Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Absolution, Its Use and Abuse, And, Excommunication, or the Power of the Keys: Two Sermons, Delivered by the Rev. Archer Gurney, on the Fourth Sunday After Trinity, June 27, 1858, in the Temporary Episcopal Church, 17, Rue De La Madeleine, at Paris
Finally, though I have striven to speak brie?y and plainly, yet I am aware that it is impossible to compre hend so vast a theme within such narrow limits. But I could scarcely refrain from protesting against that strained, unnatural, and, as I am persuaded, most uncatholic theory of interpretation of the character and nature of absolution, the ultimate effect of which could only be, in my judg ment, to assimilate our moral condition to that of the vast communion of the West amidst which we dwell. Those who know what is the moral and ascetic teaching of that Church (so-called), will not, I think, condemn me for raising my single voice against the introduction of a sys tem which, as I firmly believe, would in the end prove fatal to the first principles of right amongst us, and strike a death-blow at purity of conscience and Simplicity of faith in God.
But let not this conviction hurry us, as it too easily might do, into a denial of any article of the faith once delivered to the saints, or inspire us with a disposition to explain away the emphatic testimonies of the Word of God. Let us ourselves receive the absolving word publicly in the congregation with faith and reverence, and recog nise in Christ's ministers, not masters indeed, but helpers of our faith, to whom certain spiritual and divine powers have been assigned for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ.
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