Canon LXIX. (Greek
lxxii.)
That a legation be sent to the Donatists for the sake of
making peace.
It
further seemed good, that
when these things were done, legates should be sent from our number to
those of the Donatists whom they hold as bishops, or to the people, for
the sake of preaching peace and unity, without which Christian
salvation cannot be attained; and that these legates should direct the
attention of all to the fact that they have no just objection to urge
against the Catholic Church. And especially that this be made
manifest to all by the municipal acts (on account of the weight of
their documents) what they themselves had done in the case of the
Maximianists, their own schismatics. For in this case it is shown
them by divine grace, if they will but heed it, that their separation
from the unity of the Church is as iniquitous as they now proclaim the
schism of the Maximianists from themselves to be. Nevertheless
from the number, those whom they condemned by the authority of their
plenary council, they received back with their honours, and accepted
the baptism which they had given while condemned and cut off. And
thus let them see how with stupid heart they resist the peace of the
Church scattered throughout the whole world, when they do these things
on the part of Donatus, neither do they say that they are contaminated
by communion with those whom they so receive for the making of peace,
and yet they despise us, that is the Catholic Church, which is
established even in the extreme parts of the earth, as being defiled by
the communion of those whom the accusers have not been able to win over
to themselves.
464
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
LXIX.
It seemed good that legates be sent to preach peace and
unity to the Donatists who had been converted to the orthodox
faith.
This canon is Canon iij. of Carthage, September,
a.d.
401.
464
I think this is the
probable meaning of the canon.