The Institution of Christian Religion

This abrogation Chrysostom, which was also bishop of Constantinople, doth in so many places evidently testify,¹ that it is marvel that these dare mutter to the contrary. Tell (saith he) thy sins that thou ⟨p. 141⟩mayest do them away, if thou be ashamed to tell to any man the sins that thou hast done, tell them daily in thy soul. I do not say, Confess them to thy fellow servant, that may reproach thee: tell them to God that taketh care of them. Confess thy sins upon thy bed, that there thy conscience may daily recognise her evils.² Again. But now it is not necessary to confess when witnesses be present: let the examination of thy sins be done with thy thought: let this judgement be without witness: let only God see thee confessing.³ Again. I do not lead thee into a stage of thy fellow servants, I do not compel thee to disclose thy sins to men, rehearse & utter thy conscience before God. Show thy wounds to the Lord the best surgeon, & ask salve of him. Show to him that will reproach thee with nothing, but will most gently heal thee. Again. Tell not man,⁴ least he reproach thee, for neither is it to be confessed to thy fellow servant, that may utter it abroad, but to the Lord. To the Lord show thy wounds which hath care of thee, that is both gentle & a Physician. Afterward he bringeth in God speaking thus. I compel thee not to come into the mids of a stage, & call many witnesses, tell thy sin to me alone privately, that I may heal thy sore. Shall we say that Chrysostom did so rashly, when he wrote this & other like things, that he would deliver mens consciences from these bonds wherewith they be bond by the law of God? not so. But he dare not require that as of necessity, which he doth not understand to be commanded by the word of God.

This abrogation Chrysostome, which was also bishope of Constantinople, doth in so many places euidently testifie,¹