A03611:458
The Soul's Preparation for Christ
The souls preparation for Christ. Or, A treatise of contrition Wherein is discovered how God breaks the heart and wounds the soul, in the conversion of a sinner to Himself.The soules preparation for Christ. Or, A treatise of contrition Wherein is discovered how God breaks the heart and wounds the soule, in the conversion of a sinner to Himselfe.
London: printed by M. Flesher for Robert Dawlman, 1632London: printed by M. Flesher for Robert Davvlman, 1632
THE SOULS PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.THE SOVLES PREPARATION FOR CHRIST.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus you see when a man is bound to confess his sin, this is far enough from the tyrannical confession of that strange popish doctrine of auricular confession: they hold, all men are bound, whatsoever their condition be, whether their sins be pardoned or unpardoned, they are bound to confess all their mortal sins, and to expect their pardon authoritatively from the Priests hand,1 upon the pain of great matters. The aim of the papists herein is, first, to snare mens consciences; and secondly, to pick mens purses: for when a man hath confessed his mortal sins, his conscience is snared, and then they must give so much money for the pardon of them agreeable to the offence. Now we bind no man upon pain to come necessarily, but if he can get pardon from God in the use of the means, and get power against his corruptions, in this case we enjoin no man to confess; but when the Saints do come, it is not because we will or can sell pardons, but only to fit them for mercy. And this is the truth, and that our Church holds.
Thus you see when a man is bound to confesse his sin, this is farre enough from the tyrannicall confession of that strange popish doctrine of auricular confession: they hold, all men are bound, whatsoever their condition be, whether their sins be pardoned or unpardoned, they are bound to confesse all their mortall sinnes, and to expect their pardon authoritatively from the Priests hand,1 upon the paine of great matters. The aime of the papists herein is, first, to snare mens consci•nces; and secondly, to picke mens purses: for when a man hath confessed his mortall sinnes, his conscience is snared, and then they must give so much money for the pardon of them agreeable to the offence. Now we bind no man upon paine to come necessarily, but if hee can get pardon from God in the use of the meanes, and get power against his corruptions, in this case we injoyne no man to confesse; but when the Saints doe come, it is not because we wil or can sel pardōs, but only to fit them for mercy. And this is the truth, and that our Church holds.
- 1Popish confession, wha•