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12 Another reading has diffamatum, "published."
13 A somewhat fuller account of this miracle is given by Augustin in the Confessions, ix. 16. See also Serm. 286, and Ambrose, Ep. 22. A translation of this epistle in full is given in Isaac Taylor's Ancient Christianity, ii. 242, where this miracle is taken as a specimen of the so-called miracles of that age, and submitted to a detailed examination. The result arrived at will be gathered from the following sentence: "In the Nicene Church, so lax were the notions of common morality, and in so feeble a manner did the fear of God influence the conduct of leading men, that, on occasions when the Church was to be served, and her assailants to be confounded, they did not scruple to take upon themselves the contrivance and execution of the most degrading impostures."- P. 270. It is to be observed, however, that Augustin was, at least in this instance, one of the deceived. [On Augustin's views on post-apostolic miracles see Card. Newman, Essay on Miracles, Nitzsch, Augustinas Lehre vom Wunder (Berlin, 1865) and Schaff, Church History, vol. iii. 460, sqq.-P. S.]
14 Alypius was a countryman of Augustin, and one of his most attached friends. See the Confessions, passim.
16 Easter and Whitsuntide were the common seasons for administering baptism, though no rule was laid down till towards the end of the sixth century. Tertullian thinks these the most appropriate times, but says that every time is suitable. See Turtull, de Baptismo, c. 19.
18 This may possibly mean a Christian.
20 Augustin's 325th sermon is in honor of these martyrs.
21 See Isaac Taylor's Ancient Christianity, ii. 354.