Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/126

94 of announcing the Gospel, or of declaring that sins are remittedy but is after the manner of a judicial act, which by sentence is pronounced by the priest as by a judge. And therefore the penitent ought not so to flatter himself concerning his own personal faith, as to think that, even though there be no contrition on his part, or no intention on the part of the priest acting seriously and absolving truly, he is, neVertheless, truly, and in the eyes of God absolved, on account of his faith alone. For neither would faith without penance bestow any remission of sins; nor would he be otherwise than most negligent of his own salvation, who should know that a priest but absolved him in jest, but should not earnestly seek for another who would, act in earnest.

CHAPTER VII. On the Reervation of Cases. Since, therefore, the nature and character of a judgment require this, that sentence be passed only on those who are subject thereunto, it has ever been a persuasion in the Church of God, and this synod confirms it as a thing most true, that that absolution, which a priest pronounces upon one over whom he has not either an ordinary or a sub-delegated jurisdiction, ought to be of no moment soever. And to our most holy Fathers it hath seemed to appertain greatly to the discipline of the Christian people, that certain more atrocious and more grievous crimes should be absolved, not by all priests, but only by the highest: whence the Sovereign Pontiffs, by virtue of the supreme power delivered to them in the universal Church, were, with reason, able to reserve certain more grievous cases of crimes for their special judgment. Since, moreover, all things that are from God are well ordered, it is not to be doubted, but that this same may lawfully be done by all bishops, each in his own diocese, unto edification, however, not unto destruction, by virtue of the authority, above that of the other inferior priests, delivered to them over their subjects, especially as for as concerns those crimes to which the censure of excommunication is annexed. But it is consonant to the divine authority, that this reservation of cases should have effect, not merely in external polity,, but also in the sight of God. Nevertheless,