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Against the Donatists

St Optatus of Milevis, tr. Vassall-Phillips, 1917

Appendix 9: Letter of Constantine to the Bishops and People of Africa

Letter of Constantine on Toleration to be granted to the Donatists

Constantine Augustus to all the Bishops in Africa and to the people of the Catholic Church. You know right well that, as Faith required, so far as Prudence permitted, as much as a single-minded intention¹ could prevail, I have endeavoured by every effort of kindly government to secure that, in accordance with the prescriptions of our law, the Peace of the most holy Brotherhood,² whose grace the supreme God has poured into the hearts of His servants, should, through complete concord, be preserved secure. ‘But whereas the provisions that we have made have not prevailed to subdue the obstinate violence of crime, which has been implanted in the breasts of certain men----few though they be----and whereas some favour is still shown to this wickedness of theirs, so that they would not on any account suffer a place in which they were proud to have sinned³ to be extorted from them, we must see to it, that as all this evil affects a few, it may be, through the mercy of Almighty God, mitigated for the people. For we ought to hope for a remedy, from that source to which all good desires and deeds are referred.⁴ But, until the Heavenly medicine shows itself, our designs must be moderated so far as to act with patience, and whatever in their insolence they attempt or carry out, in accordance with their habitual wantonness----all this we must endure with the strength which comes from tranquillity. In no way let wrong be returned to wrong, for it is the mark of a fool to snatch at that vengeance which we ought to leave to God, especially since our faith ought to lead us to trust that whatever we may endure from the madness of men of this kind, will avail before God for the grace of martyrdom. For what is it, to overcome in this world in the Name of God, excepting to endure with an unshaken heart the untamed savagery of men who harass the people of the Law of Peace? But, if you will give yourselves loyally to this affair, you will speedily bring it about that, by the favour of God on high, these men, who are making themselves the standard-bearers of this most miserable strife, may all come to recognise, as their laws⁵ or customs⁶ fall into decay,⁷ that they ought not, through the persuasion of a few, to give themselves over to perish in everlasting death,⁸ when they might, through the grace of repentance, be made whole again, having corrected their errors, for everlasting life.

Fare you well, by your common prayer, for ever, by God’s favour, dearest brethren.⁹

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