An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

I had almost missed the Instance of the Donatists. But the story of them is so well known, that it will not bear the Repetition. For although there be no mention of them in Socrates or Zozoman, nor the History of Theodoret, yet all things that concerned them are so fully declared in the Writings of Austin and Optatus against them as there needs no other account of them. And this Instance of an Heretical Schism, is that which the Papists vehemently urge against the Church of England itself, and all other Protestants. Here their Weapon is borrowed for a little while, to give a wound unto our Cause, but in vain. Yet I know full well ⟨p. 319⟩that it is easier for some men on their Principles, to flourish with this Weapon against us, than to defend themselves against it in the hands of the Papists. In brief these Donatists were upon the matter of the same Opinion with the Novatians; and as these grounded their dissension, on the receiving those into the Church who had fallen and sacrificed under Decius; so did these on a pretence of severity against those who had been Traditors, under Maximinus. Upon this Pretence improved by many false Allegations, Donatus and those that followed him rejected Cecilianus who was lawfully chosen and ordained Bishop of Carthage, setting up one Majorinus in opposition unto him. Not succeeding herein, on this foolish unproved Pretence, that Cecilianus had been ordained by Traditor, they rejected the Communion of all the Churches in the World, confined the whole Church of Christ unto their own Party; denied Salvation unto any other, rebaptized all that came unto them from other Churches, and together with a great number of Bishops that joined with them, fell into most extravagant Exorbitances.

I had almost missed the Instance of the Donatists. But the story of them is so well known, that it will not bear the Repetition. For although there be no mention of them in Socrates or Zozoman, nor the History of Theodoret, yet all things that concerned them are so fully declared in the Writings of Austin and Optatus against them as there needs no other account of them. And this Instance of an Heretical Schisme, is that which the Papists vehemently urge against the Church of England itself, and all other Protestants. Here their Weapon is borrowed for a little while, to give a wound unto our Cause, but in vain. Yet I know full well ⟨p. 319⟩that it is easier for some men on their Principles, to flourish with this Weapon against us, than to defend themselves against it in the hands of the Papists. In breif these Donatists were upon the matter of the same Opinion with the Novatians; and as these grounded their dissension, on the receiving those into the Church who had fallen and sacrificed under Decius; so did these on a pretence of severity against those who had been Traditors, under Maximinus. Upon this Pretence improved by many false Allegations, Donatus and those that followed him rejected Cecilianus who was lawfully chosen and ordained Bishop of Carthage, setting up one Majorinus in opposition unto him. Not succeeding herein, on this foolish unproved Pretence, that Cecilianus had been ordained by Traditor, they rejected the Communion of all the Churches in the World, confined the whole Church of Christ unto their own Party; denied Salvation unto any other, rebaptized all that came unto them from other Churches, and together with a great number of Bishops that joyned with them, fell into most extravagant Exorbitances.