A choice manual containing what is to be believed, practised, and desired or prayed for; the prayers being fitted to the several days of the week. Also festival hymns, according to the manner of the ancient church. Composed for the use of the devout, especially of younger persons, by Jeremy Taylor, D.D.

Advice Concerning Confession.

I.

THat besides this Examination of your Conscience, (which may be done in secret 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 disburthen your self of it into the Bosom of your Confessor, who not only stands between God and you to pray for you, but hath the power of

the Keys committed to him, upon your true Repentance to Absolve you in Christ's Name from those sins which you have confessed to him.

II.

You are to remember that you bring along with you to Confession not only unfeigned Sorrow and Remorse of Con∣science for sins past, but settled Resolu∣tions for the time to come never to of∣fend in the same kind again: for without this, Confession is but a mere Pageant, and rather a mockery of God, than any effectual means to reconcile you to him.

III.

That having made choice of such a Confessor who is every way qualified that you may trust your Soul with him, you are advised 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 only as he is a Trustee from God, and commissioned by him as his Ministe∣rial Deputy to hear, and judge, and ab∣solve you.

IV.

That the Manner of your Confession be in an humble posture on your knees, as being made to God rather than man: and for the Matter of it, let it be severe and serious; but yet so as it may be without any inordinate Anxiety and un∣necessary Scruples, which serve only to entangle the Soul, and instead of set∣ting 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 neces∣sities: and as your Physician is not sent for upon every small diftemper, 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 Necessity presently to confess it: For the Confessor cannot be always present, but your God is, to whom if you apply your self with Prayers and Penitence, confessing in his ears alone whatever 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 declaration of it you are to look for from the Priest.