Augustine argues that the Donatists misuse St. Cyprian’s support for baptizing converts previously baptized by heretics, since Cyprian placed the peace and unity of the Church above his own judgment and remained in communion with bishops who disagreed. Even apostles and saints can err, he says; unlike Scripture, the opinions of individual bishops and local councils may be corrected by later plenary councils. Cyprian’s regional position on baptism therefore cannot outweigh the universal Church’s settled practice of accepting baptism administered by heretics. The Donatist appeal to avoiding contamination by sinners is also undermined by Cyprian’s example: disagreement did not destroy the Church or spiritually defile those who remained united. Augustine points to the Donatists’ treatment of the Maximianists, whom they first condemned and later received without rebaptism, as evidence of their inconsistency. He distinguishes the seriousness of lacking baptism from being baptized twice, arguing that the Church’s penitential reception of the rebaptized implicitly recognizes the validity of their first baptism. Charity and peace can heal such errors, and Augustine urges the Donatists to abandon pride, repent, and return to the Catholic Church rather than claim martyrdom for schism.