Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Moreover the Lord alone forgiveth ¹sins. For it is the glory of God alone to forgive sins, and of unrighteous to make men righteous. Therefore whereas men are said to forgive sins, that is to be understood of their ministry and not of their power. The minister pronounceth to the people, that for Christ his sake their sins are forgiven: and in so saying he deceiveth them not: For God in deed forgiveth the sins of them that believe: according to that saying: Whose sins ye forgive they are forgiven them. And this is done so often as the word of the Gospel is preached, so that there be no need to feign that auricular confession and private absolution at the priests hand is necessary for the remission of sins. For as auricular confession was not in use among the Saints before the coming of Christ, so we read not that the Apostles heard private confession, or used private absolution in the Church of Christ. It is enough for us to confess our sins to God, who because he seeth our hearts, ought therefore most rightly to hear our confessions. It is enough if we, as S. James teacheth us, do one to another betwixt our selves confess our faults and offences, and so after pardon asked: return into mutual favour again. It is enough for us to hear the Gospel, promising the forgiveness of our sins through Christ, if we believe. Let us therefore believe the forgiveness of sins, and pray to the Lord that he will vouchsafe to give and increase in us this same belief. These things were of old and in the Primitive Church effectual enough to obtain pardon and full remission of sins: and as they were, so are they undoubtedly, at this day sufficient too.

Moreouer ye Lorde alone forgiueth ¹sinns. For it is the glorie of God alone to forgiue sinnes, and of vnrighteous to make men righteous. Therefore wheras mē are said to forgiue sinnes, that is to be vnderstood of their ministerie and not of their power. The minister pronounceth to the people, that for Christ his sake their sinns are forgiuen: and in so saying hee deceyueth them not: For God in deede forgiueth the sinns of them that belieue: according to that saying: Whose sinnes yee forgiue they are forgiuen them. And this is done so often as the worde of the Gospel is preached, so that there be no néede to faine that auricular cō fession and priuate absolution at the priestes hand is necessarie for the remission of sinnes. For as auricular confession was not in vse among the Saints before the comming of Christ, so wée read not that ye Apostles heard priuate confession, or vsed priuate absolution in the Church of Christe. It is enough for vs to confesse our sinnes to God, who because he seeth our hartes, ought therefore most rightlie to heare our confessions. It is enough if wée, as S. Iames teacheth vs, do one to another betwixt our selues confesse our faultes and offences, and so after pardon asked: retourne into mutuall fauour againe. It is enough for vs to heare the Gospel, promising ye forgiuenesse of our sinnes through Christe, if wée belieue. Let vs therefore belieue the forgiuenes of sinnes, and pray to the Lord yt hee will vouchsafe to giue and increase in vs this same beliefe. These thinges were of olde and in the Primitiue Church effectuall enough to obtayne pardon and full remission of sinnes: and as they were, so are they vndoubtedly, at this day sufficient too.