For as for notorious offences, which bred open scandal, private confession was not thought sufficient: but there was further required public acknowledgement of the fault, & the solemn use of the keys for the reconciliation of the penitent. pIf his sin do not only redound to his own evil, but also unto much scandal of others, and the Bishop thinketh it to be expedient for the profit of the Church, let him not refuse to perform his penance in the knowledge of many or of the whole people also, let him not resist, let him not by his shamefastness add swelling to his deadly and mortal wound: saith S. Augustine. and more largely in another place; where he meeteth with the objection, of the sufficiency of internal repentance, in this manner. qLet no man say ⟨p. 93⟩unto himself: I do it secretly, I do it before God; God who pardoneth me doth know, that I do it in my heart. Is it therefore said without cause; Whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven? Are the keys therefore without cause given unto the Church of God? Do we frustrate the Gospel of God? do we frustrate the words of Christ? Do we promise that to you which he denieth you? Do we not deceive you? Job saith: If I was abashed to confess my sins in the sight of the people. So just a man of Gods rich treasure, who was tried in such a furnace, saith thus: and doth the child of pestilence withstand me, and is ashamed to bow his knee under th• blessing of God? That which the Emperor was not ashamed to do, is he ashamed of, who is not as much as a Senator, but only a simple Courtier? O proud neck, ó crooked mind! perhaps, nay it is not to be doubted, it was for this reason God would that Theodosius the Emperor should do public penance in the sight of the people, especially because his sin could not be concealed: and is a Senator ashamed of that, whereof the Emperor was not ashamed? is he ashamed of that who is no Senator, but a Courtier only, whereof the Emperor was not ashamed? Is one of the vulgar sort, or a trader ashamed of that, whereof the Emperor was not ashamed? What pride is this? Were not this alone sufficient to bring them to hell, although no adultery had been committed? Thus far S. Augustine, concerning the necessity of public Repentance for known offences:
For as for notorious offences, which bred open scandall, private confession was not thought sufficient: but there was further required publick acknowledgement of the fault, & the solemne use of the keyes for the reconciliation of the penitent. pIf his sin do not only redound to his own evill, but also unto much scandall of others, and the Bishop thinketh it to be expedient for the profit of the Church, let him not refuse to performe his penance in the knowledge of manie or of the whole people also, let him not resist, let him not by his shamefastnesse add swelling to his deadly and mortall wound: saith S. Augustine. and more largely in another place; where he meeteth with the objection, of the sufficiencie of internall repentance, in this maner. qLet no man say ⟨p. 93⟩unto himselfe: I doe it secretly, I doe it before God; God vvho pardoneth me doth know, that I doe it in my heart. Is it therefore said without cause; Whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven? Are the keyes therfore without cause given unto the Church of God? Doe we frustrate the Gospell of God? doe we frustrate the words of Christ? Doe we promise that to you which hee denieth you? Do wee not deceive you? Iob saith: If I was abashed to confesse my sinnes in the sight of the people. So just a man of Gods rich threasure, who was tried in such a furnace, saith thus: and doth the childe of pestilence vvithstand me, and is ashamed to bow his knee under th• blessing of God? That which the Emperor was not ashamed to doe, is he ashamed of, who is not as much as a Senator, but only a simple Courtier? O proud neck, ó crooked minde! perhaps, nay it is not to be doubted, it was for this reason God would that Theodosius the Emperour should doe publick penance in the sight of the people, especially because his sinne could not be concealed: and is a Senator ashamed of that, whereof the Emperour was not ashamed? is he ashamed of that who is no Senator, but a Courtier onely, whereof the Emperour was not ashamed? Is one of the vulgar sort, or a trader ashamed of that, whereof the Emperour was not ashamed? What pride is this? Were not this alone sufficient to bring them to hell, although no adultery had beene committed? Thus farre S. Augustine, concerning the necessitie of publike Repentance for knowne offences:
- pSi peccatum ejus non solùm in gravi ejus malo, sed etiā in tanto scandalo est aliorū, atque hoc expedire utilitati Ecclesiae videtur Antistiti, in notitiâ multorum, vel etiā totius plebis agere poenitentiam non recuset, non resistat, non lethali & mortiferae plagae per pudorē addat tumorē. August. in lib. de Poenitentiâ: quae postrema est homilia ex 50. in 10. Tom.Si peccatum ejus non solùm in gravi ejus malo, sed etiā in tanto scandalo est aliorū, atque hoc expedire utilitati Ecclesiae videtur Antistiti, in notitiâ multorum, vel etiā totius plebis agere poenitentiam non recuset, non resistat, non lethali & mortiferae plagae per pudorē addat tumorē. August. in lib. de Poenitentiâ: quae postrema est homilia ex 50. in 10. Tom.
- qNemo sibi dicat, Occulté ago, apud Deū ago; novit Deus qui mihi ignoscit, quia in corde ago. Ergo sine caussâ dictum est: Quae solveritis in terrâ, soluta erunt in coelo? Ergo sine caussâ sunt claves datae Ecclesiae Dei? Frustramus Evangelium Dei: frustramus verba Christi? Promittimus vobis quod ille negat? Nónne vos decipimus? Job dicit: Si erubui in conspectu populi confiteri peccata mea. Talis justus thesauri divini obryzi, tali camino probatus, ista dicit: & resistit mihi filius pestilentiae, & erubescit genu figere sub benedictione Dei? Quod non erubuit Imperator, erubescit nec senator, sed tantùm curialis? Superba cervix, mens tortuosa. fortassis, imò quod non dubitatur, proptereà Deus v•luit ut Theodosius Imperator ageret poenitentiam publicam in conspectu populi, maximé quia peccatum ejus celari non potuit: & erubescit Senator, quod non erubuit Imperator? erubescit nec Senator, sed tantùm curialis, quod nō erubuit Imperator? Erubescit plebeius sive negotiator, quod nō erubuit Imperator? Quae ista superbia est? Nónne sola sufficeret gehennae, etiamsi adulteriū nullū esset. Id. hom. 49. ex 50. ca. 3.Nemo sibi dicat, Occulté ago, apud Deū ago; novit Deus qui mihi ignoscit, quia in corde ago. Ergo sine caussâ dictum est: Quae solveritis in terrâ, soluta erunt in coelo? Ergo sine caussâ sunt claves datae Ecclesiae Dei? Frustramus Evangelium Dei: frustramus verba Christi? Promittimus vobis quod ille negat? Nónne vos decipimus? Iob dicit: Si erubui in conspectu populi confiteri peccata mea. Talis justus thesauri divini obryzi, tali camino probatus, ista dicit: & resistit mihi filius pestilentiae, & erubescit genu figere sub benedictione Dei? Quod non erubuit Imperator, erubescit nec senator, sed tantùm curialis? Superba cervix, mens tortuosa. fortassis, imò quod non dubitatur, proptereà Deus v•luit ut Theodosius Imperator ageret poenitentiam publicam in conspectu populi, maximé quia peccatum ejus celari non potuit: & erubescit Senator, quod non erubuit Imperator? erubescit nec Senator, sed tantùm curialis, quod nō erubuit Imperator? Erubescit plebeius sive negotiator, quod nō erubuit Imperator? Quae ista superbia est? Nónne sola sufficeret gehēnae, etiamsi adulteriū nullū esset. Id. hom. 49. ex 50. ca. 3.
