The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

Donatists Break With Rome

In the early part of the fourth century the Novatians were joined, or perhaps followed, by another company of sincere Christians who broke away from the Catholic Church. These were the Donatists, receiving their name from Donatus, their leader, who had been elected Bishop of Carthage about the year 306 A. D. The reader will recall that it was in this century in which the emperor and the bishops joined hands, and organically united church and state. Of this time Mosheim says: AGP 205.1

“An enormous train of different superstitions were gradually substituted in the place of true religion and genuine piety.” “When we cast an eye toward the lives and morals of Christians at this time, we find, as formerly, a mixture of good and evil; some eminent for their piety, others infamous for their crimes. The number however of immoral and unworthy Christians began so to increase, that the examples of real piety and virtue became extremely rare.” “An Ecclesiastical History,” Vol. I, Cent. IV, pp. 355, 372.