A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

Wherefore the Confession, yea of Secrete sins, is necessary to Salvation by^* the institution of Christ. For in that he instituted the end, he instituted also the means, which should be necessary to the obtaining of the end: onlesse we would make Christ our Lawmaker to have failed his Church in things necessary. That sins can not either be remitted, or retained, except the Priest know them,² we are bold so to say with the Fathers, and specially with S. Hierome, who so^* understood the words of Christ: where he promised the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter. Sacerdos pro officio suo cùm peccatorum audierit Varietates, scit qui ligandus, sit qui Soluendus: The Priest (saith he) when as according to his office he hath heard the diversities of sins, knoweth who is to be bound, who is to be loosed. Right so as in the time of Moses law he pronounced not, who was clean of Leper, who was not, before that he had viewed the colour, the bunches, and all other tokens of that disease. And thus it followeth of the words of Christ, that Confession of all Sins, at least deadly, must be made to the Priest, before they can be remitted. Which Priest is the Minister of this Sacrament, and hath authority to absolve, either Ordinary, or by Commission of the Superior.

VVherefore the Confessiō, yea of Secrete sinnes, is necessary to Saluatiō by^* thinstitution of Christe. For in that he instituted the ende, he instituted also the meanes, whiche shoulde be necessarie to the obteininge of the ende: onlesse we woulde make Christe our Lawemaker to haue failed his Churche in thinges necessarie. That sinnes can not either be remitted, or reteined, excepte the Prieste knowe them,² we are bolde so to saye with the Fathers, and specially with S. Hierome, who so^* vnderstoode the woordes of Christe: where he promised the Keies of the Kingedome of Heauen to Peter. Sacerdos pro officio suo cùm peccatorum audierit Varietates, scit qui ligandus, sit qui Soluendus: The Prieste (saithe he) when as accordinge to his office he hath hearde the diuersities of sinnes, knoweth who is to be bounde, who is to be loosed. Right so as in the time of Moses lawe he pronounced not, who was cleane of Lepre, who was not, before that he had vewed the colour, the bunches, and al other tokens of that disease. And thus it foloweth of the woordes of Christe, that Confession of al Sinnes, at leaste deadly, muste be made to the Prieste, before they can be remitted. VVhiche Prieste is the Minister of this Sacramente, and hath auctoritie to absolue, either Ordinarie, or by Commission of the Superiour.