Appendix of Ten Documents on the Donatist Controversy 7–10

VII. Letter of Constantine to Celsus, vicar of Africa. To Celsus, vicar of Africa. That Menalius, whom madness had long since taken hold of, persists, and the others who, departing from the truth of God, have given themselves to most perverse error, your gravity's latest letter has also attested, in which you mentioned, dearest brother, that, holding to our command, you have checked them in keeping with the deserts of their sedition and the tumult they were preparing. Hence, since it has become plain from this that they have plotted wicked things, in that, when I had decided to inquire most fully between them and Caecilian about the various allegations, they labored to withdraw themselves from my presence by flight, by this most shameful deed they have confessed that they are hastening to return to what they did before and persist in doing now. But since it is established that no one at all profits from his own offenses, even if their restraint has been put off for a little, I have thought I should instruct your gravity in the meantime to leave them alone and to understand that you should overlook them for now. But when you have read this letter, make it known openly both to Caecilian and to them that, when by the favor of divine kindness I come to Africa, I shall show most fully to all, both to Caecilian and to those who seem to act against him, by reading out a clear judgment, what and what kind of veneration is to be given to the highest Godhead and what kind of worship seems to please him; and with diligent examination applied I shall most fully discover and bring into the light the things that some now think they hide by the allurements of their mind and their ignorance; and those persons who stir up things of this kind and cause the highest God not to be worshiped with the veneration that is due, I shall destroy and scatter. And since it is quite clear that no one can obtain the blessedness of a martyr by a kind of conduct that is plainly foreign to and out of keeping with the truth of religion, those whom I find to be against right and religion itself, and whom I detect as guilty of violating the fitting veneration, I shall without any hesitation make pay the deserved penalties of their madness and rash obstinacy. Let them know, then, for certain what they must hold for the fullest assurance (my salvation too being called to witness): that I shall inquire most diligently both about the people and about those of the clergy who are first, and shall judge what is plainly most true and most devout, and shall show them too what and what kind of worship is to be given to the Godhead. For I do not believe that I can otherwise escape the greatest guilt than by not thinking at all that what is wicked should be overlooked. What should be done by me rather, according to my resolve and the office of the prince himself, than that, errors dispelled and all rashness cut away, I should bring all to present true religion, harmonious simplicity, and the worship due to almighty God?

VIII. Letter of the praetorian prefects Petronius to Celsus. Petronius Annianus and Julianus to Domitius Celsus, vicar of Africa. Since his Dignity has ordered Lucianus, Capito, Fidentius and Nasutius, bishops, and Mammarius, presbyter, who by the heavenly command of the lord Constantine the Greatest, unconquered, ever Augustus, had come to the Gauls with other men of their persuasion, to return to their own homes, we have given them, brother, the public post with a suitable allowance of provisions as far as the port of Arles, according to the order of the eternity of the same most clement prince, so that from there they may sail to Africa, which it is fitting that your diligence should know by our letter. We wish you, brother, the best of health. Hilarius, chief of staff, presented it on the fourth day before the Kalends of May, at Trier.

IX. Letter of Constantine to the Catholic Church. Constantine Augustus to all the bishops throughout Africa and to the people of the Catholic Church. You know very well that, as far as faith required, as much as prudence availed, as purity could, I have tried by every office of humanity and moderation that, according to the teachings of our law, that peace of most holy brotherhood, whose grace the highest God has mingled in the breasts of his servants, might be established and kept in complete concord. But since the reasoning of our intent could not tame that force of wickedness poured in, clinging stubbornly, though in the minds of few, this wickedness still favoring itself with patronage, so that they would not let be wrested from them at all that in which they rejoiced to have offended, we must look to it that, while all this has settled in a few, it may be softened toward the people by the mercy of almighty God. For from him we must hope for a remedy, since all good prayers and deeds are referred to him. But until the heavenly medicine proceeds, our counsels must be so far moderated that we cultivate patience, and whatever their insolence attempts or does, according to the habit of their intemperance, we tolerate it all with the virtue of tranquility. Let nothing be paid back in return for injury; for it is the part of a fool to usurp with his hands the vengeance we must reserve to God, especially since our faith ought to trust that whatever it suffers from the fury of men of this kind will avail with God for the grace of martyrdom. For what else is it in this world to conquer in the name of God than to bear with steadfast heart the disorderly attacks of men harassing the people of the peaceful law? If your sincerity observes this, you will quickly see, by the grace of the highest Godhead, that, as the designs and ways of those who offer themselves as standard-bearers of a most wretched contention grow feeble, all will know that they ought not, perishing by the persuasion of a few, to give themselves to everlasting death, when by the grace of repentance, their errors corrected, they can always be restored to eternal life. Farewell through the ages, dearest brothers, by God's command, as we all pray.

