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I answere: first, that albeit our Jesuite vseth much bab∣ling,* 1.1 turning himselfe this way, that way, and euery way, to anoyde and cassire (if it were possible,) the verdict & censure of their subtile Doctor Scotus; yet is all that hee sayth in this Chapter, as also all that any other Iesuite or
Papist in the world is able to say in the same subiect, soundly and most euidently refuted, in the sixt Conclu∣sion aforegoing. For the last and best Resolution that Scotus could inuent, (after he had disputed the Question pro et contra, so profoundly as his wittes could conceiue,) was euen this and no other; viz. that Popish Auricular Confession is not grounded vpon Christes Ghospell or Apostolicall writing, but onely and solely vpon vn∣written Tradition; which is an huge and deepe Gulfe, without any bottome. If the sixt Conclusion be duely pondered, and vnderstood aright, the Jesuites backe is at the wall. Yet I will adde thereto one other Confirma∣tion, which is deduced and plainely related in the Popes owne Decrees: these are the expresse wordes. * 1.2Quidam Deo solummodo confiteri debere peccata dicunt, vt Graeci. Quidam vero Sacerdotibus confitenda esse percensent, vt tota ferè Ecclesia sancta. Quod vtrum{que} non sine magno fructu intra sanctam fit Ecclesiam; ita dumtaxat, vt Deo qui remissor est peccatorū peccata nostra confiteamur: Some say, we must Confesse our sinnes onely to God, as the Greekes doe. Other some say, wee must Confesse them vnto Priests, as doth almost the whole Church. Either of which is done with great good, within the holy Church; so onely, that we Confesse our sinnes to God, who is the forgiuer of sinnes. Thus are wee taught, by the Popes owne sweete deare Decrees, published in print, to the view of the whole world. Out of which Decree, I ob∣serue these memorable documentes for the helpe of the Reader. [ 1] First, that the Greeke Church neuer confessed their sinnes vnto Priests, but vnto God alone: Of which Church for all that, the Presidentes & Gouernours were most holy & learned Fathers; viz. S. Epiphanius, S. Chryso∣stome, S. Basill surnamed the great, S. Gregorie Nazianzene, S. Damascene, and many other most excellent and holy Byshoppes. [ 2] Secondly, that others hold the contrarie,
saying, that wee must Confesse our sinnes to Priestes. [ 3] Thirdly, that both these opinions are profitably practi∣sed in the Church, so wee Confesse our sinnes to God. [ 4] Fourthly, that Popish Auricular confession (euen by the Popes owne Decrees,) is not necessarie to saluation, (as the Papistes this day teach, and with Fire and Faggot violently vrge the same,) but is a thing in deed indiffe∣rent. For, if it had been necessarie vnto mans saluation, all the holy and learned Fathers of the Greeke Church, should haue perished euerlastingly. But some will here demaund, how that can be prooued? To whom I an∣swere; that the same is plainely and expressely prooued, in the Popes owne Decrees: Which is such a testimonie against the Pope and his Popelings, as none greater can be had. The expresse wordes of the Popish Decrees, haue already sounded in our eares.* 1.3 This mine Obserua∣tion is confirmed, by the plaine wordes of the same De∣crees; where it is freely confessed, that that opinion, which holdeth sinnes onely to be confessed vnto God of necessitie, is true, lawfull, and honest. Let the wordes of the Decree be well marked, because it sheweth all the ho∣ly Fathers of the Greeke Church, to confound the Pope, and all his Jesuited Popelings. But let vs heare the verdict of a famous popish Cardinall of Rome. Cardinall Caieta∣nus (as we haue seene already,) auoucheth constantly, that Auricular and Secret confession, is against Christes holy Institution; as is also the Precept, that compelleth vs to frequent the same. For the better explication of this famous Cardinals Assertion, (because the Pope and his Jesuites can not endure to heare the same) I will heere lay open before the eyes of the indifferent Reader, the best answere that the Papistes haue, or can inuent a∣gainst the same. Iosephus Angles that famous Popish By∣shoppe, (not well pleased with the Popish Cardinall, as it may seeme) writeth of his Doctrine, in this manner.* 1.4 Hinc intelliges cauendum esse Caietanum super Ioan. cap. 20.
vbi duos errores affirmauit; vnum est, institutam fuisse •• Christo Confessionem voluntariam, cum sit ab Ecclesia definitum necessa∣riam esse ad salutem. Nam quod est voluntarium, vt religionis ingressus, non est ad salutem necessarium. Alterum, scilicet, mo∣dum confitendi ad aurem non esse a Christo institutum. Et hic error est in Conc. Trident. damnatus: Hence mayest thou vnderstand, that wee ought to take heede of Caietane vpon the 20. of John, where hee affirmeth two errours: the one is, that Christ instituted Confession voluntary, albeit the Church defined the same, to be necessarie to saluation: The other is, that Christ did not institute Con∣fession Auricular, which is made in the Priestes eare. And in the next page, the same Angles telleth vs,* 1.5 that the Councell of Trent did of purpose condemne Caietans opi∣nion. By the doctrine of this great Learned Papist, (who was a Cardinall of Rome and a Frier Dominican,) we see clearely these three poyntes: First, that the best lear∣ned Popish Doctors condemne Poperie, and iustifie the doctrine of the Church of England. Secondly, that Auricular Confession was voluntarie in the dayes of Cardinall Caietane,* 1.6 who liued aboue a thousand yeares after Christ. Thirdly, that this Cardinall gaue such a deadly wound to Popish Confession, (a Ragge of the New religion,) that the Councell of Trent could find no better remedie, but to condemne his Opinion as Here∣ticall. Wisely therefore doth the Popish Byshoppe An∣gles exhort his Readers, to beware of Caietane, Bonauen∣ture, Hugo, Panormitane, and the Popish Glosse; because they all with the Popes deare Canonistes tell vs con∣stantly, that Popish Confession hath no better ground, then pure Mans inuention. And consequently, all such may iustly be deemed as blind as Beetles; that do not see Popish Auricular Confession, to be a rotten Ragge of the New religion.
Lay away vn∣written Tra∣ditions, and Poperie is at an end.
De Paenit. Distinct. 1. cap. quamuis.
De paenit. dist. 1. cap. quamuis.
Ios. Angl. in. 4. S. part. 1. pag. ••54.
Ios. Angles vbi supra, pag. 255.
The best lear∣ned Papistes, doe vtterly condemne Popery for the New religion.