to the divinity alone—It seemed good to him, that they who had within themselves his divine Spirit, should likewise possess the power of forgiving sins, and of retaining such as they judged proper; that holy Spirit himself, according to his good pleasure, forgiving and retaining, through the ministry of men. This is done in two ways; they call those to Baptism who are found worthy, and they reject the unworthy; or by other means, they forgive or retain sins, as when they correct those who have sinned, or forgive those who repent.” In Joan. Lib. xii. c. 1. T. iv. p. 1101.
St. LEO, L. C.—“The manifold mercy of God has been so indulgent to human failings, as not only by the grace of Baptism, but also by the medicine of penance, to restore him to the hope of eternal life. Thus they who have violated the blessings of regeneration, when they voluntarily condemn themselves, may obtain the remission of their crimes. But so has the divine goodness provided, that this cannot be done without the aid of his Ministers. The mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Tim. ii. 5.) conferred this power on the Rulers of the Church, to impart the action of penance to those, that confess their sins, and to admit them, when purified by a wholesome satisfaction, through the gate of reconciliation, to the participation of the Sacraments. Our Saviour is himself ever present to this work, the ministration of which he committed to his Disciples, saying: And I am
