A Golden Chain

Now, this true humiliation of a sinner can not be wrought in any mans heart by the religion of the Church of Rome. True and sound humiliation is wrought by two means: first, by making a man to see the greatness of his sin and wickedness: secondly, by making him to acknowledge, that he is destitute, and quite bereft of all goodness. For if a man either see not the greatness of his sin, or have confidence of any thing in himself, he can not be humbled: but neither of these two things are performed in the church of Rome. As touching the first, the Romish religion is so far from amplifying & enlarging the greatness of mens sins, that it doth extenuate them, and lessen them out of measure: for it maketh some sins to be venial, ^fwhen as the least sin that can be against Gods law deserveth damnation, ^git teacheth that lesser sins are done away by an humble accusation of a mans self, by saying the Lords prayer, by knocking upon the breast, and by such like: the greater sins may be done away by alms deeds, and such like satisfactions. But how can any sin be great, that may be done away with such easy and sleight means? Furthermore it teacheth, that evil thoughts and desires, and motions of the heart without consent are no sins: and this opinion cutteth off all true ⟨p. 645⟩humiliation: for Paul never repented, before he understood the meaning of the last commandment, and perceived thereby, that the desires and lusts of his heart, to which he did not yield his consent, were sins damnable before God, and knowing this, he then saw himself to be most miserable, and renouncing his own righteousness, he sought for righteousness in Christ. Lastly, ⁱit teacheth, that original sin is done away in Baptism, and that it is the least sin of all other. What is this but to extenuate mans corruption, for when the root of corruption is taken away, and it is made so little a sin, actual sins cannot be taken for such heinous matters.

Now, this true humiliation of a sinner can not be wrought in any mans heart by the religion of the Church of Rome. True and sound humiliation is wrought by two means: first, by making a man to see the greatnes of his sinne and wickednesse: secondly, by making him to acknowledge, that he is destitute, and quite bereft of all goodnes. For if a man either see not the greatnes of his sinne, or haue confidence of any thing in himselfe, he can not be humbled: but neither of these two things are performed in the church of Rome. As touching the first, the Romish religion is so farre from amplifying & enlarging the greatnes of mens sinnes, that it doth extenuate them, and lessen them out of measure: for it maketh some sinnes to be venial,