Saint Augustine (354-430)

Of Baptism

Translated by J. R. King

Book VI

Chapter 28

Hortensianus of Lares said: “How many baptisms there are, let those who uphold or favor heretics determine. We assert one baptism of the Church, which we only know in the Church. Or how can those baptize any one in the name of Christ whom Christ Himself declares to be His enemies?”

Giving answer to this man in a like tenor of words, we say: Let those who uphold or favor the unrighteous see to it: we recall to the Church when we can the one baptism which we know to be of the Church alone, wherever it be found. Or how can they baptize any one in the name of Christ whom Christ Himself declares to be His enemies? For He says to all the unrighteous, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”; and yet, when they baptize, it is not themselves that baptize, but He of whom John says, “The same is He which baptizeth.”

Book VI Chapter 27

Book VI Chapter 29