Concerning Repentance

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, General Christianity, Christian Life
Cover of the book Concerning Repentance by St. Ambrose, limovia.net
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: St. Ambrose ISBN: 9781783361656
Publisher: limovia.net Publication: April 3, 2013
Imprint: Language: English
Author: St. Ambrose
ISBN: 9781783361656
Publisher: limovia.net
Publication: April 3, 2013
Imprint:
Language: English

These two books were written against the Novatian heresy, which took its name, and to a considerable extent its form, from Novatus, a priest of the Church of Carthage, and Novatian, schismatically consecrated bishop at Rome. It was the outcome of a struggle which had long existed in the Church upon the question of the restitution to Church privileges of those who had fallen into grievous sin, and the possibility of their repentance.

The severest ground was taken by the Novatians, who were condemned successively by many councils, which maintained the power of the Church to admit those guilty of any sin whatsoever to repentance, and prescribed various rules and penalties applicable to different cases. The heresy, however, lasted for some time, becoming weaker in the fifth century, and gradually fading away as a separate body with a distinctive name. Novatianism, in the tests which it used, its efforts after a perfectly pure communion, its crotchetty interpretations of Scripture, and many other features, presents a striking parallel to many modern sects. [See Dict. Chr. Biog., Blunt, Sects and heresies, Ceillier, II. 427, etc.]

St. Ambrose, in writing against the Novatians, seems to have had some recent publication of theirs in his mind, which is now unknown. He begins by commending gentleness, a quality singularly wanting in the sect; speaks of the power committed to the Church of forgiving the greatest sins, and points out how God is more inclined to mercy than to severity, and refutes the arguments of the Novatians based on certain passages of holy Scripture. In the second book, after urging the necessity of careful and speedy repentance, and the necessity of confessing one's sins, St. Ambrose meets the Novatian arguments based on Heb. vi. 4-6, from which they inferred the impossibility of restoration; and on St. Matthew 12:31-32, our Lord's words concerning sin against the Holy Spirit.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

These two books were written against the Novatian heresy, which took its name, and to a considerable extent its form, from Novatus, a priest of the Church of Carthage, and Novatian, schismatically consecrated bishop at Rome. It was the outcome of a struggle which had long existed in the Church upon the question of the restitution to Church privileges of those who had fallen into grievous sin, and the possibility of their repentance.

The severest ground was taken by the Novatians, who were condemned successively by many councils, which maintained the power of the Church to admit those guilty of any sin whatsoever to repentance, and prescribed various rules and penalties applicable to different cases. The heresy, however, lasted for some time, becoming weaker in the fifth century, and gradually fading away as a separate body with a distinctive name. Novatianism, in the tests which it used, its efforts after a perfectly pure communion, its crotchetty interpretations of Scripture, and many other features, presents a striking parallel to many modern sects. [See Dict. Chr. Biog., Blunt, Sects and heresies, Ceillier, II. 427, etc.]

St. Ambrose, in writing against the Novatians, seems to have had some recent publication of theirs in his mind, which is now unknown. He begins by commending gentleness, a quality singularly wanting in the sect; speaks of the power committed to the Church of forgiving the greatest sins, and points out how God is more inclined to mercy than to severity, and refutes the arguments of the Novatians based on certain passages of holy Scripture. In the second book, after urging the necessity of careful and speedy repentance, and the necessity of confessing one's sins, St. Ambrose meets the Novatian arguments based on Heb. vi. 4-6, from which they inferred the impossibility of restoration; and on St. Matthew 12:31-32, our Lord's words concerning sin against the Holy Spirit.

More books from limovia.net

Cover of the book On Baptism, Against the Donatists by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Way of perfection by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book La Genesi alla lettera by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Concerning Widows by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book On Loving God by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Gegen die Häresien by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Amicizia spirituale by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book De inani gloria et de educandis liberis by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book La Passione di Gesù by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Il fu Mattia Pascal by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book La Vita copta di Pacomio e Teodoro by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Camino de perfección by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book La vita di san Benedetto (da Norcia) by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Storia di un'anima by St. Ambrose
Cover of the book Lettres de Denys l’Aréopagite by St. Ambrose
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy