Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What was Satisfaction?

Not the vndergoing of punishment, or the compensation of sins, to deserue pardon for them at Gods hands; for with God there is free remission of sins for Christs sakea 1.1, not only as touch∣ing the fault, but likewise also, as concerning the punishment. Ier. 31.34. The Lord will remember your iniquities no more. Also, He wil put them away like a cloud, hee will drowne your sinnes in the bottome of the sea. Isa. 44.22. He wil not impute thē. Ps. 32.2. The chastisment of our peace was vpon him. Esa. 53.5. He vvill remember our iniquities no more. Ier. 31.34. Therfore he will not cal thē to account to punish thē. And Paule writeth 1. Tim. 26. that Christ hath giuen himselfe a ransome for vs, And what recompence or compensation the Lord receiueth of vs; the Prophet Osee teacheth where he saith chap. 14 verse 3. Thou shalt take away all iniquitie O Lord, and vve will render the Calues of our lips. or the sacrifice of praise, i. great thanks which in times past were figured by sacrifices, or the fruite of the lips of those that confesse the name of God as the Apostle interpreteth it. Heb. 13.15.

But it was the publick testification whereby those that were excommunicated, for the denying of the faith in perse∣cution, or for committing of some grieuous crimes, as whoredome or such like, when they desired to bee receiued into the fellowshippe of the saints, were first by the Pastor, or the Presbiterie chastised by rebuke, or by wordsb 1.2, for the example of others; after that there were enioyned vnto them certaine fasts,

and other things, as adiuncts of their repentance, by which they might prooue themselues to be wearie of their former life, & then they remained apart in the Church, they heard the Sermons, & thereupon were called hearers; afterwards, a certaine time being accomplished, they came and were present at the praiers, and ther∣upon were called Praiers, but when they came to the administra∣tion of the Sacraments, they went their way.

At last, they did truely and with teares humbly intreat par∣don of the Church which they had offended. And so they were said to haue satisfied not God for their sinnes, but the Church for their offence giuen, that is to say, they were accounted to haue done so much, as to the Church against which they had offended, did seeme sufficient. And in the end by the laying on of the hands of the Bishop, as the signe of their absolution, they were admitted to the Communion of the Lords Supper. Cyprian. lib. Epist. 3. E∣pistle 14. Which publick chastisments of the penitent offenders, the antient writers call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 corrections, the Latins called them Satisfactions. And surely such discipline were verie profitable at this day, whereby the sinner, who had polluted himselfe with any grieuous offence, should not be receiued into the fellowship of the faithfull, vnlesse he had first satisfied the Church, so that it were done without superstitious rigour, ostentations, hypocri∣sie, and opinion of merit.

There was also a politick satisfaction, wherby that which had bin taken away, was restored, and the neighbor was satisfied, who had bin hurt by the offendor: of which S. Augustine saith. Non re∣mittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum. The offence is not remitted vnlesse that was taken away, be restored. Yea euen that place. Mat. 3.8. Bring forth fruit worthy of repētance. Chrisostom & Ierom in the Comentaries do expound it of Satisfaction.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Isa. 43.25 act. 10.43.
• b 1.2

  2. Cor. 2.6