Augustine in His Own Words
Against the Donatists 271 the world—let's listen to him—if we are born from God—as he gives advice in the spirit of truth. "Beloved": That follows what came earlier. See what's next: "We are from God. The one who knows God knows us; the one who is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the spirit of truth and that of error" (1 Jn 4:6). Now he's got our attention. The one who knows God is the one who listens; however, the one who does not know Him does not listen; and this is how one discerns the spirit of truth and that of error. Let us see what's being advised, what we need to listen to him about: "Beloved, let us love one another" (1 Jn 4:7). Why? Because a human being is advising it? "Because love is from God" (1 Jn 4:7). He has commended love a great deal because it is "from God" (1 Jn 4:7). He's going to say more. Let's listen intently. Now he says: "Love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God" (1 Jn 4:7–8). Why? "Because God is love" (1 Jn 4:8). What more could be said, brothers and sisters? If nothing more were said in praise of love in all the pages of his epistle—if nothing else in any other pages of the Scriptures—and if this were the one and only thing we hear from the voice of God's Spirit, that "God is love," then there's nothing more we have to search for. . . .
(7) See, it's because love alone discerns. See, it's because that alone distinguishes [between] human deeds. (8) . . . A father beats his boy; a slave-trader flatters him. If you set out the two things, beatings and flattery, who would not choose flattery and flee a beating? If you pay attention to the person doing it, love beats, iniquity flatters. Look, see what we're recommending: that one cannot discern human deeds apart from the root of charity. . . . Even thorn bushes have flowers. In fact, some things seem harsh, seem savage, but they are done for discipline according to the dictates of charity. Once and for all, therefore, let this brief commandment be given you: Love, and do what you will. Should you be silent, be silent out of love. Should you cry out, cry out out of love. Should you correct someone, correct him out of love. Should you spare someone, spare him out of love. Let the root of love be on the inside. Out of this root, only good can come.56
"Compel Them to Come In"
Around 417, Augustine received a letter from Boniface, a rising military commander.57 As a newcomer to Africa, he was unfamiliar with the Donatist controversy and asked Augustine for advice. Augustine sent back a treatise-length letter tracing the history of
56. Ep. Jo. 7.4–8 (SC 75:320–28); my trans. 57. On Count Boniface, see p. 121, n. 63.