The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-17
Confession ScripturaI.

In answer to my defence OF Confession, a "Catboo
| Churchman' desires to know what Scriptural war.
rant we have for The practice. Now II we can
prove that from the beginning that holy Catholic
Church In which we daily profess our belief has
taught the lawiulness of priestly absolutton the
matter should be settled for who are within her
fold, as l cannot possibly conceive that a man
should profess allegiance to Church whose dog
mas were not ScrlpturaL But II my opponent will
examine the arguments adduccd favor OF the doc
trine In question: he will find them based upon the
Scriptures-even our LORDS own words s.Wnose.
sOever sins ye remit they are RENTED unto them
ana other like passages-as well as our own
knowledge OF the needs OF mans nature and
the relations he holds to hts Creator. I can.
not In the brief limits OF this communication,
discuss the subject airy but II those who wish 10
pursue 1t for themselves Will examine the Life OF
Penitence" Repentance" or a work on confession,
all by the Rev. Mr.. Carter OF Clewes; "Prestly
Absoluton Scriptural," which is one OF the series
called Tracts for the Day; or, Little Catechsm on
ADsolution," by the C0nley Fathers whose answers
are deduced from texts Of Scripture, they will find
the divine authority for confession fully maintained.
VI course, no one pretendS that the Bible says,
"COnfess thy sins to priest ana thou shalt be for
given" Like all the card nal Christian doctrines,
IL Is not SO mucn-tO quote article econ taned'i
In Scripture as to 'be proved thereby.n The word
trinity, TO start with the foundation OF Christianity
does not once in the Bible, but was framed by
theologians to express the divinity OF Father Word
and spirit, as revealed in Scripture And churChmen
would do well to remember that unless the direct
words Oh the Bible were supplemented by the con-
tlnuous teaching OF that Church, which, as the Bible
itself says Is tne pillar ana ground OF the truth'
giving the Holy Communion to women, baptiZing
Infants and keeping The Lords Day instead or the
sabbath the latter be 1t noted IN direct contradic
Gods living Church In supplementing his written
World would DC as unlawful and unscriptural as
doctrine, however, III comparison the weakness
OF mans nature which would surely never submit
to so sharp CORRECTION save as II was ordained Of
God there Is the most direct Scrlptural teaching,
as direct as that upon baptism, though not so
our catechism says, "generaIly necessary to
salvatOn," no one In our communion holds
that confession Is necessary to salvation ut all For
he thinks suppose confession TO man absolutely
necessary" I said expressly "ior those who would
make any real spiritual prOgress"-a very different
thing rom simply being saved-and limited even
that by I'm most cases." for OF course Gods grace
can work by what means lie sees 1t; only for my
self feel 1t safer to seek for 1t where lie mas told
trust a "CathoIic Churchmann Will allow me to
nc has Inadvertently fallen. He holds dissolution.
as he tells US, one OF the "trammes OF the Papacy,
because the Romisn doctrine OF "pardonsp is con-
tory Of the articles ne VIII see at once
conveyed oy absolution-aS indeed, the plural
form "pardons" would show of itself. Ii Was
ent day constitute or the Objectionable lea
lures OF Romanisn, and whose connection with the
COutbuental helOTmatlon II well KNOWN 10 all
readers OF history. Tetzel and his compeers sold
'pardons, " not pardon and It was partly from the
money derived That st. Peters was built. To say
that the trainers OF the articles coniounded these
justly -tobe.reprehended pardOns with the pardon
conveyed from God through the means or absou.
ton, would be TO make them stultiiy themselves,
since IN the same Prayer Book with the articles
the Bishop says, In ordalning each priest "whose
SINS thou dost forgive they are forgiven,u which
power the priest Is alterward directed TO use by
solving the sick man, III he humblY and heartily
desire It."
Again, catholic Churchmanp SAYS the general
confession and abs0utiOn do not imply the komish
q never said they implied the Romlsn) doctrine OF
aurIcular confession ana pardon. or course they
imply no doctrine OF auricular-meaning private
confession at ALL for no mention Of individual sins
could be made IN the daily services; but the con-
fessIon OF the sick man Il speak OF this English
prayer 6ookl Is TO be special, and the absoluton
ends ~ aDs0ive thee from all tiny SINS In the name
OF the Father and OF the Son and OF the Holy
Ghost" II this be not authoritative 1t Ii the most
shocking basphemy, aud We ought at once TO sever
all connection with Church which euforces such
sacrtege AS to The other point made by my
alone. the most "advanced'' Catholic never