The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Of the Confession to be made to God, there are many testimonies in Scripture, as when David saith,¹ I thought that I would acknowledge mine iniquity against my self unto the Lord, and he forgave the trespasses of my sins. Here confessing signifieth the secret knowledge of our sins before God. When I exhorted the people on this manner, I reproved no manner of Confession: And farther, Saint James saith, Acknowledge your sins one to another, and so let you have peace among your selves. Here the Apostle meaneth nothing of Auricular Confession, but that we should acknowledge and confess our selves to be sinners before our brethren, and before the world, and not to esteem our selves,² as the Grey Friars do, thinking themselves already purged. When that he had said these words, the horned Bishops and their complices cried and girned with their teeth, saying, See ye not what colours he hath in his speech, that he may beguile us, and seduce us to his opinion? The fifth Article. Thou false heretic didst say openly, That it was necessary for every man to know and understand his Baptism; which is contrary to General Councils, and the Estates of holy Church. The Answer. My Lords, I believe there be none so unwise here, that will make Merchandise with any French-men, or any other unknown stranger, except he know and understand first the condition or promise made by the French-man or stranger. So likewise I would that we understood what thing we promise in the name of the Infant unto God in Baptism. Then said M. Peter Chaplin, That he had the devil within him, and the spirit of terror. Then answered him a child, saying, The devil cannot speak such words as yonder man doth speak. The sixth Article. Thou false Heretic, Traitor, and Thief, thou said, That the Sacrament of the Altar was but a piece of bread baken upon the ashes, and no other thing ⟨p. 62⟩else; and all that is there done, is but a superstitious Rite, against the Commandment of God. The Answer. Oh Lord God! so manifest lies and blasphemies, the Scripture doth not teach you. As concerning the Sacrament of the Altar (my Lords) I never taught any thing against the Scripture, the which I shall (by Gods grace) make manifest this day, I being ready therefore to suffer death. The lawful use of the Sacrament is most acceptable unto God. But the great abuse of it, is very detestable unto him: