IN any wise, remember (if conveniently it may be) to send for some godly and religious Pastor, not only to pray for thee at thy death (for GOD in such a case hath promised to bear the Prayers of the righteous aProphets, and bElders of the Church) But also upon thy confession and unfeigned repentance to absolve thee of thy sins. For as Christ hath given him a calling to cbaptize thee unto repentance for the remission of thy sins: so hath he likewise given him a calling and dpower, ⟨p. 957⟩and eauthority (upon repentance) •o absolve thee from thy sins. fI will give thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be l••sed in heaven. 7And again, Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye bind in earth shall be •ound in heaven: whatsoever ye loose in earth, 8shall be loosed in heaven. And again, receive ye the holy Ghost: whosoever sins years […], they are remitted unto them: and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained. This doctrine was as ancient in the Church of God as Job, for Elihu tells him,9 That when God strikes a man with ⟨p. 958⟩malady •n his bed, so that his soul draweth near the grave, and his life to the buri•rs. If there be• any messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand, to declare unto man his righteousness, then will he have mercy upon him, &c. And answerable hereunto (saith Saint James) if the sick […] committed sins (upon his repentance,10 and the prayer of the Elders) they shall be forgiven him. These have power •o shut heaven, 11and to deliver (the scandalous impenitent sinner) […] Satan. 12For the weapon• of their war fa••, are […] carnal, 13but mighty, through God, to cast down▪ &c. and to have vengeance in readiness against all disobedience. They have the key of loosing, therefore ⟨p. 959⟩the power of absolving.
IN any wise, remember (if conueniently it may be) to send for some godly and religious Pastor, not onely to pray for thee at thy death (for GOD in such a case hath promised to beare the Praiers of the righteous aProphets, and bElders of the Church) But also vpon thy confession and vnfaigned repentance to absolue thee of thy sinnes. For as Christ hath giuen him a calling to cbaptize thee vnto repentance for the remission of thy sinnes: so hath he likewise giuen him a calling and dpower, ⟨p. 957⟩and eauthority (vpon repentance) •o absolue thee from thy sinnes. fI will giue thee the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen: and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpon earth, shal be bound in heauen: and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth, shall be l••sed in heauen. 7And againe, Verily, I say vnto you, whatsoeuer yee bind in earth shall be •ound in heauen: whatsoeuer yee loose in earth, 8shall be loosed in heauen. And againe, receiue yee the holy Ghost: whosoeuer sinnes yeare• 〈…〉, they are remitted vnto them: and whosoeuer sinnes yee retaine, they are retained. This doctrine was as ancient in the Church of God as Iob, for Elihu tels him,9 That when God strikes a man with ⟨p. 958⟩malady •n his bed, so that his soule draweth neere the graue, and his life to the buri•rs. If there be any messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand, to declare vnto man his righteousnesse, then will hee haue mercy vpon him, &c. And answerable heereunto (saith Saint Iames) if the sicke committed sinnes (vpon his repentance,
- aGen. 20.7. Jer. 18.20. & 15.1. Eze. 14.14. 1 Sam. 9.7. & 12.19.23.Gen. 20.7. Ier. 18.20. & 15.1. Eze. 14.14. 1 Sam. 9.7. & 12.19.23.
- bJam. 5.14.5.16.Iam. 5.14.5.16.
- cMark. 1.4. Act. 19.4.
- d1 Cor. 5.4.
- e2 Cor. 10.8
- fMat. 16.19
- 7Mat. 18.18.
- 8Joh. 20.22.23.Ioh. 20.22.23
