The Institution of Christian Religion

Moreover the whole order of loosing standeth of faith & repentance, which two things are hidden from the knowledge of man, when sentence must be given upon an other man. It followeth therefore▪ that the assurance of binding ⟨p. 141⟩and loosing is not subject to the judgment of an earthly judge: because the minister of the word, when he doth his office, can not give absolution but conditionally: but that this is spoken for the sins sake, Whose sins ye forgive▪ &c. that they should not doubt that the pardon which is promised by the commandment and word of God, shall be ratified in heaven.

Moreouer ye whole ordre of loosing stādeth of faith & repētance, which two things are hidden from ye knowledg of man, when sētence must be geuē vpō an other man. It foloweth therfore▪ yt the assurāce of binding ⟨p. 141⟩and loosing is not subiect to the iudgment of an earthly iudge: bicause the minister of the worde, when he dothe his office, can not geue absolution but conditionally: but that this is spoken for the sinnes sake, Whose sinnes ye forgeue▪ &c. that thei should not doubte that the pardon whiche is promised by the commaundement and worde of God, shall be ratified in heauen.

Therefore it is no marvel, if we condemn and desire to have utterly §19taken away this Auricular confession, a thing so pestilent and so many ways hurtful to the Church: but if it were a thing by it self indifferent, yet forasmuch as it is to no use nor profit, & hath given cause to so many wickednesses, sacrileges and errors, who will not think that it ought to be presently abolished? They do in deed reckon up some good uses, which they boast upon as very profitable, butte these either false or of no value at all. Due only they commend with a singular prerogative, that shame is a great punishment of him that confesseth, whereby the sinner both is for time to come made ware, & preventeth the punishment of God in punishing himself. As though we did not humble a man with shamefastness enough, when we call him to yt hie judgement seat of heaven, I mean to the hearing of God. It is forsooth very well profited, if for shame of one mans knowledge we cease to sin, and be not ashamed to have God witness of our evil conscience. Although the very same is also most false, for it is to be seen that by nothing groweth greater confidence or licentiousness to sin, than when men having made confession to a priest, think that they may wipe their mouth and say, I did it not. And not only they are made all the year long the bolder to sin: but all the rest of the year bearing themselves bold upon confession, they never sigh unto God, they never return to themselves, but heap sins upon sins, till they vomit up all at ones as they think. And when they have ones vomited them up, they think them selves discharged of their burden, and that they have taken away from God the judgment that they have given to the priest, and that they have brought God in forgetfulness, when they have made the priest privy. Moreover who doth merrily see the day of confession at hand? Who goeth to confession with a cheerful heart, and cometh not to it rather against his will, & as it were drawing backward, like as if he were taken by the neck and drawn to prison? unless peradventure it be the very priests, that use joyfully to delight themselves with mutual rehearsals of their doings, as were with merry tales? I will not defile much paper with monstrous abominations whereof auricular confession swerveth full.