Christ was supposed to be but a man both by him who invited Him, and by them who sat as guests at the table with Him. But that woman who was a sinner had seen something more than this in the Lord. For why did she all those things, but that her sins might be forgiven her? She knew then that He was able to forgive sins; and they knew that no man was able to forgive them. And we must believe that they all, they who were at the table, that is, and that woman who approached to the Feet of the Lord, all knew that no man could forgive sins. Forasmuch then as they all knew this; she who believed that He could forgive sins, understood Him to be more than man. So when He had said to the woman, “Thy sins are forgiven thee;” they immediately said, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?” Who is this, whom the woman who was a sinner already knew? Thou who sittest at the table as if in sound health, knowest not thy Physician; because it may be through a stronger fever thou hast even lost thy reason. For thus the frantic patient as he laughs is bewailed by those who are in health. Nevertheless, ye do well to know, and hold fast that truth; yea, hold it fast, that no man is able to forgive sins. This woman who believed that she could be forgiven by Christ, believed Christ not to be man only, but God also. “Who,” say they, “is this that forgiveth sins also?” And the Lord did not tell them as they said, “Who is this?” “It is the Son of God, the Word of God;” He did not tell them this, but suffering them to abide for a while still in their former opinion, He really solved the question which had excited them. For He who saw them at the table, heard their thoughts, and turning to the woman, He said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Let these who say, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?” who think me to be but a man, think me but a man. For thee “thy faith hath made thee whole.” 8. The Good Physician not only cured the sick then present, but provided also for them who were to be hereafter. There were to be men in after times, who should say, “It is I3221 who forgive sins, I who justify, I who sanctify, I who cure whomsoever I baptize.” Of this number are they who say, “Touch me not.”3222 Yes, so thoroughly are they of this number, that lately, in our conference,3223 as ye may read in the records of it, when a place was offered them by the commissary,3224 that they should sit with us, they thought it right to answer, “It is told us in Scripture with such not to sit,” lest of course by the contact of the seats, our 3221 The Donatists, holding the validity of Baptism to depend on the holiness of the minister, made it, in fact, man’s act, man’s gift. St. Augustin answers, Baptism is Christ’s, not man’s, and that “as His, it availeth equally to whom, however unequal they through whom, it is given.” Ep. 93, ad Vinc. Don § 47. See other passages, Tract. 67, on Holy Baptism, p. 192 sqq. 3222 Isa. lxv. 5. 3223 The Collatio Carthag. of which part of the acts remain. See also St. Augustin, Brev. Coll. c. Don. and Ad Don. post Collat. In it the Donatists being entirely confuted by St. Augustin, larger numbers than before joined the Church. Poss. Vit. c. 13. 3224 Cognitore. Marcellinus, see Serm. xiii. (lxiii. Ben) 18 (xii.) note. 871 On the words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37, ‘And behold, a woman who was in…