Beza highly *commendeth this practise; and Luther saith, that he had rather lose 1000. worlds, then suffer private confession to be thrust out of the Church. Our church hath ever most asoundly maintained the truth of this doctrine; but most justly abolished the tyrannous and Antichristian abuse of Popish auricular confession, which ⟨p. 966⟩they thrust upon the Souls of Christians, as an Expiatory Sacrifice, and a meritorious satisfaction for sin: racking their Consciences to confess, when they feel no distress, and to enumerate all their sins, which is impossible; that by this means they might dive into the secrets of all men, which oft times hath proved pernicious not only to private persons, but also to public states. But the truth of Gods word is, that no person, having received Orders in the Church of Rome, can truly absolve a sinner: for the Keys of absolution are two, the one is the Key of Authority, and that only *Christ hath: the other is the Key of Ministry; ⟨p. 967⟩and this he agives to his Ministers, who are therefore called, the Ministers of Christ: The bStewards of Gods Mysteries: The cAmbassadors of reconciliation, Bishops, Pastors, Elders, &c. 7But Christ never ordained in the New Testament, any Order of sacrificing Priests, neither is the name of [Greek or Hebrew], which properly signifieth Sacerdos, or sacrificing Priest, given to any Officer of Christ, in all the New Testament. Neither do we read in all the New Testament, of any who confessed himself to a Priest, but Judas. Neither is there any real Priest of the New Testament, but only Christ. 8Neither is there any part of his Priesthood, to be now accomplished ⟨p. 968⟩on Earth, 9but that which he fulfilleth in Heaven, 10by making intercession for us. Seeing therefore Christ never ordained any Order of sacrificing Priests: and that Popish Priests scorn the name of Ministers of the Gospel, to whom only Christ committed his Keys, it necessarily followeth, that no Popish Priest can truly either excommunicate or absolve any sinner, or have any lawful right to meddle with Christs Keys. But the Antichristian abuse of this divine Ordinance, should not abolish the lawful use thereof twixt Christians and their Pastors in cases of distress of Conscience, for which it was chiefly ordained.
Beza highly *commendeth this practise; and Luther saith, that he had rather lose 1000. worlds, then suffer priuate confession to be thrust out of the Church. Our church hath euer most asoundly maintained the truth of this doctrine; but most iustly abolished the tyrannous and Antichristian abuse of Popish auricular confession, vvhich ⟨p. 966⟩they thrust vpon the Soules of Christians, as an Expiatorie Sacrifice, and a merito•ious satisfaction for sinne: racking their Consciences to confesse, when they feele no distresse, and to enumerate all their sinnes, which is impossible; that by this meanes they might diue into the secrets of all men, which oft times hath proued pernitious not onely to priuate persons, but also to publike states. But the truth of Gods vvord is, that no person, hauing receiued Orders in the Church of Rome, can truely absolue a sinner: for the Keyes of absolution are two, the one is the Key of Authoritie, and that onely *Christ hath: the other is the Key of Ministerie; ⟨p. 967⟩and this hee agiues to his Ministers, who are therefore called, the Ministers of Christ: The bStewards of Gods Mysteries: The cAmbassadours of reconciliation, Bishops, Pastors, Elders, &c. 7But Christ neuer ordayned in the New Testament, any Order of sacrificing Priests, neyther is the name of 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, which properly signifieth Sacerdos, or sacrificing Priest, giuen to any Officer of Christ, in all the New Testament. Neyther doe we reade in all the New Testament, of any who confessed himselfe to a Priest, but Iudas. Neyther is there any reall Priest of the New Testament, but onely Christ. 8Neyther is there any part of his Priesthood, to be now accomplished
- *In Antith. Papatus & Christianismi. vol. 1. fol. 66. Luther tom. 6. fol. 109. & s•aq.
- aWitness our liturgy. D. Holland absolved D. Rainolds at his death: who not being able to speak, kissed the hand wherewith he was absolved.Witnesse our liturgie. D. Holland absolued D. Rainolds at his death: who not being able to speake, kissed the hand wherewith he was absolued.
- *Apoc. 3.7. Mar. 2.7. Luke 5.21.
- aMat. 16.19
- b1 Cor. 4.1.
- c2 Cor. 5.20
- 7Ministerii clavis duplex est, una scientia discernendi. 1 Cor. 12.10 1 Joh. 4.1. Jer. 15.19. alia est potestas ligandi & absoluendi. John 20. Mat. 27.4.Ministerii clauis duplex est, vna scientia discernendi. 1 Cor. 12.10 1 Ioh. 4.1. Ier. 15.19. alia est potestas ligandi & absoluendi. Iohn 20. Mat. 27.4.
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