The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

;IMPIETY OF THE CONFESSIOXAL. 331less, lest any true son of the Church should die in mortalsin, and so perish, the Church has given power to all herpriests to administer absolution to persons in articuh mortis.But it is only in the article of death that they have suchpower; and then it is absolute, extending to all censures andcrimes whatsoever.To pardon sin is the prerogative of God alone ; and itmust needs be awfully criminal ina poor mortal to mountthe tribunal of heaven's justice, and aifect the high prerogativesof mercy and of condemnation. Of what avail is itthat man forgives, if still we underlie the condemnation ofheaven ?Will the fiat of a man like ourselves, standing inthe same need of pardon with us, release us from the claimsor shield us from the penalty of a violated law ? It is withGod we have to do ; and if he condemn, alas ! it matterslittle that the whole world absolve. The pardon of Romeit is equally impious to bestow or to receive. It is hard todetermine whether the priest or the penitent acts the moreguilty part. Rome's scheme of penance entirely reversesthat of the gospel. In the one case pardon is free ; in theother it must be bought. It is not of grace, but of meritfor the penitent has complied with all the requirements ofthe Church, and is entitled to demand absolution. There isno discovery of the rich grace of God, nor of the boundlessefficacy of a Saviour's blood, nor of the sovereign power ofthe Spirit ; all these are carefully veiled from the sinner,and he sees nothing but his own merit and the Church'spower. In the holy presence of God the true penitent discoversat once his own and his sin's odiousness ; and he goesaway with the steadfast purpose that, as he has done iniquity,so, by the Spirit's help, he will do so no more for ever.In the impure atmosphere of the confessionalthe person ismorally incapable of discerning either his own or his sin'senormity- He confesses, but does not repent ; is absolved,but not pardoned ; and departs with a conscience stupified,but not pacified, to resume his old career. He returns aftera certain interval, laden with new sins, which are remitted