An answer to a challenge madeAn ansvver to a challenge made

The Heretics at whom S. Augustin here aimeth, were the Donatists: whom Optatus also before him did thus roundly take up for the same presumption. ^uUnderstand at length, that you are servants, and not Lords. And if the Church be a vineyard, and men be appointed to be dressers of it: why do you rush into the dominion of the householder? Why do you challenge unto your selves, that which is Gods? ^xGive leave unto God to perform the things that belong unto himself. For that gift cannot be given by man, which is divine. If you think so, you labour to frustrate the words of the Prophets, & the promises of God, by which it is proved that God washeth (away sin,) and not man. It is noted likewise by Theodoret, of the Audian heretics: that ^ythey bragged they did forgive sins. The manner of Confession which he saith was used among them, was not much unlike that which Alvarus Pelagius acknowledgeth to have been the usual practise of them that made greatest profession of religion and learning in his time. ^zFor scarce at all (saith he) or very seldom doth any of them confess otherwise then in general terms: scarce do they ever specify any grievous sin. What they say one day, that they say another, as if every day they did offend alike. The manner of Absolution was the same with that, which Theodoricus de Niem noteth to have been practised by the pardoners sent abroad by Pope Boniface the ninth: who ^areleased all sins to them that confessed, without any penance (or repentance;) affirming that ⟨p. 157⟩they had for their warrant in so doing, all that power which Christ gave unto Peter of binding and loosing upon earth. just as Theodoret reporteth the Audians were wont to do: who presently ^bafter confession granted remission; not prescribing a time for repentance, as the laws of the Church did require, but giving pardon by authority.