Chapter II: Book III

In this Book Augustine refutes the second letter which
Petilianus wrote to him after having seen the first
of Augustine's earlier Books. This letter had been
full of violent language; and Augustine rather shows
that the arguments of Petilianus had been deficient
and irrelevant, than brings forward arguments in
support of his own statements, 405

ON THE CORRECTION OF THE DONATISTS.

A Letter of Augustine to Boniface, who, as we learn
from Epistle 220, was Tribune, and afterwards Count
in Africa. In it Augustine shows that the heresy of
the Donatists has nothing in common with that of
Arius; and points out the moderation with which it was
possible to recall the heretics to the communion of
the Church through awe of the imperial laws. He adds
remarks concerning the savage conduct of the Donatists
and Circumcelliones, concluding with a discussion of
the unpardonable nature of the sin against the Holy
Ghost, 479

INDEX. 521