Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume IV/Donatist Controversy/On Baptism/Book VII/Chapter 28

by Philip Schaff et al.

Chapter 28.—54.  Another Saturninus of Abitini^[1] said:  "If Antichrist can give to any one the grace of Christ, then can heretics also baptize, who are called Antichrists."^[2]

55.  What if another were to say, If a murderer can give the grace of Christ, then can they also baptize that hate their brethren who are called murderers?  For certainly he would seem in a way to speak the truth, and yet they can baptize; in like manner, therefore, can the heretics as well.

Footnotes

1. Abitini (Avitini) was in ecclesiastical province of Africa Proconsularis.  For Saturninus, cp. cc. 15, 16.
2. Conc. Carth. sec. 64.