Sacramental confession, they term a rehearsal or enumeration of all mans sins to a priest, that he may receive absolution. But against this kind of confession, sundry reasons may be alleged. First of all, it hath no warrant either by commandment or example in the whole word of God. They say yes; and they endeavour to prove it thus: He which lies in any mortal sin, is by Gods law bound to do penance and to seek reconciliation with God; now the necessary means after baptism to obtain reconciliation, is the confession of all our sins to a priest. Because Christ hath appointed priests to be judges upon earth, with such measure of authority, that no man falling after baptism can without their sentence and determination be reconciled; and they can not rightly judge, unless they know all a mans sins: therefore all that fall after baptism are bound by Gods word to open all their sins to a priest. Ans. It is false which they say that priests are judges, having power to examine and take knowledge of mens sins, and jurisdiction whereby they can properly absolve & pardon or retain them. For Gods word hath given no more to man, but a ministry of reconciliation, whereby in the name of God, and according to his word, he doth preach, declare, and pronounce, that God doth pardon or not pardon his sins. Again, pardon may truly be pronounced, and right judgement of the estate of any man, without a particular rehearsal of his sins. For he which soundly and truly repents of one or some few sins, repents of all. Secondly, this confession is overturned by the practise of the Prophets & Apostles, who not only absolved particular persons, but also whole churches without exaction of auricular confession. When Nathan the Prophet had rebuked David for his two great & horrible crimes, David touched with remorse said,1 I have sinned, and Nathan presently without further examination declared unto him in the name of God, that his sins were forgiven him. Thirdly, it can not be proved by any good and sufficient proofs, that this confession was used in the Church of God till after five or six hundred years were expired. For the confession which was then in use, was either public before the Church, or the opening of a public fault to some private person in secret.
Sacramentall confession, they tearme a rehearsall or enumeration of all mans sinnes to a priest, that he may receiue absolution. But against this kinde of confession, sundrie reasons may be alleadged. First of all, it hath no warrant either by commandement or example in the whole word of God. They say yes; and they indeauour to prooue it thus: He which lies in any mortall sinne, is by Gods law bound to doe penance and to seeke reconciliation with God; now the necessarie meanes after baptisme to obtaine reconciliation, is the confession of all our sinnes to a priest. Because Christ hath appointed priests to be iudges vpon earth, with such measure of authoritie, that no man falling after baptisme can without their sentence and determination be reconciled; and they can not rightly iudge, vnlesse they know all a mans sinnes: therefore all that fall after baptisme are bound by Gods word to open all their sinnes to a priest. Ans. It is false which they say that priests are iudges, hauing power to examine and take knowledge of mens sinnes, and iurisdiction whereby they can properly absolue & pardon or retaine them. For Gods word hath giuen no more to man, but a ministerie of reconciliation, whereby in the name of God, and according to his word, he doth preach, declare, and pronounce, that God doth pardon or not pardon his sinnes. Againe, pardon may truly be pronounced, and right iudgement of the estate of any man, without a particular rehearsall of his sinnes. For he which soundly and truly repents of one or some few sinnes, repents of all. Secondly, this confession is ouerturned by the practise of the Prophets & Apostles, who not onely absolued particular persons, but also whol churches without exaction of auricular cōfession. Whē Nathan the Prophet had rebuked Dauid for his two great & horrible crimes, Dauid touched with remorse said,1 I haue sinned, and Nathan presently without further examination declared vnto him in the name of God, that his sins were forgiuen him. Thirdly, it can not be prooued by any good and sufficient proofes, that this confession was vsed in the Church of God till after fiue or sixe hundred yeares were expired. For the confession which was then in vse, was either publicke before the Church, or the opening of a publicke fault to some priuate person in secret.
- 12. Sam. 1•. 12.
