The second and last part of Reasons for refusall of subscription to the Booke of common prayer vnder the hands of certaine ministers of Deuon. and Cornwall, as they were exhibited by them to the right Reuerend Father in God William Cotton Doctor of Diuinitie, and Lord Bishop of Exceter. As also an appendix, or compendious briefe of all other exceptions taken by others against the bookes of communion, homilies, and ordination, word for word, as it came to the hands of an honorable personage. VVith an ansvvere to both at seuerall times returned them in publike conference, and in diuerse sermons vpon occasion preached in the cathedrall church of Exceter by Thomas Hutton Bachiler of Diuinitie, and fellow of S. Iohns Colledge in Oxon.

8. It appointeth the minister to say to the sicke person: I by Christ his authoritie committed vnto mee do absolue thee from all thy sinnes.

Well may it. For the order prescribed is thus. In visitation of the sicke the minister beginneth with prayer in generall for the whole Church and then more particularly doubleth, trebleth, and multiplieth his prayer in behalfe of the person thus visited, ex∣horts him to a godlie patience in bearing his sicknesse, to an vn∣fained repentance for his sinnes, a solemne promisse of amend∣ment of life, to a setled confidence in the mercies of God thorough Christ, to an earnest begging of God the forgiuenesse of sinne, to an humble thanksgiuing for the Lords fatherly chasticement, as for all other blessings vouchsafed, with a full bequest wholy com∣mending him selfe to his blessed will whither in remouall, or con∣tinuing, increasing or deminishing his paine, whither health or

otherwise life or death, what euer may come. Afterwarde sh•• minister proceedeth to a more particular examination of the sicke man his faith, how he stands resolued against the terrors of death &c. satisfying him in such doubts as shall then be ministred; And if the partie haue made a generall profession of his faith and sorrow for sinne, then is hee moued to a more speciall confes∣sion, opening his griefe more particularlie if he feele his consci∣ence burdened therewith. And satisfaction being giuen this way, the temptation subdued, the wound cured, the terrors of death vanquished by spirituall and wholsome doctrines of the Gospell, the minister, who is in Gods steede a pledge and sure∣tie for furder securing a troubled soule, shall apply these wordes. Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolue all sinners which truelie repent, and beleeue in him, of his great mercie forgiue thee all thy sinnes in the name of the father &c. Priuate absolution is of no lesse power, and efficacie then the publike, when it is sought for by them, who haue neede of this singular reme∣die for easing their infirmitie. For when the partie shall haue laid open his sore, and shall heare from the mouth of the Lords minister the wordes of the Gospell directed pe∣culiarlie vnto him. Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee. Bee of good comfort, it will establish his minde in securitie so as hee shalbee deliuered from that torment of feare, where∣with with before he was miserablie vexed, and disquieted. This Godlie and comfortable practise of our Church of verie great vse (if it were in more vse) Maister Caluin much commendeth, as the marginal quotations may proue, and so doe other Churches, as appeareth in their confessions. Priuate absolution is to be retained, although in confession a particular recitall of all and euerie particular sinne bee not necessarie. Againe the Churches of Saxonie thus. Concerning priuate confession to bee made vnto the pastors, wee affirme the rite and manner of priuate absolution to be retained in the Church and wee doe constantlie retaine it for manie weightie causes.

Afterwarde it followeth. As Dauid was confirmed heare••••g of this absolution. The Lord hath taken away thy sinne 2. Reg. 12. so thou mayest know that the voice of the Gospell preacheth vn∣to thee forgiuenesse of sinne, which in absolution is by name expounded vnto thee. Lucas Osiander in his institution sayeth Priuate absolution bringes verie exceeding great comfort to afflicted consciences, when in speciall it is said to a sinner in the name of the holie Trinitie, All thy sinnes are for∣giuen thee. Christ recited priuate absolution to the man sicke of the palsie. When he saide bee of good courage thy sinnes are forgiuen thee. And in priuate absolution Christ absolued the woman a sinner, saying thy sinnes are forgiuen thee. Chem∣nitius confesseth the like in these wordes. The vse of priuate con∣fession is preserued with vs &c. Infinite other allegations might wee produce to witnesse this truth. But the conclusion wee make with 2. places in Saint Ambrose. the first is in his second booke of Cain and Abel. sinnes are forgiuen by the worde of God whose Leuite is a certaine interpreter and exequu∣tor thereof. The other place is in his third booke of the holie Ghost cap. 19. Sins are forgiuen by the holie Ghost, but men do proffer their ministrie in forgiuenesse of sin, not that they exercise a right of any power, for sins are forgiuē not in their own name but in the name of the father, son &c. They aske, the godhead gi∣ueth; It is mans seruice, but y^e munificence is frō a higher power So as the sum of all is answerable to the beginning mentioned in the Rubrick. The minister doth absolue but not in any abso∣lute power as of his own, for to God doth, but in that power which is commited vnto him, namely ministeriall; for so as the minister of God, and interpreter of his will hee may well doe.

Notes

• Videmus mini∣stros ipsos vt de remissione pec∣catorum certi∣••res reddant cō scientias, testes ac sponsores. Cal. Institut. lib. 3. c. 4.12. Nec minor is efficati••, aut fructus est pri∣uata absolutio, vbi ab tis peti∣tur, qui singula ri remedso ad infirmitatem suam subleuan∣dam opus habēt Ibid. 14. Secretum ani∣mi valnus aperuerit, at{que} illam Euange∣lii vocem pecu liariter ad se directam audi∣••rit Tibi, &c. Ibid. Animum confir mabit ad se••i∣ritatem, illaque qua prius astuabat trepidatione liberabitur. Ibid. Priuata absolutio in eccl•• si••s retinenda est, quanquam in confessione non sit necessaria omnium delectorum confessio. Aug. confes. artic. 11. De confess. priuata facienda pastoribus, affirmam••s ritum priuata absolutionis in ecclesia retinēdum, & constanter retinemus propter multas gra••ts causas. Confess. Saxon: 1.
• Qua in absolu∣tione tibi nomi natim expont∣tur. Ibid. In specie homi∣ni peccatori in nomine Sanct. Trinit dicitur•• Tibi remissa sunt peccata ō∣nia: Priuatam absolutionem recitanit Chri∣stus paralytico. Luc. Osian. In∣stitut c. 8. Prituata abso∣lutione absol∣uit Christus. Ibid. Priuata confes∣sionis vsut apud nos seruatur, &c. Chem••it. de Confess. pag. 216. Remittuntur peccata per Dei verbum, cuius Leuites ••nter pres quidam & exequutor ••st. Amb. de Cain. & Abel. lib. 2. c. 4. Per spiritum sanctum peccata donantur, homines autom in remissionem peccatorum ministerium suum exhibent, non iusalicuius potesta. tis exercent. Neque enim in sua nomine sed, &c. Illi rogant, sed diusnitas dona••: humanum enim obsequium sed munificentia superna est potestatis. Amb. de spiritu sancto. lib. 3. cap. 19.