The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 403the same inevitable conclusion stares us in the face :that Sacramental Confession is not the invention ofman, but the institution of Jesus Christ.But the doctrine of priestly absolution, and theprivate Confession of sins, is not confined to theRoman Catholic and Oriental schismatic churches.The same doctrine isand inalso taught by a largefluential portion of the Protestant Episcopal chiwchof England.The Rev. C.-S. Grueber, a clergyman of the churchof England, has recently published a catechism, in.which the absolving power of the minister of God,and the necessity and advantage of Confession, areplainly set forth. I will quote from the Rev. gentleman s book his identical words :Question. What do you mean by absolution ?Answer. The pardon or forgiveness of sin..By what special ordinance of Christ are sinscommitted after Baptism to be pardoned?A. By the sacrament of absolution.Q. Who is the minister of absolution?A. A Priest.Q. Do you mean that a Priest can really absolve 4A. Yes.Q. In what place of the Holy Scripturecorded that Christ gave this power to the priesthood?A. In John xx. 23 ;see also Matt, xviii. 18.Q. What does the Prayer-Book (or Book of Common Prayer) say?is it re