A17662:932
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But what say the Romish divines? They decree that every one of §15either kind,1 so son•e as they come to the years of discretion, must yearly ones at the least confess all their sins to their own priest: and that their sin is not forgiven, onlesse they have firmly conceived an intent to confess it: which intent if they perform not when occasion is offered that they may do it, there is now no more entry open for them into Paradise. And that the priest hath the power of the keys, where with he may lose & bind a sinner: because the word of Christ is not in vain, What so ever ye bind. &c. About this power they stoutly fight among them selves. Some say that there is but one key in substance, that is the power to bind & loose, and as for knowledge, that it is in deed requisite for a good use, but that it is only as an accessary & is not essentially joined with the other. Some other, because they saw this to be to much an unbridled licence, have reckoned up two keys, discretion, & power. Other again, when they saw the lewd boldness of priests to be restrained by this moderation, have forged other keys, that is to say, authority of discerning which they should use in giving determinate sentence: and power, which they should practise in executing of their sentence: & that knowledge standeth by as a counsellor. But they date not simply expound this binding & loosing to be to forgive and put away sins, because they hear the Lord crying out in the Prophet: It is I,2 and none other but I: it is I, it is I that put away thy since▪ O Israel, But they say it is the priests office to pronounce who be bound or loosed, and to declare whose since are forgiven or retained: and that he doth declare it, either by confession when he ⟨image 221⟩absolveth and retained sins, or by sentence when he excommunicated and receiveth again to partaking of the Sacraments. Finally, when they understand that they be not yet out of this doubt, but that it still may be objected against them, that oftentimes their priests do bind and loose men unworthy, which are not therefore bound or loosed in heaven: