153. mitigavit. Numbers xxv, 11.
154. qui unitatem cum toto orbe terrarum et cum Memoriis Apostolorum, quae Deo placita est, habere noluistis. Optatus once more urges union with (1) the rest of Catholic Christendom, and (2) with the Apostolic See of Rome, where rest the bodies of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (cf. ii, 4).
155. tanquam per unicam religionem vestrae communionis. Religio is here the sacredness of an oath.
156. inconsiderate rabida latrat invidia.
157. Ps. xxxiii, 15.
158. Ps. cxxxii, 1.
159. Matt, v, 9.
160. mali sui ipsi sunt caussa. Cf. S. August. ( c. Hit. Petil. ii. 20): 'Illi, de quibus maximam invidiam facere soletis, Marculus et Donatus, ut moderatius dixerim, incertum est, utrum se praecipitaverint, . . . quapropter de omnibus talibus invidiosis criminibus hoc vobis . . . libera et secura voce respondet [Ecclesia Catholica]: Si non probatis quod dicitis, ad neminem pertinet; si autem probatis, ad me non pertinet.' This is precisely the statement and argument of St. Optatus in this Book.
161. Legislatorem.
162. prope-necdum propositis tabulis legis.
163. Cf. Ex. xxxii, 13; Ex. xxi, 23; Deut. v, 17; Matt. v, 21.
164. in iudicium provocate.
165. Cf. Num. xxv, 20.
166. nam quod accusatis, in persona ipsius a Deo laudatum est, quod in zelo Dei factum est. Both Ziwsa and Du Pin print a comma after ipsius, but I venture to think that it should be rather after accusatis, and have translated accordingly.
167. subprimite interim.
168. recurrite primo.
169. Cf. 3 Kings xviii, 40.
170. illos . . . istos.
171. nunquam sequitur vindicta. Killing is not to be called 'punishment' unless when due cause has been given. 'Therefore,' says St. Optatus to the Donatists, 'you object that in the case of Macarius it should not be called "punishment," but murder.'
172. foris. Outside the Church.
173. qui intus habitamus, et nunquam de radice recessimus.
174. flabello invidiae ventilatis (cf. iii, 4).
175. Ex. xx, 4.
176. Deut. v, 8.
177. Cf. Ex. xx, 5.