The Ordinance of Confession

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... POSTSCRIPT. While these pages have been going through the press, an Article has appeared in the English Review, in which objection is made to certain recent statements of Dr. Pusey on the subject of Confession. The Reviewer speaks very respectfully of Dr. Pusey, and avows his entire concurrence with him in principle. "We believe in common," says the Reviewer, "that the power to absolve sins in Christ's Name is given to all Priests through their Ordination. We believe that the power is committed to them by Christ Himself, through the imposition of the Bishop's hands, with the words, 'Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands: Whose sins thou dost forgive they are forgiven, and whose sins thou dost retain they are retained.'" This, it may be observed in passing, is entirely contrary to the notions of the Evangelical party, who are well disposed to hear the Confessions of their Parishioners, and give them ghostly counsel, but scruple as to the use of Absolution. S The Reviewer's quarrel with Dr. Pusey is not with regard to the principle, but frequency of Confession. It is not for me to defend Dr. Pusey, or interpret his views. I would only point out that the arguments and facts brought forward by the Reviewer do not substantiate the charge that Dr. Pusey's system is identical with the Romish. In the first place, to say, with our Church, that penitents, and those of tender conscience, should come to Confession, is not to say that all persons should do so. There may be persons living in a state of grace, without any tenderness or scruple of conscience. Secondly, if it be the fact that Dr. Pusey encourages the habitual use of Confession amongst the...