An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

Rep. But the question is, whether he show himself truly penitent or not; if we have not here neither a judgement of discretion, for the conduct of our own actions, what do we with reason? Why are we trusted in the Office? And whose judgement must we follow? The Bishop cannot have leisure to become the Judge, whether this man be penitent. ⟨p. 123⟩It must then be the Minister, or the man himself. And must we absolve every man that saith he repenteth? Then we must believe an incredible profession, which is against reason: Some are known Infidels, and in their health profess that they believe not the Scripture to be true, and make a mock at Jesus Christ, and perhaps in a sickness that they apprehend no danger in, will send for the Minister in scorn, to say, [I repent] and force him to absolve him, that they may deride him and the Gospel. Some of us have known too many of those that have for twenty or thirty years been common drunkards, seldom sober & week together, and still say when they came to themselves, that they were sorry for it, and did unfeignedly repent, and as they said in health, so they said in sickness, dying within a few days or weeks after they were last drunk: Must we absolve all these? Some dye with a manifest hatred of an holy like, reviling at those that are careful to please God; yet saying, they hate them not as holy, but because they are all Hypocrites, or the like; and yet will say, they repent of their sins. Some forbear not their accustomed swearing and cursing, while they profess repentance. Some make no restitution for the wrong which they say they repent of: And must we take all those for truly penitent? If not, the Minister must judge. What you mean by your saying, [Our Church's direction is according to the 13th Canon of the venerable Council of Nice both here and in the next that follows] we know not; The second Council of Nice you cannot mean (its Canon being uncertain) and the 13th of no such sense. And the 13th. Canon of the first Council of Nice, is only, that lapsed Catechumens shall be three years inter and jentes, before they pray again with the Catechumens. This shows they then took not up with every word of seeming penitence, as true repentance; but what it is to your purpose, we know not, nor is there any other Canon in that Council for you: The eleventh Canon is sufficiently against you:

Rep. But the question is, whether he shew himself truly penitent or not; if we have not here neither a judgement of discretion, for the conduct of our own actions, what do we with reason? Why are we trusted in the Office? And whose judgement must we follow? The Bishop cannot have leisure to become the Judge, whether this man be penitent.