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, BY WHOM penall workes are to bee inflicted.

The Papists.

[error 22] THe priests onely, they say, haue power to enioyne workes of penance, as af∣fliction of bodie, mulct, penaltie, correction, by almes-deedes, fasting, absti∣nence and such like, Conc. Trid sess. 14▪ can. 15. Rhemist. 2. Corinth. 2. sect. 2.

Argum. To them is giuen authoritie to binde, and loose: Ergo, to enioyne penance, Bellarm. cap. 5. lib. 4.

The Protestants.

Ans. 1. SOme kinde of mulctes Church discipline is not to deale withall: as bodily punishment, and pecuniarie fines, which are to be imposed at the discretion of the magistrate. Secondly, we grant a wholsome vse of the keyes in Church discipline, in punishing and clensing of notorious offenders in the open face of the congregation: but priuately to enioyne men penance for their secret sinnes is an Antichristian yoke.

Argum. True repentance is a free worke, not of compulsion, or coaction: Saint Paul exhorteth men to iudge themselues, that they bee not iudged,

1. Corinth. 11.31. But now when penance is laid vpon a man, and not volun∣tarilie taken of himselfe, hee is iudged rather of another, hee doth not iudge himselfe. Augustine saith,

Quem poenitet, punit seipsum, prorsus aut punis aut punit Deus, vt ille non puniat, puni tu. Hee that repenteth, punisheth himselfe: either thou punishest, or God: if thou wilt not haue God to doe it, punish thy selfe.

A man therefore must punish himselfe, he must not be pu∣nished of another in his repentance to Godward: for of outward chastisement to the world, now is not the question.