31. In Africa

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In Africa some Numidian bishops had refused to acknowledge the appointment of Caecilian to the see of Carthage upon the ground, amongst others, that he had been ordained by a " traditor," or one who had betrayed the holy scriptures. Donatus headed the malcontents, who took their name as a party from him. As Westcott says, if we regard their rigid views in general, " we may see in the opinions of the Donatists, the strictest judgment of the African churches upon the Canon."-f- Now, according to Augustine, each side was " bound by the authority of both Testaments," and alike acknowledged " the Canonical Scriptures." (Ep.129. 3.) And what were these for the New Testament? " The Gospels, the Apostolic Epistles, the Acts of the Apostles, the Apocalypse of John," (C. Crest. 1. 1,31. 3.) If the Epistle to the Hebrews is here included, it is evident that the African assemblies accepted the New Testament in its present form.