I. The Divine Institution Of The Sacrament Of Penance. 335 A. In the office for the ordaining of Priests the Bishop is directed to say, "Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Priest in the Church of God. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven." In the office for the visitation of the sick it is said, "Our Lord Jesus Christ hath left in His Church power to absolve all sinners that truly repent and believe in Him." In the order for morning and evening prayer we say again, "Almighty God hath given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to His people, being [355] penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins." Q. For what purpose hath Christ given this power to Priests to pronounce absolution in His name? A. For the consolation of the penitent; the quieting of his conscience. Q. What must precede the absolution of the penitent? A. Confession.... Before absolution privately given, confession must be made to a Priest privately. Q. In what case does the Church of England order her ministers to move people to private, or, as it is called, to auricular confession? A. When they feel their conscience troubled with any weighty matter. Q. What is weighty matter? A. Mortal sin certainly is weighty; sins of omission or commission of any kind that press upon the mind are so, too. Anything may be weighty that causes scruple or doubtfulness. Q. At what times in particular does the Church so order? A. In the time of sickness, and before coming to the Holy Communion. Q. Is there any other class of persons to whom confession is profitable? A. Yes; to those who desire to lead a saintly life. These, indeed, are the persons who most frequently resort to it.