Satisfaction, they call amends making unto God for their sins, by their undue works, Opera indebita, Works more then they need to do, as they term them: This is their penance which they preach, write, and allow: But how true this stuff is, how it agreeth with Gods Word, how it is to be allowed, taught, preached, and written, let us a little consider. If a man repent not, until he have a just and full sorrowing for his sins (dearly beloved) when shall he repent? For in as much as hell fire, and the punishment of the devils, is a just punishment for sin: In as much as in all sin, there is a contempt of God, which is all goodness, and therefore there is a desert of all illness: alas, who can bear for feel this just sorrow, this full sorrow for our sins, this their contrition, which they do so discern from their attrition? Shall not man by this doctrine, rather despair, then come by repentance? If a man repent not until ⟨p. 9⟩he have made confession of all his sins in the ear of his ghostly father: if a man cannot have absolution of his sins, until his sins be told by tale and number in the Priests ear (in that as David saith) none can understand much less then utter all his sins: Delicta quis intelligit? Who can understand his sins? In that David of himself complaineth else where, how that his sins are overflowed his head, and as a heavy burden do oppress him; alas, shall not a man by this doctrine, be utterly driven from repentance? Though they have gone about, something to make plaster for their forces of confession or attrition, to assuage this srruffe; bidding a man to hope well of his contrition, though it be not so full as is required, and of his confession, though he have not numbered all his sins, if so be that he do so much as in him lieth: dearly beloved, in that there is none, but that herein he is guilty (for who doth as much as he may) think ye, that this plaster is not like salt to sore eyes? ⟨p. 10⟩Yes undoubtedly, when they have done all they can, for the appeasing of consciences in these points, this is the sum, that we yet should hope well, but yet so hope, that we must stand in a mammering and doubting, whether our sins be forgiven. For to believe Remissionem peecatorum, that is: To be certain of forgiveness of sins, as our Creed teacheth us, they count it a presumption.
Satisfaction, they call amends making vnto God for their sins, by their vndue workes, Opera indebita, Works more then they neede to doe, as they terme them: This is their penance which they preach, write, and allow: But how true this stuffe is, how it agreeth with Gods Word, how it is to bee allowed, taught, preached, and written, let vs a little consider. If a man repent not, vntill he haue a iust and full sorrowing for his sins (dearely beloued) when shall he repent? For in as much as hel fire, and the punishment of the diuels, is a iust punishment for sinne: In as much as in all sin, there is a contempt of God, which is all goodnes, and therefore there is a desert of all ilnesse: alas, who can beare for feele this iust sorrow, this ful sorrow for our sinnes, this their contrition, which they do so discerne from their attrition? Shall not man by this doctrine, rather despaire, then come by repentance? If a man repent not vntil ⟨p. 9⟩he haue made confession of all his sins in the eare of his ghostly father: if a man cannot haue absolution of his sinnes, vntil his sinnes be told by tale and number in the Priests eare (in that as Dauid sayth) none can vnderstand much lesse then vtter al his sins: Delicta quis intelligit? Who can vnderstand his sins? In that Dauid of himselfe complayneth else where, how that his sinnes are ouerflowed his head, and as a heauy burthen doe oppresse him; alas, shall not a man by this doctrine, be vtterly driuen from repentance? Though they haue gone about, something to make plaister for their sorces of confession or attrition, to asswage this srruffe; bidding a man to hope well of his contrition, though it be not so full as is required, and of his confession, though hee haue not numbred all his sinnes, if so be that he doe so much as in him lyeth: deerely beloued, in that there is none, but that herein he is guilty (for who doth as much as he may) thinke yee, that this plaster is not like salt to sore eies? ⟨p. 10⟩Yes vndoubtedly, when they haue done all they can, for the appeasing of consciences in these points, this is the summe, that wee yet should hope well, but yet so hope, that wee must stand in a mammering and doubting, whether our sinnes be forgiuen. For to beleeue Remissionem peecatorum, that is: To be certaine of forgiuenesse of sinnes, as our Creed teacheth vs, they count it a presumption.