X. Letter of Constantine about the basilica taken from the Catholics. Constantine, Victor, Greatest and Triumphant, ever Augustus, to Zeuzius, Gallicus, Victorinus, Sperantius, Januarius, Felix, Crescentius, Pantius, Victor, Babbutius and Donatus, bishops. Since it is plain that it is the will of the highest God, who is the author and father of this world, by whose kindness we enjoy life, look up at the sky and rejoice in human society, that the whole human race should agree in common and be glued together by a certain affection of fellowship as if in mutual embraces, there is no doubt that heresy and schism have come from the devil, who is the head of malice; and therefore there is no doubt that whatever is done by heretics is done at the prompting of him who has taken possession of their senses, minds and thoughts. For when he has brought men of this kind into his power, he rules them in every way. And what good can a madman do, a faithless, irreligious, profane man, opposed to God, an enemy of the holy church, who, departing from God, holy, true, just, highest and Lord of all (who made us and brought us into this light, who gave the breath for the life we enjoy, and who made us what he wished to be his, and accomplished all things by his will), runs with headlong error to the devil's side? But since a mind once possessed by evil must press on with the works of its teacher, so as to accomplish things that are plainly contrary to equity and justice, therefore those who are possessed by the devil obey his falsehood and wickedness. Nor is it surprising that the wicked depart from the good; for so it is rightly marked by the proverb: like gathers with like. Those who are infected with the evil of an impious mind must separate from our fellowship. For the evil man, as Scripture says, brings forth evil out of an evil treasure, but the good man brings forth good out of a good one. But since, as has been said, the heretics and schismatics, who, leaving the good and following evil, do what displeases God, are proved to cling to the devil, who is their father, your gravity has acted most rightly and wisely, and according to the holy precept of faith, in refraining from their perverse contentions and in giving up to them what they strive to usurp, though it is not due to them and belongs to others, lest, as their perversity is malignant and faithless, they should break out into seditions and stir up their like among crowds and gatherings, and so something should arise that ought not to be quelled. For their wicked purpose always seeks to accomplish the works of the devil. And so, when they are overcome, together with their father himself, by the patience of the priests of God, the worshipers of the highest God win glory for themselves, but those win damnation and fitting punishments. For from this the judgment of the highest God becomes greater and more just, in that he bears with them calmly and condemns them by patience, enduring all that has come from them; for God has promised himself as the avenger of all. And so, when vengeance is left to God, punishment is taken more sharply on enemies. I have learned that you, servants and priests of God, have now gladly done this, and I have greatly rejoiced that you ask no vengeance on the impious and wicked, the sacrilegious and profane, the faithless and irreligious, the ungrateful to God and enemies of the church, and rather ask that they may obtain pardon. This is truly and thoroughly to know God; this is to hold to the precepts; this is to believe happily; this is to think truly; this is to know that a greater vengeance is called down on the opponents of the church when they are spared in this world. Having received, then, the letter of your wisdom and gravity, I have learned that the heretics or schismatics, with their usual wickedness, thought fit to invade the basilica of the Catholic Church which I had ordered to be built in the city of Constantina, and that, though often admonished both by us and by our judges at our order, they would not give back what was not theirs; and that you, imitators of the patience of the highest God, calmly leaving to their malice what is yours, ask instead for another place for yourselves, namely one belonging to the treasury. This petition, according to my custom, I gladly embraced, and at once gave suitable letters to the accountant, that he should cause the house of our property to pass with all its rights into the ownership of the Catholic Church, which I have given with ready generosity and ordered to be handed over at once. In that place I have ordered a basilica to be built at the treasury's expense, and I have commanded that it be written also to the consular governor of Numidia, that he should help your holiness in every way in the building of that church. The lectors too of the Catholic Church, and the subdeacons, and also the others who, at the prompting of the men mentioned, have been called by some, according to custom, to public duties or to the decurionate, I have decided, according to the statute of my law, are to be called to no duty; and those too who have been taken at the heretics' prompting we have ordered to be released at once from troublesome services. For the rest, I have also ordered my law given concerning the Catholic clergy to be kept; all of which has been written down in the testimony of this letter so that it may be made plain to your patience. And would that the heretics or schismatics would at some time take thought for their salvation, and, their darkness wiped away, open their eyes to the sight of the true light, and depart from the devil, and flee, even late, to God, who is one and true, who is the judge of all! But since it is plain that they remain in their malice and prefer to die in their crimes, our admonition and our earlier constant exhortation are enough for them. For if they had been willing to obey our orders, they would be set free from all evil. Let us, however, brothers, follow what is ours, hold to the commands, keep the divine precepts by good deeds; defending our life from errors, let us direct it, with God's mercy favoring, along the right path. Given on the Nones of February, at Serdica.