The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. 407ing Mr. Gruebers church at the morning and eveningservice, with the view of being enlightened inthe teachings of the Protestant church, would notour dissenter be sorely perplexed, on returning homeat night, as to what the Protestant Episcopal churchreally did teach ?Some Episcopalians are pleased to admit thatConfession may be resorted to with spiritual profitin certain abnormal cases for instance, in timeof sickness. So that in their judgment, a religious observance which is salutary to a sick man, ispernicious to him in good health. For the lifeof me, I cannot see how the circumstance of bodilyhealth can affect the moral character of a religiousact.That a minister of the Baptist or the Methodistchurch should deny the power of priestly absolution,I readily understand, since these churches disclaim,in their confessions of faith, any such prerogativefor their clergy. But I cannot well conceive why aProtestant Episcopalian should repudiate the pardoning power, which isplainly asserted in hisstandard Prayer-Book.Whenever an Episcopalian Bishop imposes handson candidates for the ministry he employs the following words, which are found in the Book of Common Prayer: "Receive the Holy Ghost for the officeand work of a Priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands.VVhose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven ;and