Traditional Anglican Sermons
We Can Find Peace, Tranquillity And Quietness In Priestly Absolution
Justus Jonas (1493-1555)
NOW God doth not speak to us with a voice sounding out of heaven; but He hath given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and the authority to forgive sin to the ministers of the Church.
Wherefore let him that is a sinner go to one of them. Let him knowledge and confess his sin, and pray him that, accord- ing to God's commandments, he will give him absolution, and comfort him with the word of grace and forgiveness of his sins. And when the minister does so, then I ought stedfastly to believe that my sins are truly forgiven me in heaven. ...
Wherefore, good children, give good ear to this doctrine; and when your sins do make you afraid and sad, then seek and desire absolution and forgiveness and of your sins of the ministers which have received a commission and commandment from Christ himself to forgive men their sins; and then your consciences shall have peace, tranquillity, and quietness.
But he that doth not obey this counsel, but being either blind or proud doth despise the same, he shall not find forgiveness of his sins, neither in his own good works, nor yet in painful chastise-ments of his body, or any other things whereto God hath not promised remission of sins, wherefore despise not absolution, for it is the commandment and ordinance of God.
From a Catechism German Lutheran Jonas Justus, and put forth by Cranmer's authority, and dedicated to King Edward VI, in 1548
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