pietis donum Spiritus Sancti, and according also to the saying of St. Paul ad Titum 3. Non ex operibus justitiæ quæ fecimus nos, sed secundum suam misericordiam, salvos nos fecit per lavacrum regenerationis et renovationis Spiritus Sancti, quem effudit in nos opulenter per Jesum Christum servatorem nostrum, ut justificati illius gratia hæredes efficiamur juxta spem vitæ eternæ.

The Sacrament of Penance.

THIRDLY, Concerning the Sacrament of Penance, We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our People committed by us unto their Spiritual Charge, that they ought and must most constantly believe, that that Sacrament was instituted of Christ in the New Testament as a thing so necessary for mans Salvation, that no man which after his Baptism is fallen again and hath committed deadly Sin can without the same be saved, or fattain everlasting Life.

Item, That like as such men which after Baptism do fall again into Sin, if they do not Penance in this Life, shall undoubtedly be damned; even so whensoever the same men shall convert themselves from the said naughty Life, and do such Penance for the same as Christ requireth of them, they shall without doubt attain remission of their Sins and shall be saved.

Item, That this Sacrament of perfect Penance which Christ requireth of such manner of persons, consisteth of Three Parts, that is to say, Contrition, Confession, with the amendment of the former Life, and a New obedient Reconciliation unto the Laws and Will of God, that is to say, exteriour Acts in works of Charity according as they be commanded of God, which be called in Scripture, fructus digni pænitentia.

Furthermore, as touching Contrition, which is the first part, We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our People committed by us unto their Spiritual Charge, that the said Contrition consisteth in two special Parts, which must always be conjoined together and cannot be dissevered; that is to say, the Penitent and Contrite Man must first knowledge the

f obtain

filthiness and abomination of his own Sin, whereunto he is brought by hearing and considering of the Will of God declared in his Laws, and feeling and perceiving in his own Conscience, that God is angry and displeased with him for the same; he must also conceive not only great sorrow and inward shame that he hath so grievously offended God, but also great fear of God's displeasure towards him, considering he hath no Works or Merits of his own which he may worthily lay before God, as sufficient satisfaction for his Sins; which done, then afterwards with this fear, Shame and Sorrow must needs succeed and be conjoyned, The second Part, viz. a certain Faith, Trust and Confidence of the Mercy and Goodness of God, whereby the Penitent must conceive certain Hope and Faith that God will forgive him his Sins, and repute him justified and of the number of his Elect Children, not for the worthiness of any Merit or Work done by the Penitent, but for the only Merits of the Blood and Passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Item, That this certain faith and hope is gotten and also confirmed, and made more strong by the applying of Christ's words and promise, of his grace and favour contained in his Gospel, and the Sacraments instituted by him in the New Testament; and therefore to attain this certain faith, the second part of Penance is necessary, that is to say, Confession to a Priest if it may be had; for the Absolution given by the Priest was instituted of Christ to apply the promises of God's grace and favours to the Penitent.

Wherefore as touching Confession, We will, that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our People committed by us to their Spiritual Charge, that they ought and must certainly believe that the words of Absolution pronounced by the Priest, be spoken by the Authority given to him by Christ in the Gospel.

Item, That they ought and must give no less faith and credance to the same words of Absolution so pronounced by the* Ministers of the Church, than they would give unto the very words and voice of God himself if he should speak unto us out of Heaven, according to the saying of Christ, Quorum remiseritis peccata, &c. et qui vos audit me audit.

e peccato,

Item, That in no ways they do contemn this Auricular Confession which is made unto the Ministers of the Church, but that they ought to repute the same as a very and expedient and necessary mean, whereby they may require and ask this Absolution at the Priests hands, at such time as they shall find their Consciences grieved with mortal Sin, and have occasion so to do, to the intent they may thereby attain certain comfort and consolation of their Consciences.

As touching the third part of Penance, We will, that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our People committed by us to their spiritual charge, that although Christ and his death be the sufficient Oblation, Sacrifice, Satisfaction, and Recompence, for the which God the Father forgiveth and remitteth to all sinners not only their sin, but also Eternal Pain due for the same; yet all men truly penitent, contrite and confessed, must needs also bring forth the fruits of Penance, that is to say, Prayer, Fasting, Almsdeeds, and must make Restitution or Satisfaction in will and deed to their Neighbour, in such things as they have done them wrong and injury in, and also must do all other good works of mercy and charity, and express their obedient will in the executing and fulfiling of God's Commandments outwardly, when time, power and occasion shall be Ministred unto them, or else they shall never be saved; for this is the express Precept and Commandment of God, Agite fructus dignos i pænitentiæ; and St. Paul saith, Debitores sumus, and in another place he saith, Castigo corpus meum et in servitutem redigo.

