Page:Awful memorial of the state of Francis Spira (1).pdf/7

[7] Being thus blinded, he went to the Legate at Venice, and thus addreſſed him:

"Having for theſe diverſe years entertained an opinion concerning ſome articles of faith, contrary to the orthodox and received judgment of the Church, and uttered many things againſt the authority of the Church of Rome, and the Univerſal Biſhop; I humbly acknowledge my fault and error, and my folly in miſleading others. I therefore yield myſelf in all obedience to the Supreme Biſhop of the Church of Rome, never to depart again from the traditions and decrees of the Holy See. I am heartily ſorry for what is paſt, and humbly beg pardon for my offence."

The Legate having heard Spira's confeſſion, cauſed a recitation of all his errors to be drawn up in writing, together with the Confeſſion annexed to it, and commanded Spira to ſubſcribe his name thereto, which accordingly he did.- Then the Legate commanded him to return to his own town, and there to declare this Confeſſion of his, and to acknowledge the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be holy and true; and to abjure the opinions of Luther and other ſuch teachers, as falſe and heretical.

Spira ſubmitted to this humiliating order of the Legate's, and promiſed to accompliſh his whole will and pleaſure. But, on his way home, he began to think of what he had done; how he had ſhamefully neglected the opportunity of giving a glorious teſtimony of his faith before the legate, and how he had impiouſly denied Chriſt and his goſpel at Venice, beſides what he had promiſed to do further in his own country. And thus, through fear and ſhame, being confounded, he thought he heard a voice ſpeaking to him in this manner.