Letter 3

Pacian of Barcelona (d. 391)

EPISTLE III.

AGAINST THE TREATISE OF THE NOVATIANS.

[Translated by the Rev. C. H. Collyns, M.A., Student of Christ Church.]

Pacian the Bishop to Sympronian his brother, greeting.

1. The whole treatise of the Novatians, which you have addressed to me thronged with propositions on all sides, amounts to this, brother Sympronian: That there is no room for repentance after Baptism; that the Church cannot remit mortal sin; that by the receiving of sinners she herself perishes. Illustrious honour! Singular authority! Great constancy! To reject the guilty; to flee the touch of sinners; to have so little confidence in her own innocence!

See also

• More works by Pacian of Barcelona

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