The Institution of Christian Religion

If any man take exception and say, that the lawful ministers of §22Christ shall be no less doubtful in their office, because the absolution that hangeth upon faith shall alway remain doubtful: and then that sinners shall have either none or a cold comfort, because the minister himself which is no competent judge of their faith, can not be assured of their absolution: we have answer thereunto in readiness. For they say that no sins are forgiven by the priest, but such whereof himself hath ben the hearer: so by their opinion, the forgiveness hangeth upon the judgement of the priest, and if he do not wisely discern who be worthy of pardon, the whole doing is void and of no effect. Finally the power whereof they speak, is a jurisdiction adjoined to examination, whereunto pardon and absolution is restrained. In this point is found no sure ground, but rather it is a bottomless depth. For where the confession is not found, the hope of pardon is also lame, and then the priest himself must needs stick in suspense while he can not tell, whether the sinner do faithfully reckon up all his evil deeds. Finally (such is the ignorance and rudeness of priests) the most part are no fitter to do this office, than a shoemaker is to plough the ground, and the rest in a manner all ought worthily to suspect themselves. Hereupon therefore riseth the perplexity and doubtfulness of the Popes absolution, because they will have it grounded upon the person of the priest, and not only that, but also upon knowledge, that he may judge only of things informed, examined and proved. Now if a man should ask of these good doctors, whether a sinner be reconciled to God, when some sins are forgiven: I see not what they have to answer, but that they shall be compelled to confess that all is unprofitable, that the priest pronounceth of the forgiveness of those sins that he hath heard rehearsed, so long as the other sins are not delivered from condemnation. On the behalf of him that confesseth how hurtful carefulness holdeth his conscience bound, appeareth hereby, that when he resteth upon the priests discretion, as they call it, he can determine nothing certainly by the word ⟨image 224⟩of God. The doctrine that we teach is free and clear from all these absurdities.

If any man take exception and saye, that the lawfull ministers of §22Christ shall be no lesse doubtefull in their office, bycause the absolution that hangeth vpon fayth shall alwaye remayne doubtefull: and then that sinners shall haue eyther none or a cold comforte, bycause the minister himselfe whiche is no competent iudge of their fayth, can not be assured of their absolution: we haue answer thereunto in redinesse. For they saye that no sinnes are forgeuē by the preste, but such wherof himselfe hath ben the hearer: so by their opinion, the forgeuenesse hangeth vpō the iudgement of the prest, and yf he do not wisely discerne whoe be worthy of pardon, the whole doyng is voyde and of no effect. Finally the power whereof they speake, is a iurisdiction adioyned to examination, wherunto pardon and absolutiō is restrained. In this point is found no sure ground, but rather it is a bottomlesse depth. For where the confession is not found, the hope of pardon is also lame, and then the prest himselfe muste needes sticke in suspense while he can not tell, whether the sinner doe faithfully recken vp all his euell deedes. Finally (suche is the ignoraunce and rudenesse of prestes) the moste parte are no fitter to doe this office, than a shoemaker is to plowe the ground, and the rest in a manner all ought worthily to suspect themselues. Hereupon therefore riseth the perplexitie and doubtfulnesse of the Popes absolution, bycause they will haue it grounded vpon the person of the prest, and not only that, but also vpon knowledge, that he may iudge only of thinges informed, examined and proued. Nowe if a man should aske of these good docters, whether a sinner be reconciled to God, when some sinnes are forgeuen: I see not what they haue to answer, but that they shalbe compelled to confesse that all is vnprofitable, that the prest pronounceth of the forgeuenesse of those sinnes yt he hath heard rehearsed, so long as the other sinnes are not deliuered from condemnation. On the behalf of him that confesseth how hurtfull carefulnesse holdeth his conscience bound, appereth hereby, that when he resteth vpon the prestes discretion, as they call it, he can determine nothing certainly by the worde