The B. of Sarisburie.
That dewly receiuinge the Holy Sacramentes ordeined by Christe, wée re∣ceiue also y• Remission of Sinnes, it is not any way denied. For the Substance of al Sacramentes is the Woorde of God, whiche S. Paule calleth Verbum Reconci∣liationis, The Woorde of atonemente. This Woorde is the Instrumente of Remis∣sion of Sinne: The Sacramentes are the Seales affixed vnto the same: The Prieste is the meane. S. Augustine saithe, In Aqua Verbum mundat. Detrahe Verbum: quid est Aqua, nisi Aqua? In the Water it is the VVoorde of God, that ma∣keth cleane. Take the VVoorde awaye: and what is VVater els, but VVater? Hereof wée shal haue cause to saie more hereafter.
Al that is here brought in touchinge Nouatus, it is vtterly from the purpose. For Nouatus neuer denied, but a sinner might Confesse his Sinnes, either secrete∣ly to God alone, or publiquely, and openly before the whole Congregation. As for Auriculare Confession to the Prieste, for ought that maie appeare, he neuer heard of it. But herein stoode his whole erroure, that he thought, who so euer had committed any great notorious Sinne after Baptisme, notwithstandinge any Submission, or Satisfaction, he was hable to make, yet might he neuer be reconci∣led vnto his Brethren, or be receiued againe into the Churche: not that he would hereby driue the Penitent sorowful sinner to despaire of Goddes mercie, but (as somme Learned menne haue thought) onely for example, and terrour vnto others. And therefore Beatus Rhenanus saithe, In hac sententia Veterum permulti fuerunt: & in ijs etiam Augustinus.
S. Augustine saithe, Caut••, salub••••ter{que} prouisum est, vt locus illius Humilimae Poenitentiae semel in Ecclesia concedatur: ne medicina vilis minùs utilis esset aegrotis: I•• hath benne discretely, and wholesomely prouided, that it should not be graunted to any man, to doo that moste humble Open Penaunce, but onely once in the Churche, and neuer more afterwarde: leaste the Medicine, beinge made ouer common, should not bee profitable to the Sicke.
Thus mutche difference therfore wee see, there was bitweene the Churche, and Nouatus. The Churche graunteth the Open Sinner one onely time of Open Reconciliation, and neuer more: But Nouatus graunteth none at al. Therefore the whole mater of Nouatus might haue serued M. Hardinge to some other pur∣pose: