Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE SECOND PART OF THIS QVESTION, OF the three materiall partes of popish Penance, contrition, confession, satisfaction.

The Papistes.

THese three (they say) are the true and proper partes of penance, contrition, [error 5] and painefull sorrow of the hart, confession to the Priest, and satisfaction to God for our sinnes, Concil. Trident. sess. 14. can. 4. Rhemist. Math. 3. sect. 2.

Argu. Contrition is proued, Psal. 51.17. A contrite hart is a sacrifice to God. Confession, Math. 3. They were baptized in Iordane confessing their sinnes. Satisfaction▪ Math. 11.21. They would haue repented long agoe in sackecloth and ashes, Bellarm. cap. 19.

Ans. 1. That godly sorrow and contrition of the hart, is necessary to true repentance, we neuer will deny, but that this sorrow is any satisfaction to Gods iustice, we abhorre it as a monstrous blasphemy. Secondly, Confession and ac∣knowledgement of our sinnes vnto God, and in some cases, where the consci∣ence is not satisfied, to the Minister or some other faithfull man, we do willingly graunt: but that it is necessary to make generall confession of sinnes to the Priest, that place proueth it not: for Iohn had had shriuing worke enough for many yeeres, to heare euery mans particular confession: Thirdly, that sitting in sackecloth and ashes, was no satisfaction for sinne, but an outward signe of true sorrow for sinne.

The Protestants.

WE doe make two partes onely of true repentance, according to the scrip∣tures, that is, the mortifying of the olde man with his works, by dying vnto

sinne: vnto the which belongeth true sorrow, and contrition of hart for our sinnes, 2. Corinth. 7.11. acknowledgement and confession thereof before God, 2. Sam. 12.13. and a perfect hatred and detestation of sinne, and indignation with our selues for the same, 2. Corinth. 7.11. The other part is the renewing and quickening of the new man in vs, which consisteth partly in setting our consci∣ences at peace with God, our sinnes being forgiuen vs, Rom. 5.1. and working in vs a zeale, studie, care and desire of newnes of life, 2. Corin. 7.11. these two partes onely we finde in Scripture.

Argum. Isai. 1.17. Cease to doe euill: Learne to doe good: we must die vnto sinne and walke in newnes of life, Rom. 6.4. Put off the olde man, put on the new, Coloss. 3.9.

* 1.1Augustine saith, Fructus est dignus poenitentia, transacta deflere peccata, & ea iterum non agere, This is true repentance, to lament for sinnes past, and not to commit the same againe: though this be no perfect definition of repentance, yet we see that both confession and satisfaction are excluded.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Serm. 66.