National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-28
BISHOP PLNCKNEY ON CONFESSION.

oIoHOl' TlHCANEl wv CUNFECO1ON.
To the Editor Of the National Republican,:
SIR: 1t was not my privilege tn hear Bishop
Pinckney's sermon on "The Forgiveness Of Sins
on Sunday last, but find short abstract of 1t in
the Ersning Star of Monday last. which contains
several statements tending to obscure tbs truth
and confuse the mind of the reader.
| In the first place, the article states that Dr..
Pinckney denied that s'the priest had power to
forgive SINS" This prcsupposes that such . doc
trine is held in the Church. If the Doctor thinks
50, he Is under O Misrepresentation. No ono In tho
Protestant Episcopal Church holds that the priest
alone has power TO forgive sins. 1t IL God who
gives the pardon, the priest being merely the IN
| strument made use Of by he Almighty for con-
vcying 1t. The difference between this and the
doctrine Of the sermon as reported is surely broad
and plain enough to he understood by any enc.
Very confused Ideas are held upon this subject:
the pentent has truly and honestly confessed,
God forgives him, using the words and ministry
Of the priest for that purpose. The latter has no
and by the authority delegated to him.
In the next place, 1t is said that confession Is
contrary to true Christian liberty" But the point
that Christian liberty is not curtsiled but en-
!argod by allowing persons to come to confession.
burdenedn heart they desire to confess to their
parish priest, and he refuses to hear them is no
who transgresscs against the liberty OF the laity
They have the right to receive the beneft Of pri-
yate absoiution II they are penitent, and when ne
1
lcges after the spirit Of the Papal tyranny.
g. Il is further said that the Prayer Book Of the
English Church 'does not authorize coniessions"
two passages from that excellent book?
81. Here shall the sick person be moved to make
a specia! confession Of his sins, II he feel his CON-
science troubled with any weighty matter. After
which confession the priest shall absolve him, II
he humbly and heartily desire It." (T7his Is from
the English Office for the visitation OF the SICK
20. II there be amy Of you who cannot BY this
means quiet his own conscience herein, but re-
quireth further comfort or counsel let him come
to me or to some other discreet and learned min
lister Of Gods word and open his grief that BY the
ministry of Gods holy word he may receive the
benefit VI absOluttOn, together with ghesfly coun
and a tn the removing Of ali scrsple and doubtful.
ness" tFrom Elaboration in Communion Onice.)
I These expressions are somewhat watered down
In our American Prayer Book: but there IL no
prohibition Of confession. Far from It.. On the
contrary confession, or what amounts to tho same
thing. strictly encouraged in these words Of our
other minister o! Gods word and open his grief"
and to this charge in the visitation office: "Then
shall the minister exar,ine wne,ffer ne repent
him rrury or his sins" Sc There can be NO real
confesses his sins to Gods minister; and II he
further desires that his pardon may be pro-
nouneed in Gods nams the priest 1; At per-
by tho law Of charity to give him this comfort
In these two cases, then, confession and sRsolp.l
tion are thought to DC special help. But the
idea u nOWnefc discouraged tu1S tuoy may % u
benefit In other cases. Tho Church does not re-
strict her priests in this way In the exercise OF
that power to pronounce Godh absolution in his
name which was given to them at his ordination.
Therefore as faithful stewards u . divine trust,
they ought always to stand resdy - execute this
officc whenever and wherever needed.
I. One more statement requires notice: "Not
line can be found in the Book OF Common Prayer
to sustain the doctrine Of nurculaR confession and
DriestIy dissolution" This Is q esrprsing asser-
lion. 1t is plain that somebody has badly blum
dcred. Turn to the Storm Tor the visitation OF
prisoners" and you will find these words, (omit-
ting irrelevant terms:) "Then shall the minister
exhort him to particular confession Of th9 SIN
for which he fs condemned, &C. After his con-
ession the priest shall declare to him the pardon
ing mercy Of God" &C. This e6cctually refutes
the sweeping assertion mentioned above.
This is not the place, Mr. Editor, to enlarge
upon the benefits Of confession In special cases,
and the abundant authority forit in Holy Scrip
ture, in the writings Of the fathers, and in the
works OF standard English dlvines. But tho sub
ject surely needs ventilation, and with all duo
spect to the views of the assistant bishop of Mary
land, one cannot but believe that there Is great
deal to be said on the other side. And II the
writer ofthis may presume to advise his brethren,
he would say: Seek the benefit Of confession when
ever you really need 1t. Tho Church exhorts you
to do il rs preparation for the communion. when
you cannot otherwise quiet your conscience, and
she in nowise prohibits 1t at other times.
. A CHuRcHNAN.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb. 8. 1874.