Item, That these precepts and works of Charity be necessary works to our Salvation, and God necessarily requireth that every penitent man shall perform the same, whensoever time, power, and occasion shall be ministred unto him so to do.

Item, That by Penance and such good works of the same, we shall not only obtain everlasting Life; but also we shall deserve remission or mitigation of these present pains and afflictions in this World, according to the saying of St. Paul, Si nos ipsi judicaremus, non judicaremur, a Domino; and Zacharias, Conver

h same a very expedient i pænitentia;

timini ad me et ego convertar ad vos ; et Esaias 58. frange esurienti panem tuum, &c. tunc eris velut hortus irriguus. Hæc sunt inculcanda ecclesiis et ut exercitentur ad bene operandum, et in m hiis ipsis operibus exerceant et confirment fidem, petentes et expectantes a Deo mitigationem præsentium calamitatum.

The Sacrament of the Altar.

FOURTHLY, As touching the Sacrament of the Altar, We will, that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our. People committed by us unto their spiritual charge, that they ought and must constantly believe that under the form and figure of Bread and Wine, which we there presently do see and perceive n by outward senses, is verily, substantially, and realy contained and comprehended, the very self-same body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which was born of the Virgin Mary, and suffered upon the cross for our Redemption, and that under the same form and figure of Bread and Wine, the very self-same body and blood of Christ is corporally, really, and in the very substance exhibited, distributed and received of all them which receive the said Sacrament; and that therefore the said Sacrament is to be used with all due reverence and honour, and that every man ought first to prove and examine himself, and religiously to try and search his own Conscience, before he shall receive the same; according to the saying of. St. Paul, Quisquis ederit panem hunc aut biberit de poculo Domini indigne, reus erit P corporis et sanguinis Domini; probet autem seipsum homo, et sic de pane illo edat et de poculo illo bibat; nam qui edit aut bibit indigne, judicium sibi ipsi manducat et bibit, non dijudicans corpus Domini.

Justification.

FIFTHLY, As touching the order and cause of our Justification, we will, that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our People committed by us unto their spiritual charge,

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that this word Justification signifieth remission of our Sins, and our acceptation or reconciliation into the grace and favour of God, that is to say, our perfect renovation in Christ.

Item, That sinners attain this Justification by Contrition and Faith joyned with Charity, after such sort and manner as we before mentioned and declared; not as though our Contrition, or Faith, or any works proceeding thereof, can worthily merit or deserve to attain the said Justification; for the only mercy and grace of the Father, promised freely unto us for his Sons sake Jesus Christ, and the merits of his blood and 9 his passion be the only sufficient and worthy causes thereof; and yet that notwithstanding, to the attaining of the said Justification, God requireth to be in us not only inward Contrition, perfect Faith, and Charity, certain hope and confidence, with all other spiritual graces and motions, which, as we said before, must necessarily concur in remission of our Sins, that is to say, our Justification; but also he requireth and commandeth us, that after we be justified we must also have good works of charity, and obedience towards God, in the observing and fulfilling outwardly of his Laws and Commandments: For although acceptation to everlasting Life be conjoyned with Justification, yet our good works be necessarily required to the attaining of everlasting Life; and we being justified, be necessarily bound, and it is our necessary duty to do good works, according to the saying of St. Paul, Debitores sumus non carni ut secundum carnem vivamus, nam si secundum carnem vixerimus moriemur, sin autem spiritu facta corporis, mortificaverimus, vivemus; etenim quicunque spiritu Dei ducuntur hi sunt filü Dei: and Christ saith, si vis ad vitam ingredi serva mandata; and St. Paul de malis operibus, saith, qui talia agunt Regnum Dei non possidebunt. Wherefore we will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our People committed by us unto their spiritual charge, s and God necessarily requireth of us to do good Works commanded by him; and that not only outward and civil Works, but also the inward spiritual motions and graces of the Holy Ghost; that is to say, to dread and fear God, to love God, to have firm confidence and

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