Tractates on the Gospel of John
TRACTATE 5 119 image of God;''^^ but in that he is a human being, he could also be wicked, he could also be a pagan, he could be an idolator. You persecute in a Christian the better part which he has; for you wish to take away from him that by which he has life. For he lives for time by the breath of life by which the body is animated; but he lives for eternity by the baptism which he has received from the Lord.
(4) You wish to take from him this which he has received from the Lord; you wish to take from him this, by which he has life. This is what bandits want [in regard to] those whom they wish to plunder, that they themselves have more and the others have nothing. You both take from him and you will have no more for yourself; for you will get no more for yourself because you take away from him. But they actually do exactly what those who take away a man's life do; they both take away from another, and yet do not themselves have two lives.
13. What then do you wish to take away? In what way does he whom you wish to rebaptize displease you? You cannot give what he already has, but you cause him to deny what he has. What did a pagan, a persecutor of the Church, ever do that was more repulsive? Their swords were brandished against the martyrs, wild beasts were uncaged, flames were applied. Why [did they do] these things? That he who was suffering them might say, "I am not a Christian." What do you teach him whom you wish to rebaptize except first to say, 'T am not a Christian"?* For the same purpose for which the persecutor formerly employed flame, you employ your tongue; you do by seduction what he failed to accomplish by murder.
(2) And what is it that you are going to give, and to whom are you going to give [it]? If he should say the truth to you and should not, having been seduced by you, lie, he will say, 'T have." You ask, "Do you have baptism?" 'T have," he says. As long as he says, "I have," you say, 'T am not going to give." "And do not give; for what you want to give cannot abide in me because what I received cannot be taken away from me.
And yet, wait; let me see what you want to teach me." "First,"
24. Cf. Col 3.10.