The Institution of Christian Religion

Sozomenus reporteth that this constitution of bishops was diligently kept in all the west Churches, but specially at Rome. Whereby he showeth that it was no universal ordinance of all Churches. But he saith that there was one of the priests peculiarly appointed to serve for this office. Whereby he doth sufficiently confute that which these men do falsely say of the keys given for this use universally to the whole order of priesthood. For it was not the common office of all priests, but the special duty of some one that was chosen thereunto by the bishop. The same is he, whom at this day in all cathedral Churches they call Penitentiary, the examiner of heinous offences, and such whereof the punishment pertaineth to good example. Then he saith immediately after, that this was also the manner at Constantinople, till a certain woman feigning that she came to confession, was found so to have coloured under that pretence the unhonest company that she used with a certain Deacon. For this act, Nectarius a man notable in holiness & learning bishop of that Church, toke away the custom of confessing. Here, here let these asses lift up their ears. If auricular confession were the law of God, how durst Nectarius repel and destroy it? Will they accuse for an heretic & schismatic Nectarius a holy man of God, allowed by the consenting voices of all the old fathers? But by the same sentence they must condemn the Church of Constantinople, in which Sozomenus affirmeth that the manner of confessing was not only let slip for a time, but also discontinued even till within time of his remembrance. Yea let them condemn of apostasy not only the Church of Constantinople, but also all the cast Churches which have neglected that law, which (if they say true) is inviolable and commanded to all Christians.

Sozomenus reporteth that this constitution of bishops was diligently kepte in all the west Churches, but specialli at Rome. Wherby he sheweth that it was no vniuersall ordinance of all Churches. But he saith that there was one of the preestes peculiarly appointed to serue for this office. Whereby he dothe sufficiently confute that which these men do falsly saie of the keyes geuen for this vse vniuersally to the whole ordre of presthode. For it was not the common office of all preestes, but the special duetie of some one that was chosen thervnto by ye bishop. The same is he, whome at thys daie in all cathedrall Churches thei call Penitentiarie, the examiner of haynous offenses, and such wherof the punishment perteineth to good example. Then he saith immediatly after, yt this was also ye manner at Constantinople, till a certaine woman faining that she came to confession, was founde so to haue colored vnder that pretence ye vnhonest cō panie that she vsed with a certaine Deacon. For this acte, Nectarius a man notable in holines & learning bishop of that Churche, toke away ye custome of confessing. Here, here let these asses lift vp their eares. If auricular confession wer the lawe of God, how durst Nectarius repelle and destroie it? Wil thei accuse for an heretike & schismatike Nectarius a holy man of God, allowed by the consenting voices of all the olde fathers? But by the same sentence thei muste condemne the Churche of Constantinople, in whiche Sozomenus affyrmeth that the manner of confessing was not onely let slype for a time, but also discontinued euen till within time of his remembrance. Yea let them cōdemne of apostasy not onely the Church of Constantinople, but also all the cast Churches whiche haue neglected that lawe, whiche (if thei saie true) is inuiolable and commaunded to all Christians.