The Institution of Christian Religion

For the absolution is conditional, that the sinner should trust that God is merciful unto him, so that he sincerely seek the cleansing of his sins in the sacrifice of Christ, & obey the grace offered him. So he can not err, which according to the office of a preacher, proclaimeth that which is given him in instructions by the word of God. And the sinner may embrace a sure & clear absolution, when that simple condition is annexed of the embracing the grace of Christ, according to that general doctrine of the master himself,¹ Be it done to thee according to thy faith. Which hath ben wickedly despised in the Papery.

For the absolution is conditionall, that the sinner should trust yt God is merciful vnto him, so that he sincerely seeke the cleansing of his sinnes in ye sacrifice of Christ, & obeye the grace offred him. So he cā not erre, which according to the office of a preacher, proclaimeth yt which is geuē him in instructiōs by the word of God. And the sinner may embrace a sure & cleare absolution, when that simple cōditiō is annexed of the embracing the grace of Christ, according to that generall doctrine of the maister himself,¹ Be it done to thee accordyng to thy fayth. Which hath ben wickedly despised in the Paparie.

1. 1Matt. ix.xxix.

How foolishly they confound those things that the Scripture teacheth of the power of keys, I have promised that I will speak in an other place, and there shall be a more convenient place for it, when I come to entreat of the government of the church. But let the readers remember that those things are wrongfully wrested to Auricular and secret confession, which are spoken by Christ partly of the preaching of the gospel, & partly of excommunication. Wherefore when they object that the power of loosing is given to the Apostles, which priests may use in forgiving sins acknowledged unto them, it is plain that they take a false & fond principle: because the absolution that serveth faith, is nothing else but a witness of pardon taken out of the free promise of the gospel. As for the other confession, that hangeth upon the discipline of the Church, it pertaineth nothing to secret sins, but rather to example, that common offence of the church may be taken away. But whereas they scrape together here and there testimonies, to prove that it sufficeth not to confess sins either to God only or to lay men, unless a priest be the hearer of them, their travail therein is but lewd, and such as they may be ashamed of. For when the ancient fathers counsel sinners to unburden themselves to their own pastor, it can not be expounded of particular rehearsal which then was not in use. Then, Lombard & such like (such was their sinister dealing) seem of set purpose to have given themselves to feigned books, by pretence whereof they might deceive the simple. They do in deed truly confess, that because absolution alway accompanieth repentance, therefore there properly remaineth no bond when a man is touched with repentance, although he have not yet confessed, & therefore that then the priest doth not so much forgive sins as pronounce & declare them forgiven. Albeit in the word of declaring they slyly bring in a gross error, thrusting a ceremony in stead of doctrine. But whereas they patch unto it, that he is absolved in the face of the church that had already obtained pardon before God: they do inconveniently draw to the peculiar use of every particular man, that which we have already said to be appointed for common discipline, where the offence of a heinous & notorious fault is to be taken away.