FOR Confeffion, Communion, AND Confirmation. By Mr. GOTHER. Newly Revised and Corrected. With Approbation. LIVERPOOL: Printed by JOHN SADLER, in Harrington-fireet. MDCCLV. INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONFESSION. XDX OD, who wills not the death of a finner, but calls all to repentance, has, in the facrament of penance, mercifully provided all chriftians of a means, by which their fins may be forgiven, and they again received into the favour of their heavenly father, from whom they had been separated by their offences. So that, whoever finds his confcience burthened with the weight of his crimes, and is conscious to himself of having provoked the anger of God, ought diligently to apply himself to this holy expedient of peace, and feek a reconciliation in that manner as God has appointed and commanded it. But then his principal care ought to be, not to be wanting in any part that God requires at his hands, but fincerely to A 2 per perform all that is exacted of him, with a seriousness answerable to the greatness of the work he goes about; and a diligence futable to that infinite mercy, which is here offered him; ever remembiing, that as it is mercy and pardon which is promised, to those that fincerely do here the best they can; so there is nothing lefs than a curfe pronounced against all those that do this work of God negligently. It being therefore a matter of the moft weighty concern, to perform this duty well, I prefume it will be a very acceptable charity, to give some affiftance in this affair, and an encouragement to the poor finner, if I take him by the hand and lead him thro' every part of this great undertaking. But then he must give me leave, for clearness fake, and the inftruction of fuch as are ignorant, to lay down fome points, by way of Question and Anfwer. CHAP. L Of the parts of the Sacrament of Penance; and of Examen of Confcience. Q. How many parts has the facrament of penance, as it regards the penitent? A. Three, viz. 1. Contrition of heart; 2. Confeffion of mouth; 3. Satisfaction of works. Q. What do you mean by these three parts? A. I mean, that every finner, who defires pardon of his fins, has three things to do; 1. He 1. He is to be heartily forry for his fins. 2. He is to confefs them. 3. He is to perform what is enjoined him, in teftimony of his forrow, and to make some fatisfaction to the divine justice for his offences. Q. What is the first thing you would have a finner do, that heartily defires to perform well this duty, and to obtain pardon of his fins? Where would you have him begin? A. I would advife him to retire in private, and raifing up his heart to heaven, make his proteftation to almighty God, that what he is going about, is fincerely for the honour of his holy name, and the discharging his foul from the guilt of his offences, and for this end, that he defires his affiftance; which he may do after this manner. A Proteftation before Examen of Confcience. God, the fearcher of hearts, behold I here proteft in thy presence, that what I now defign, is fincerely for the honour of thy name; and because I heartily defire to be delivered from the guilt of my fins, therefore I come to this facrament of penance, that complying with thy holy inftitution, I may obtain thy bleffing and pardon, as thou haft promised: may thy holy grace affift me for the performing this great duty well, as it is thy mercy which has called me to it. Q. After this, how must he go on? A. I would have him then prepare for the |