A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

496 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[453]those whom we receive but do not baptize? 174 So indeed is theerror of the sheep to be corrected that the sign of the Redeemershall not be marred. For if any one is marked with the royal stampby a deserter, who has himself been marked with it, and theyreceive forgiveness, and the one returns to his service, and theother begins to be in the service in which he had not yet been, thatmark is not effaced in either of them, but rather it is recognized inboth, and approved with due honor because it is the king's. Sincethey cannot show that that is bad to which they are compelled, 175they maintained that they ought not to be compelled to the good.But we have shown that Paul was compelled by Christ; thereforethe Church in compelling the Donatists is following the exampleof her Lord, though in the first instance she waited in hopes ofnot having to compel any, that the prediction might be fulfilledconcerning the faith of kings and peoples.§ 24. For in this sense also we may interpret without absurditythe apostolic declaration when the blessed Apostle Paul says:“Being ready to revenge all disobedience, when your obedienceis fulfilled” [II Cor. 10:6]. Whence also the Lord himself bidsthe guests to be brought first to His great supper, and afterwardcompelled; for when His servants answered Him, “Lord, it isdone as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room,” He saidto them: “Go out into the highways and hedges and compelthem to come in” [Luke 14:22, 23]. In those, therefore, whowere first brought in with gentleness the former obedience isfulfilled, but in those who were compelled the disobedience isavenged. For what else is the meaning of “Compel them tocome in,” after it had previously been said, “Bring in,” and the174 The basis of the doctrine of the indelible character of baptism. Cf. Augustine,Contra epist. Parm., II, 13. 28. “Each [baptism and the right of givingbaptism] is indeed a sacrament, and by a certain consecration each is givento a man, this when he is baptized, that when he is ordained; therefore in theCatholic Church it is not lawful to repeat either.” Cf. next passage.175 This was written after the conference with the Donatists in 411, in whichvictory was adjudged to the Catholics.