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chap, communion of mankind, they boldly excommu-XXI ‘ 1 nicated the rest of mankind who had embracedthe impious party of Ceecilian, and of the tradi-tors, from whom he derived his pretended ordi-nation. They asserted with confidence, andalmost with exultation, that the apostolicalsuccession w as interrupted; that all the bishopsof Europe and Asia were infected by the con-tagion of guilt and schism; and that the prero-gatives of the catholic church were confined tothe chosen portion of the African believers, whoalone had preserved inviolate the integrity oftheir faith and discipline. This rigid theory wassupported by the most uncharitable conduct.Whenever they acquired a proselyte, even fromthe distant provinces of the East, they carefullyrepeated the sacred rites of baptism 11 and ordina-tion ; as they rejected the validity of those whichhe had already received from the'hands of here-tics or schismatics. Bishops, virgins, and evenspotless infants, were subjected to the disgrace ofa public penance, before they could be admittedto the communion of the donatists. If they ob-tained possession of a church which had beenused by their catholic adversaries, they purifiedthe unhallowed building with the same jealouscare which a templeof idolsmight have required.They washed the pavement, scraped the walls,

* The councils of Arles , of Nice, and of Trent, confirmed the wiseand moderate practice of the church of Rome . The donatists, how-ever, had the advantage of maintaining the sentiment of Cyprian, andof a considerable part of the primitive church. Vincentins Lirinensis(p. 332, ap. Tillcmom, Mem. Eccles. tom. vi, p. 138) has explainedwhy the donatists are eternally burning with the devil, while SI. ( ypriaureigns in heaven with Jesus Chtist.