Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume IV/Donatist Controversy/On Baptism/Book VII/Chapter 33

Chapter 33.—64.  Donatulus of Capse[1] said:  "I also have always entertained this opinion, that heretics, who have gained nothing outside the Church, should be baptized when they are converted to the Church."[2]

65.  To this the answer is:  They have, indeed, gained nothing outside the Church, but that is nothing towards salvation, not nothing towards the sacrament.  For salvation is peculiar to the good; but the sacraments are common to the good and bad alike.


Footnotes

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  1. Capse was in ecclesiastical province of Byzacene.  This Donatulus is probably to be identified with the one mentioned Cypr. Ep. lvi.
  2. Conc. Carth. sec. 69.