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'The Right Way to Safety after Shipwreck': Bramhall on private confession

Bramhall, then Archbishop of Armagh, in a sermon - 'The Right Way to Safety after Shipwreck' - before the Irish House of Commons, June 1661, recommending private confession and absolution:

Confession, with its requisites, contrition and amendment of life ... do make a complete repentance: which some Fathers style a "second table after shipwreck", others a "Baptism of pains and tears" ... Thrice happy are they, which use this plank aright, to bring them through the raging billows of this sinful world to the haven of eternal bliss.

Confession is as ancient as our first parents, whom God Himself did call to the performance of this duty. It was practised among the Israelites, by Divine precept; by those Jews that repaired to the Baptism of John; by those Ephesian converts; prescribed by St. James, "Confess one to another, and pray one for another" ...

There is no better physic for a full stomach, than a vomit; nor for a soul replete with sin, than confession. Bodily sores do oftentimes compel a man to put off natural shamefacedness, and to expose his less honourable parts to the view of the surgeon. Ought not every one to be as solicitous for his soul? We offend God three ways; by the imaginations of our hearts, by the words of our mouths, by the actions of our lives. If we intend to please God, we must take a clean contrary course; for evil thoughts of the heart, bring contrition of the heart; for corrupt speeches of the mouth, bring confession of the mouth; for wicked actions of our life, "bring fruits worthy amendment of life". By this means we bring glory to God, and shame to ourselves; and prevent that great confusion of face, which otherwise must fall upon us at the Day of Judgment, before God and Angels and men. A contrite sinner stands not upon terms of reputation with God, or with His Church. Why should we be more afraid to confess, than we were to offend? to make those the witnesses of our tears, who have been the witnesses of our faults? to take away the scandal that we ourselves have given? Let the world take notice of our sin, so it may likewise take notice of our repentance. A great sickness often ushers in health, and a better habitude of the body. A broken bone, when it is well knit, grows the stronger ...

No man can doubt, but the Romanists have grossly abused confession; by tricking it up in the robes of a Sacrament; by obtruding a particular and plenary enumeration of all sins to man, as absolutely necessary to salvation by Divine institution ... So, on the other side, it cannot be denied, that our Protestant confessions are for the most part too general; we confess we are sinners, and that's all; which signifies nothing: and a little too presumptuous; they that dare not trust their own judgment about their estates without the opinion of a lawyer, nor about their bodies without the advice of a physician, are wise enough for their souls without any other direction.

From The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, John Bramhall, Volume 5.

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