330 PBN?UCB---Oow'rRXT?ON. [BooE II. ficaLion without the sacrament of penance, yet it disposes men for obtaining the grace o� God by the sacrament of penance."But in another place it is decreed, "that all the sacraments confer grace on all who rightly receive them."* Upon comparison of these two deter* minatiovts, let any one judge whether it does not follow from thence that all those who have but imperfect contrition, or bare attrition for their sins, are by this sacrament of penance put in a state of salvation, according to the doctrines of the Council of Trent. For they decree that all sacraments confer the grace for which they are ordained, to all that are rightly disposed; but bare attrition, or impeloct sorrow for sin, and imperfect purposes against it, dispose a man to receive grace by the sacrament of penance. Both these propositions are laid down by the Council of Trent. Therefore we must necessarily conclude. according to that council, t]tat a?tr?m, tv?t? tAe ?acr? of pffJance, pu? a sum ?qto a sta?e of salvation. So Dens, in his Theology, says: "Qualis contritio requiritur," &c.: "What contrition is required for the proper reception of the sacrament of penance ? Ansu?. Imper- �ecq contrition is required, and it is sufficient. Perfect contrition, though best, is not absolutely required, because this justifies without the sacrament." t This dangerous doctrine is taught by their greatest doctors, and not by one or two, but by many; not only by Jesuitical casuists, but by all other sorts; nay, books have been published among them to show this is the prevailing doctrine of their divines. But when they are urged with it they usually reply that this is the judgment of particular men, and that the whole church ought not to be charged with it, since it was not established by any general council. But this is a frivolous pretence, because persons of their communion never strictly examine the decrees of councils, but rather give' themselves up entirely to their spiritual guides. Their confessors manage their penitents, and instil such notions into them; sJld even avow to all the world, in their printed books, that they are true. Nor is it true that no council has taught so, since, as we have seen above, the Oouncil of Trent has taught this doctrine, and their principal divines have taught it as coming from this council. It concerns them to show that this doctrine is disallowed by some council; but this they cannot do. For though the Jarmenists have vigorously opposed this doctrine, yet the reigning popes would never condemn it or mark it with infamy.? Attrition, which is a low and imperfect sorrow for sin, or a sorrow arising from hope, fear, desire, or the lake, is a sufficient disposition for a man, in the sacrament of penance, to receive pardon, and be justed before God, by taking away the guilt of all his sins, and the obligation to eternal pains. This sorrow, newly begun, is sufficient for pardon, if the sins be confessed, and the person absolved by the priest. Attri- tion, however, being a word o� the schools, not of Scripture or antiquity, means variously, as their theologians please to interpret. But though they differ in assigning its precise domination, yet, it being the least and lowest part of repentance, every act of any man that can be said to
- Seas. 7, can. 7, De Sacramentis. ? Tract. de Saer. Pceniteut., No. �p. 69.
?: Thooe who would wioh to see the conflicting opinions in the Roman ?4tbolic Church on ? topic may consult Dens' TIMology, in his tract on the Sacrament of' Penance, on tim article Contrition, l?oe. 43 to 6S, inclucre. 1
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