The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

7 Confession therefore whereof he speaketh, is not of the law of God, but although the use thereof be very ancient, yet was it always free, till the time of Innocent the third, who was about a thousand two hundred years after Christ: but it is showed what and how foolish a law it was: but in ⟨p. 119⟩old rime the use thereof was free: and afterward in the Church of Constantinople, was utterly forbidden, by means of a Matron that plaid the whore with a Deacon, under that pretence and colour.

7 Confession therefore whereof hée speaketh, is not of the lawe of God, but although the vse thereof be very auncient, yet was it alwayes frée, till the tyme of Innocent the third, who was about a thousand two hundred yeeres after Christe: but it is shewed what and how foolishe a lawe it was: but in ⟨p. 119⟩olde ryme the vse thereof was frée: and afterward in the Church of Constantinople, was vtterly forbiddē, by means of a Matron that playd the whore with a Deacon, vnder that pretence and coulour.

8 This kind of confession did greatly displease Chrysostom. Tell, saith he,¹ thy sins, that thou mayest do them away: if thou be ashamed to tell to any man thy sins that thou hast done, tell them daily in thy soul. I do not say, confess them to thy fellow servant, that may reproach thee: tell them to God that taketh care of them: confess thy sins upon thy bed, that there thy conscience may daily recognise her evils. And again he sayeth,² I do not lead thee into a stage of thy fellow servants, I do not compel thee to disclose thy sins to men, rehearse and utter thy conscience before God, show thy wounds to the Lord thy best Surgeon, and ask salve of him: show to him that will reproach thee with nothing, but will most gently heal thee.