The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The answere.

I say first, that S. Iohn the baptist cannot meane of your [ 1] sacramentall confession, because it was not instituted before his decollatiō.* 1.1 But you make smal accompt to wrest the holy scrip∣ture, if by any meanes it could so serue your turne. For as your graund doctor Pighius resembled it to a nose of waxe, euen so in good sooth ye seeme to vse it. The trueth is this: S. Iohn exhorting the people to repentance, and to amendment of their former liues euil spent, found so good successe in his preaching, that Hierusalem,* 1.2 and all Iurie, and all the countrey about Iordan, were desirous to be baptized; and in signe of their true repentance, they publickly acknowledged their sinnes. But that they this did in generall termes, and not in popish maner, [ 1] I prooue it by two reasons. First, because popish auricular con∣fession was not yet inuented, but after Christes resurrection, [ 2] as all papistes graunt. Againe, because one man could not pos∣sibly heare seuerally,* 1.3 the generall confessions of so manie mul∣titudes▪ speciallie, in so short a time.

[ 2] I say secondly, that with you papistes, auricular confess••on is an holy sacrament, and to be made of such sinnes only, as are committed after baptisme.* 1.4 And yet doth S. Iohn speake, as is euident by the text, only of those sins that were done before bap∣tisme. This is your Hysteron proteron, to whom an horse-mil and a mil-horse, is all one.

I say thirdly,* 1.5 that the confession which these Ephesians made, whereof S. Luke speaketh; is an euident external signe of true inward remorse, and of sincere faith in Christ Iesus: but doubtlesse it doth nothing at all resemble, the blasphemous po∣pish auricular confession. For first, they confessed their sinnes [ 1] verbally, as they burnt their bookes really; but of absolution S. Luke speaketh not one word, which for all that in poperie is es∣sentiall. Secondly, this confession was voluntarie, but popish [ 2] confession is by compulsion. Thirdly,* 1.6 this confession was done in the face of the congregation, but popish confession is made in [ 3] the priests eare. Fourthly, as some of the faithfull made this [ 4] confession, so other some did not: but amongst the papistes it must be made of all, vnder paine of damnation. Fiftly, as Ma∣thew [ 5] confessed himselfe to haue been a publican, and as Paule confessed that he had persecuted Christes Church;* 1.7 but neither of them confessed any other sinne. So the faithfull at Ephe∣sus of zeale confessed their notorious deedes, but not all their particular sinnes, Nay, they only confessed how Satan had se∣duced them, and for that end they burnt their bookes. Which publick attestation done to the glory of God, can neuer establish secret popish whispering in the priestes eare.

I say fourthly,* 1.8 that S. Hierome maketh altogither against popish confession; as who affirmeth the priest or bishop to haue [ 4] no other power in binding and loosing,* 1.9 then the priest of the old testament had in making cleane or vncleane: That is to say, as the priestes of the old testament, did declare who were cleane, or vncleane: so the ministers of the Church knowing some sin∣ners to be penitent, and other some to be vnpenitent, pronounce according to Gods worde, that the sinnes of the one sorte are bound, and of the other sort loosed. And heere note by the way, that the word (peccatorum) in S. Hierome, doth as aptly signi∣fie sinners as sinnes: and therefore these wordes (Auditâ pec∣catorum varietate,) I thus translate: hauing heard the varie∣tie of the sinners. This I say, because the papistes seeke to make aduantage of the indifferencie of the word. And yet how∣soeuer they take it, it cannot serue their turne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 14. Luk. 9. v. 7.22.
• * 1.2

  Math. 3 v. 1.2, 3. Iordan was two floudes ioyned in one. Eucherius.
• * 1.3

  Secundo princi∣paliter.
• * 1.4

  Hysteron prote∣ron proper to the papistes.
• * 1.5

  Act. 19. v. 1••.
• * 1.6

  Vide Iosue cap. 7 v. 20.
• * 1.7

  Mat. 10. v 3. 1. Tim. 1. v. 13.
• * 1.8

  Quarto principa∣liter.
• * 1.9

  The priests doe only declare sins to be bound or loosed.