soon numerous divisions appeared inthe body. The more liberal opinions of the Donatist grammarianTychonius about 370 were adopted by many of the less fanatical.The connection of the party with the Circumcellions alienatedothers. The contest for rigorism led by Maximianus about 394occasioned a schism within the Donatist body.Augustine's activity in the Donatist troubles began as soonas he was made bishop of Hippo, as his town was made uplargely of Donatists, who probably constituted more than a halfof the population. The books written by him after 400 have alonesurvived.The turning-point in the history of Donatism was the Collatio,or conference, held at Carthage in 411. Two hundred and