the practice of private Confession to a Priest-which practice the Catholic Church, at all times observed, and now observes—is foreign from the institution and command of Christ, and is only a human invention ; let him be anathema.” Ibid. Can. vi. p. 127.
SATISFACTION.
PROPOSITION IX.
Though no creature can make condign satisfaction, either for the guilt of sin, or for the pain eternal due to it—this satisfaction being proper to Christ our Saviour only-yet, penitent sinners, as members of Christ, may, in some measure, satisfy by prayer, fasting, alms-deeds, and other works of piety, for the temporal pain, which, in the order of the divine justice, sometimes remains due, after the guilt of sin and pain eternal have been remitted. Such penitential works, notwithstanding, are no otherwise satisfactory, than as joined and applied to that satisfaction, which Jesus made upon the cross, in virtue of which alone all our good works find a grateful acceptance in the sight of God.
SCRIPTURE.
Our first parents sinned; their sin was remitted ; but a grievous train of temporal chastisements remained to be undergone. Gen. iii.-In the desert, the people of Israel sinned, as did Aaron and Moses, and we behold the same order of divine justice pursued. Numb. xii. xiv. xx.The same may be observed in David: The Lord hath taken away thy sin ; thou shalt not die. But because by this deed thou hast caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the
