A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

The fourth abuse is, that the Church of Rome for some 800. years, hath turned the power of the Keys unto the Priest, in their Sacrament of Penance: for whereas by Gods word the Ministers power is only to pronounce the absolution of Christ, with them every Priest sits as a Judge, and all the people come unto him as to a Judge, making known unto him all their thoughts, words, and deeds, (as near as they can) wherein they have broken any Commandment: which done, the Priest enjoins him to bewail his sins, and after contrition, doth properly give sentence of pardon, even as Christ himself doth: and then after appoints him works of satisfaction, to be done for the temporal punishment of his sins: which done, his sins are pardoned in heaven. Where behold a most devilish practise, as may appear by the manifold errors contained therein. As first, the confession of all a mans sins; which hath no warrant in Gods word.

The fourth abuse is, that the Church of Rome for some 800. yeeres, hath turned the power of the Keyes vnto the Priest, in their Sacrament of Penance: for wheras by Gods word the Ministers power is onely to pronounce the absolution of Christ, with them euery Priest sits as a Iudge, and all the people come vnto him as to a Iudge, making knowen vnto him all their thoughts, words, and deeds, (as neere as they can) wherein they haue broken any Commandement: which done, the Priest enioynes him to bewaile his sinnes, and after contrition, doth properly giue sentence of pardon, euen as Christ himselfe doth: and then after appoints him workes of satisfaction, to be done for the temporall punishment of his sinnes: which done, his sins are pardoned in heauen. Where behold a most deuillish practise, as may appeare by the manifold errors contained therein. As first, the confession of all a mans sinnes; which hath no warrant in Gods word.

Secondly, that the Priest should give sentence of pardon, is a most notorious practise, whereby Christ is robbed of his honour: for the Pharisees could say, None can forgive sins but God: that is properly, Mark. 2.7; Which Christ approveth, and it is must true; for he that can forgive sins properly, must make satisfaction for sins. Thirdly, they absolve from the fault, but they will not forgive the punishment; and thereby they rob others to enrich themselves. Fourthly, they enjoin satisfaction to God by men for their sins: whereby they do nothing else but overturn the all-sufficient satisfaction of Christ, and enjoin that to man which is impossible. Al these are most horrible abuses of this power, which ought to be known and considered, being a sufficient warrant unto us, that the Church of Rome is no true church of God: for though the Pope carry in his arms the keys, yet they are not the keys of heaven, but of hell. For he hath made moe places of rest and woe, than ever God did: as Limbus ptū, and Purgatory, & therefore must needs make moe doors thither, and so moe locks & keys.