Tertullian

“ What if, even here, you should conceive to reply that communion is indeed denied to sinners, very especially such as had been “polluted by the flesh,” [16] but (only) for the present; to be restored, to wit, as the result of penitential suing: in accordance with that clemency of God which prefers a sinner’s repentance to his death? [17] —for this fundamental ground of your opinion must be universally attacked. ”

“ However, since in all Epistles he both prohibits such a character, (so sinning) after believing, from being admitted (to the society of believers) ; and, if admitted, detrudes him from communion, without hope of any condition or time; he sides more with our opinion, pointing out that the repentance which the Lord prefers is that which before believing, before baptism, is esteemed better than the death of the sinner,— (the sinner, I say,) once for all to be washed through the grace of Christ, who once for all has suffered death for our sins. ”

“ Thus that clemency of God, preferring the repentance of a sinner to his death, looks at such as are ignorant still, and still unbelieving, for the sake of whose liberation Christ came; not (at such) as already know God, and have learnt the sacrament of the faith. ”