Confession or the numbering of our1 sins, which must be done before the priest, with all the circumstances ⟨image 121⟩thereof, as how, when, who, with whom, how often, and wherefore he hath offended, is but in vain, and without all sufficient proof called the Sacrament of confession. For God alone, as we have before showed, did institute the Sacraments, but he ordained not this confession to be any of them, neither did he command it as necessary to our salvation. For the holy Scripture teacheth an other manner of profitable and necessary kind of confession, and biddeth us to confess our sins with a true faith from our hearts meekly unto God. For God it is alone whom we have offended, who knoweth our hearts, deeds, and determinations, remitteth or punisheth sins, and hath given his son unto us, an high Priest and one eternal sacrifice. Therefore must we come to GOD the father through Christ, and that with the same words which he hath given us, teaching us to confess our sins, saying: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And after this sort may all the faithful in ⟨p. 111⟩all their troubles, and at all times, and in every place confess themselves to GOD both secretly and openly. Secretly when each man prayeth alone and confesseth his sins to God. Openly, when any man in the Church together with the whole congregation prayeth and confesseth the same. And there are many examples in both the Testaments, of those who confessed themselves to God, and not only craved, but also obtained of him forgiveness of their sins. But on the contrary, there are no examples of any which confessed themselves to Lay men or Priests: for this honour belongeth to God alone, which hath given us his2 son to be our high Priest, who heareth sufficiently the confession of all the faithful, so that there is no need to substitute any in his room to hear them. For who so ever with a true faith from the bottom of his heart in manner as is said) confesseth his sins to God the father, and to his son our only chief Bishop Christ Jesus, •aving his grace and mercy, they undoubtedly ⟨image 122⟩receive full remission of all their sins. And therefore I demand of our Adversaries whether this be true or no? If they deny it, then do we object against them the Lords prayer in the which we confess and pray, saying:
COnfession or the numbring of our1 sinnes, which must be done before the priest, with al the circūstances ⟨image 121⟩therof, as how, when, who, with whom, how often, and wherfore he hath offended, is but in vayne, and without all sufficient proofe called the Sacrament of confession. For God alone, as wée haue before shewed, dyd institute the Sacraments, but he ordeyned not this confession to be any of them, neither did he commaunde it as necessarie to our saluation. For the holye Scripture teacheth an other maner of profitable and necessarie kinde of confession, and byddeth vs to confesse our sinnes with a true fayth from our hearts méekely vnto God. For God it is alone whome wée haue offended, who knoweth our hearts, déedes, and determinations, remitteth or punisheth sinnes, and hathe giuen his sonne vnto vs, an high Priest and one eternall sacrifice. Therefore muste wée come to GOD the father through Chryst, and that with the same wordes which he hathe giuen vs, teaching vs to confesse our sinnes, saying: Forgiue vs our trespasses, as we forgyue them that trespasse agaynst vs. And after this sorte may all the faythfull in ⟨p. 111⟩all theyr troubles, and at all tymes, and in euery place confesse themselues to GOD bothe secretly and openly. Secretly when eche man prayeth alone and confesseth his sinnes to God. Openly, when any man in the Church togither with the whole congregation prayeth and confesseth the same. And there are many examples in bothe the Testamentes, of those who confessed themselues to God, and not onely craued, but also obteined of him forgiuenesse of their sinnes. But on the contrarie, there are no examples of any which confessed themselues to Laye men or Priestes: for this honor belongeth to God alone, which hathe giuen vs hys2 sonne to be our high Prieste, who heareth sufficiently the confession of al the faythfull, so that there is no néede to substitute any in hys roume to heare them. For who so euer with a true fayth from the bottome of his heart in maner as is sayd) confesseth his sinnes to God the father, and to his sonne our onely chiefe Byshoppe Chryste Jesus, •auing hys grace and mercy, they vndoubtedly ⟨image 122⟩receiue full remission of all their sinnes. And therfore I demaunde of our Aduersaries whether this bée true or no? If they denie it, then doo we obiecte agaynst them the Lords prayer in the which wée confesse and pray, saying:
- 1What confe• sion is good & necessary ▪What confe• sion is good & necessari• ▪
- 2We must confess us unto God.We must confesse vs vnto God.
