A discourse touching choyce of religion. By Sr. Richard Tempest Baronet.

Confession, Absolution, Sa∣tisfaction.

This is, and ever hath been, so universally, generally deli∣ver'd, Preached, urged, practi∣sed

in the Catholique Church, that none can deny it, but those whose stiffe-neckednes will not give thē leave to look back into any Antiquity, or Fathers; these words are plainely, frequently made use of, to expresse this part of the Discipline of the Church, which the Fathers cal∣led, The vigor of the Gospel; as if without it, all mens man∣ners and courses towards Hea∣ven, would languish. Bishop Andrews, from the Text, Whose Sins yee remit, they are remitted; acknowledges a perticular per∣sonall Confession to be ment, by reason, he saith, it is exprest, whose Sins, not what Sins soe∣ver. Let us heare Saint Cyprian

expresse himselfe against those that opposed it, It is indevou∣red (saith he) that sins may not be redeemed, by satisfactions and just lamentations, that mens wounds may not be wash∣ed away with tears; true peace is taken away, by the lye of a false one; and the healthfull bosome of a Mother (a step-mother interceding) is shut up; weeping and mourning should be heard from a sinner, and the face of those who have falne. Let him come to the Priests, those by whom the Keyes are disposed of in the Church; and let him, from those who are set over those holy rites, receive the measure of his satisfaction.

Tertullian de poenitentia, Con∣fessio satisfactionis consilium. It is objected, that its an all-da∣ring presumption, to pretend to be able to satisfie in the most pure eyes of Almighty God, and so plausibly run on in an ill applide humility; when a man doth, what anothers demand is, its said, he hath satisfied his desires: nay, if the Creditor doe for some reasons, forgive the Debt; he is said to be satis∣fied: and its spoken by reason of the Evangelicall compact, when God by promising, makes himselfe a debtor, saith the Fa∣ther; and we doing what is required, that is, bringing forth fruits worthy of Pennance, and

performing such expressions of sorrow, and those penitentiall injunctions as the Church wil be satisfied in, for the demonstra∣ting our hearty repentance, it is cal'd satisfaction: but whom the expressions of the Councel of Trent will not satisfie, touch∣ing it, he is sicke of siding and parties, nor is any desire of peace with the Church preva∣lent with him.

Its agreeable to the divine clemency, lest sins be pardoned us, without any satisfaction, occasion being taken, that we lightlier esteeming of sins, fall into more grievous ones, injuri∣ous, and contumelious to the holy spirit of God, treasuring

up wrath for us against the day of wrath; for without doubt these satisfactory punishments, doe greatly recall us from sin, and, as it were, with a certaine bridle restraine us, and make penitents more cautious for the future; they cure likewise the reliques of sin; they take like∣wise away ill habits got by viti∣ous living, but contrary acts of vertues: nor at any time is there a surer way in Gods Church to remove punishments, then that men frequent these works with true griefe of mind: and it draws to this, that whilst we by satisfying suffer for our sins, we are made conformable to Christ Jesus, who satisfied

for our sins, enjoying also the most certaine earnest; that if we suffer together with him, we shall likewise be glorified together with him. Neither is this our satisfaction such, which we pay for our sins, that it is not made by Christ Jesus: for we who of our selves, as of our selves, can doe nothing; yet he co-operating, who strengthens us, we can doe all things: so man hath not whence he may glory, but all our glorying is in Christ, in whom we live, and merit; in whom we satisfie, do∣ing worthy fruits of pennance, which have their force from him, and are offer'd from him to the Father, and by him are

accepted of the Father.

It was ever held in the Church of God the ordinary means of the forgivenesse of sins, and is so farre from being a cause to drive men from the Catholique Church, that to enjoy the be∣nefit of it, they should come with humble minds, and teares in their eyes, to beg the comfort of this onely approved sure way for their pardon. St. Au∣gustine, in his Enchirid. saith, God hath given liberty to none to sin, though by his pittying of us, he blot out our sins, if sitting satisfaction be not neg∣lected.

How wholesome must it be for our minds, to discharge

themselves, to ayre our minds by confession, to have the state of our soules judged of, (all men being partiall censurers of themselves) and thence fitting Physicke prescribed, after his inspection of our inward com∣plexion? what comforts are con∣veyed into our breasts, in liew of all vitious affections or acts we part with thence in Confes∣sions? our pardon is confirmed in Heaven, as it is granted here on Earth. How many thicke and foggy selfe-delusions, false opinions, desperate feares, ill grounded doubts, doe all vanish from that soule, that hath dis∣persed those clouds by cleare∣nesse of Confession? What re∣cruits

of graces, spirituall sa∣tisfactions, healthfull directions are acquired? here is exercised an act of that most acceptable humility, in throwing your selfe down at the Feet of Gods Embassador, in detestation of your selfe; exercising your Faith likewise, in beleeving that, Whose Sins they remit, they are remitted, this being the second table after shipwracke.

Notes

• Sermons of Con∣fessions.
• Epist. 55.
• August. Hom. 5.
• Sessio. 14 cap. 8.
• Fruits & Piety.