Answer to Letters of Petilian, Bishop of Cirta

²¹⁴ Petilianus said: "Where is the law of God? Where is your Christianity, if you not only commit murders and put men to death, but also order such things to be done?"

215. Augustine answered: In reply to this, see what the fellow-heirs of Christ say throughout the world. We neither commit murders, and put men to death, nor order such things to be done; and you are raging much more madly than those who do such things, in that you put such things into the minds of men in opposition to the hopes of everlasting life.