A guide for the penitent, or, A modell drawn up for the help of a devout soul wounded with sin

Advice concerning Confession.

I.

THat besides this Examination of your Conscience, (which may be done inse∣cret between God and your own Soul) there is great use of Holy Confession: which though it be not generally in all Cases and peremptorily commanded, as if without it no Salvation could possibly be had; yet you are advised by the Church under whose discipline you live, that before you are to receive the Holy Sacrament, or when you are visited with any dangerous sickness, if you find any one particular sin or more that lies, heavy upon you, to dis∣burthen your self of it into the Bosom of your Confessour, who not onely stands be∣tween God and you to pray for you, but hath the power of the Keys committed to him, upon your true Repentance to Ab∣solve you in Christ's Name from those sins which you have confessed to him.

II.

You are to remember that you bring a∣long with you to Confession not onely un∣feigned Sorrow and Remorse of Consci∣ence for sins past, but setled Resolutions for the time to come never to offend in the same kinde again: for without this, Con∣fession is but a mere Pageant, and rather a

mockery of God, then any effectual means to reconcile you to him.

III.

That having made choice of such a Con∣fessor who is every way qualified that you may trust your Soul with him, you are ad∣vised plainly and sincerely to open your heart to him; and that laying aside all consideration of any personal weakness in him, you are to look upon him onely as he is a Trustee from God, and commissioned by him as his Ministerial Deputy to hear, and judge, and absolve you.

IV.

That the Manner of your Confession be in an humble posture on your knees, as be∣ing made to God rather then man: and for the Matter of it, let it be severe and seri∣ous; but yet so as it may be without any inordinate Anxiety and unnecessary Scru∣ples, which serve onely to entangle the Soul, and in stead of setting you free (which is the benefit to be looked for by Confession) perplex you the more.

V.

That for the frequency of doing this, you are to consult with your own necessi∣ties: and as your Physician is not sent for upon every small distemper, which your own care may rectifie; so neither are you

obliged upon every failing to be over∣scrupulous, or to think it a point of Ne∣cessity presently to confess it: For the Confessor cannot be always present, but your God is, to whom if you apply your self with Praiers and Penitence, confessing in his ears alone what-ever you have done amiss, and stedfastly believing that through the merits of your Saviour they shall never be imputed to you, you may be confident that your Absolution is at that time sealed in Heaven, but the comfortable Declarati∣on of it you are to look for from the Priest.