Again, for proof that Confession is necessary, we sate, that to remit and retain sins committed against God, as to bind and to loose, be judicial acts. And therefore by these words Christ ordained a Court,1 a Consistory, a seat of Judgement in the Church, and appointed the Apostles and their Successors to be Judges. And that this may appear not to be a fantasy of our own heads, S. Augustine so expoundeth those words of S. John in his Revelation: Et vidi ledes, &c. And I saw seats, and some sitting on them, and judgement was given. We must not think (•aithe he) this to be spoken of the last judgement, but we must understand the Seats of the Rulers, and the Rulers themselves, by whom now the Church is governed. And as for the Judgement given, it seemeth not to be taken for any other, then for that, whereof it was said, What things ye bind in Earth, they shall be bound also in Heaven: and what things ye loose on Earth, they shall be loosed also in Heaven. Sundry other Fathers have uttered in their writings the same Doctrine.2 Hilarius upon the sixteenth Chapter of Matthew saith, Beatus Coeli janitor, &c. Blessed is the Porter of Heaven, whose earthly judgement (that is to say, which is given here on Earth) is a forejudged authority in Heaven, that what things be bound,3 or loosed in Earth, they have the condition of the same Statute also in Heaven. S. Cyprian hath the like saying in an Epistle to Cornelius. Chrysostom saith, that Christ hath translated all judgement, which he received of the Father, unto the Apostles, and Priests. Gregory Nazianzene in an Oration to the Emperor and his Princes, saith to the Emperor, Ovis mea es, & nos habemus Tribunalia: 4Thou art my Sheep, and we have our seats of judgement. S. Gregory the Pope compareth the Sacrament of Penance with a court of Justice, in which causes be first examined and tried, and afterward Judged. That the same is to be done by the Priest. S. Bernard showeth: Who, as also the learned Father Hugo de S. Victore, be not afraid to say after S. Cyprian, Hilary, and Chrysostom, that the sentence of Peter remitting Sins, goeth before the sentence of Heaven. ⟨p. 148⟩This Ordinance of Christ requireth, that all. Trespasses, Offences, Disorders, Transgressions, and Sins committed against him and his Laws, be referred to this Consistory.
Againe, for proufe that Confession is necessarie, wee sate, that to remitte and reteine sinnes committed againste God, as to binde and to loose, be iudicial actes. And therefore by these woordes Christe ordeined a Courte,1 a Consistorie, a seate of Iudgemente in the Churche, and appointed the Apostles and their Successours to be Iudges. And that this maye appeare not to be a fantasie of our owne heades, S. Augustine so expoundeth those woordes of S. Iohn in his Reuelation: Et vidi ledes, &c. And I sawe seates, and some sittinge on them, and iudgement was geuen. VVe muste not thinke (•aithe he) this to be spoken of the laste iudgement, but we muste vnderstande the Seates of the Rulers, and the Rulers themselues, by whome nowe the Churche is gouerned. And as for the Iudgement geuen, it semeth not to be taken for any other, then for that, whereof it was saide, VVhat thinges yee binde in Earthe, they shalbe boūde also in Heauen: and what thinges ye loose on Earthe, they shal be loosed also in Heauen. Sundrie other Fathers haue vttered in their writinges the same Doctrine.2 Hilarius vpon the sixtenth Chapter of Matthewe saithe, Beatus Coeli ianitor, &c. Blessed is the Porter of Heauen, whose earthly iudgement (that is to saie, whiche is geuen here on Earthe) is a foreiudged auctoritie in Heauen, that what thinges be bounde,3 or loosed in Earthe, they haue the condition of the same Statute also in Heauen. S. Cyprian hath the like sayinge in an Epistle to Cornelius. Chrysostome saithe, that Christe hath translated al iudgemente, whiche he receiued of the Father, vnto the Apostles, and Priestes. Gregorie Nazianzene in an Oration to the Emperour and his Princes, saithe to the Emperour, Ouis mea es, & nos habemus Tribunalia: 4Thou arte my Sheepe, and we haue our seates of iudgement. S. Gregorie the Pope compareth the Sacrament of Penaunce with a courte of Iustice, in which causes be first examined and tried, and afterwarde Iudged. That the same is to be donne by the Prieste. S. Bernarde sheweth: VVho, as also the learned Father Hugo de S. Victore, be not afraide to saie after S. Cyprian, Hilarie, and Chrysostome, that the sentence of Peter remittinge Sinnes, goeth before the sentence of Heauen. ⟨p. 148⟩This Ordinance of Christe requireth, that al. Trespasses, Offences, Disorders, Transgressions, and Sinnes committed against him and his Lawes, be referred to this Consistorie.
- 1This Consistory stood sometime in Excommunication, sometime in Preaching.This Consistorie stoode sometime in Excommunication, sometime in Preachinge.
- 2In Mat. Cap. 16.
- 3Li. 1. Epi. 2. De dignit. sacerd. li. 3.
- 4This saying pertaineth, no• to Confession, but to the Authority of Gods word.This saieinge perteineth, no• to Confession, but to the Authoritie of Gods vvoorde.
