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THey are neuer able to shewe that it had any diuine institution: but it was a meere deuise and inuention of men. First, we reade that Nectarius a good Bishop of Constantinople, did abrogate this custome of Confession vpon this oc∣casion,
which had before time been vsed in that Church: for it was found out, that a certaine woman of the citie, vnder this pretence of confession, had vnlaw∣full companie with the priest to whom she confessed: whereupon the good man abolished that custome, seeing more harme then good to come by it.* 1.1 And this act of his was approued by that famous preacher Chrysostome, who succee∣ded him in that see: but if it had been the ordinance of God, it ought not for some abuse to haue been abolished.
Augustine also sayth, Si deest sacerdos, confiteatur proximo:* 1.2 If a priest cannot be had, let a man confesse to his neighbour: Ergo, to confesse to a priest, is no certaine ordinance of God: for then might it not be changed.
Beza an∣tith. Pap. cap. 7.
De poenit. cap. 10.