PREFACE.

I HAVE endeavoured, in this small Volume, to put together such remarks as may remove the prejudices which exist in respect to the important Ordinance of Confession, and so promote its more general use; and at the same time furnish some rules for the right performance of it.

To my Brethren in the Ministry, this Book is particularly addressed; because on them rests the heavy responsibility of promoting or discouraging the use of Confession, and on their qualification in no small degree depends the benefit of the Ordinance. I hope also that the arguments I have used may induce Lay persons to avail themselves of the privilege which the Church affords them.

W. G.

LICHFIELD, July 10th, 1851.

ERRATUM.

Page 63, line 1, for "tomb" read "touch."

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

CONFESSION SANCTIONED AND ENJOINED BY THE

ENGLISH CHURCH.

Great value of Confession with a view to Repentance-

Recent neglect of it in our Church-Extracts from

our Formularies in which it is enjoined-The injunc-

tion of this Ordinance in some cases, no argument

that it is prohibited in others-Opinions of the more

violent Reformers not to be taken as expressing the

the mind of the English Church-More moderate

counsels prevailed at the Reformation-The Ordinance

of Confession unequivocally retained, though altered

Page

1

CHAPTER II.

CONFESSION ENJOINED BEFORE COMMUNION.

The number of those who are unable rightly to prepare

themselves for Holy Communion very great-All these

need "ghostly counsel and advice"-Even regular or

occasional Communicants might often with profit con-

sult a discreet and learned Minister-If all who re-

quired it resorted to their Pastor, they would be many

indeed

14

CHAPTER III.

CONFESSION ENJOINED TO THE SICK.

This injunction embraces a wide circle-Not those sick

unto death only to be moved to make Confession, but

others also when afflicted by God's Hand-Many

outwardly respectable but ungodly persons might thus

be brought into a state of grace-In the case of those

who are sick unto death, the need of Confession still

more urgent

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24

CHAPTER IV.

OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED.

Incidental evils no valid objection, because all Ordi-

nances are subject to them- Alleged implication of

Confessors in breaches of the Sixth and Seventh

Commandments-Jealousy of the influence of Priests

-Want of practice in hearing Confession to be re-

medied by diligence and inquiry-Episcopal regulation

desirable, with a view to remove or diminish objections 35

CHAPTER V.

TESTIMONY OF ENGLISH DIVINES IN FAVOUR OF

CONFESSION.

Cranmer-Latimer-Ridley-Jewell-Hooker-Jeremy

Taylor-Overall-Ussher-Wake-Sharpe-Donne

Heylin― Bingham-Ken-Comber-Sparrow—

Tomline-Practice of Foreign Protestants-The prac-

tice of Confession in this Country proved by the 113th

Canon, and the frequent allusion to it in Charges

46