253. nec inclusa custodit (for it is a straight line, and one straight line cannot enclose a space).
254. pluvia udatur (for it has no roof).
255. pars vestra quasi ecclesia est, sed Catholica non est. (Cf. 'quasi necessaria,' v, 4.)
256. est constituta.
257. linistis.
258. Cf. Ez. xiii, 12-14.
259. emendate.
260. lapides petrobolos.
261. Ez. xiii, 13, 14.
262. Cf. Ez. xiii, 13, 14. In the Vulgate we read 'Et erumpere faciam ( a ) spiritum tempestatum in indignatione Mea et ( b ) imber inundans in furore Meo erit, et (c) lapides grandes in ira in consumptionem. Et destruam parietem, quem linistis, et cadet.' From St. Jerome's commentary we find that the LXX had 'Et disrumpam spiritum auferentem in furore Meo, et pluvia inundans in ira Mea erit; et lapides magnos ( περιβόλους ) in furore inducam in consummationem. Et suffodiam parietem, quem linistis, et cadet, et ponam earn super terrain et revelabuntur fundamenta eius, et cadet et consummemini cum increpationibus ; et cognoscetis quia ego Dominus.' St. Optatus' African version gives us (a) tempestatem nimiam (b) et pluviam, diluvia (c) et lapides petrobolos, et (d) accusationes. Where are these last accusaiiones? Probably they are the equivalent of the increpationes of St. Jerome. The Greek of the LXX has καὶ συντελεσθήσεσθε μετ̕ ἐλέγχων ( μετ̕ ἐλέγχων = cum accusationibus .) The accusationes were to be the last calamity that should beset the Donatists. Then they were to fall. One wonders whether perhaps St. Optatus thought, though he did not like to say so expressly, that his book contained these destined 'accusations '!
263. 1 Cf. iii, 4.
264. The Donatist schism.
265. That something might be left for the rain to do.
266. Cf. iii, 3.
267. udatus est, sed non maduit.
268. dispersus.
269. luto.
270. latere.
271. seducunt.
272. Cf. Ez. xiii, 2.
273. nobis absentibus inruistis.
274. Adlendite post vos. Redimite animas vestras. Estote Christiani. These were evidently catchwords in common use among the Donatists.
275. nemo tenens manicam aratri post se adtendens (cf. Luke ix, 62).
276. Cf. Gen. xix, 26.
277. quis est ille nescio quis angelus, qui nundinas facit animarum?