Augustine in His Own Words
Against the Donatists 267 the wrath of God with greater force and persistence, and you complain of it!
(2.5) You see, you are suffering from your own evil deeds, not for Christ, when you stir up violence against the peace of Christ. What kind of madness is it to claim the glory of martyrdom when you are being justly punished for your evil life and your deeds of brigandage? If you, private citizens, so boldly and violently force men either to accept error or to remain in it, how much greater right and duty have we to resist your outrages by means of the lawfully constituted authority, which God has made subject to Christ, according to His prophecy, and so to rescue unfortunate souls from your tyranny, to free them from long-continued false teaching, and to let them breathe the clear air of truth!49
An Assassination Plot
The Circumcellions once tried to assassinate Augustine during one of his trips outside Hippo. From Possidius of Calama, Life of St. Augustine:
(12) These armed Circumcellions frequently blocked the roads even against the servant of God, Augustine, when, upon request, he chanced to visit the Catholics whom he frequently instructed and exhorted. It once happened that, although the heretics were out in full force, they still failed to capture him. Through his guide's mistake, but actually by the providence of God, the bishop happened to arrive at his destination by a different road. He later learned that, because of this error, he had escaped impious hands. Thereupon, together with his companions, he gave thanks to God, his Deliverer.50
Augustine himself refers to the incident on several occasions. Here is one example. From Enchiridion (On Faith, Hope, and Charity):
(5.17) Benefit, likewise, has come to some through mistaking the road— but in traveling, not in morals. For example, it once happened that I took a wrong turn at a crossroads and thus did not pass by a certain place where an armed band of Donatists lay in wait for me, expecting me to come. The result was that I reached my destination, but by a long detour. On learning of the plot, I congratulated myself on my mistake and gave thanks to God. Who would not choose to be a traveler who made a mistake like this rather than the highwayman who made none?51
49. Ep. 105.2.3–2.5 (CSEL 34.2:596–98); trans. Parsons, FOTC 18:197–99. See ep. 28*.7 (Divjak), which reports that a bishop named Rogatus had his hand chopped off and tongue cut out.
50. Vita 12 (Geerlings, 46); trans. Muller and Deferrari, FOTC 15:86. 51. Enchiridion 5.17 (CCL 46:57); trans. Peebles, FOTC 2:382 (modified). In one of the Dolbeau sermons,