Reader
CHAPTER XXXI: Cases and Directions about Confessing Sins and Injuries to others -- Tit. 1. Cases about Confessing Sins and Injuries to others
-- Tit. 2. The Directions for just confessing Sin to others CHAPTER XXXII: Cases and Directions about Satisfaction and Restitution -- Tit. 1. Cases of Conscience about Satisfaction and Restitution
-- Tit. 2. The Directions for practice CHAPTER XXXIII: Cases and Directions about our obtaining pardon from God -- Tit. 1. Cases of Conscience about obtaining pardon from God
-- Tit. 2. Directions for obtaining pardon from God CHAPTER XXXIV: Cases and Directions about Self-judging
-- Tit. 1. Cases of Conscience about Self-judging -- Tit. 2. Directions for judging of our actions
-- Tit. 3. Directions for judging of our estates, to know whether we are justified, and in a state of life?
READER, THINK not by the title of this part, that I am doing the same work which I lately revoked in my "Political Aphorisms;" though I concluded that book to be 'quasi non scriptum,' I told you I recanted not the doctrine of it, which is for the empire of God, and the interest
of government, order, and honesty in the world. This is no place to give you the reasons of my revocation, besides that it offended my superiors, and exercised the tongues of some in places where other matters would be more profitable: pass by all that concerneth our particular state and times, and you may know by that what principles of policy I judge divine. And experience teacheth me, that it is best for men of my profession, to meddle with no more, but leave it to the Contzeu's, the Arnisæus's, and other Jesuits, to promote their cause by voluminous politics. The pope's false-named church is a kingdom, and his ministers may write of politics more congruously, and (it seems) with less offence than we. Saith the "Geographia Nubiensis" aptly, "There is a certain king dwelling at Rome called the pope, &c." when he goeth to describe him. Nothing well suits with our function, but the pure doctrine of salvation: let statesmen and lawyers mind the rest.
Two things I must apologize for in this part. 1. That it is maimed by defect of those directions to princes, nobles, parliament-men, and other magistrates, on whose duty the happiness of kingdoms, churches, and the world dependeth. To which I answer, That those must teach them whom they will hear: while my reason and experience forbid me, as an unacceptable person, to speak to them without a special invitation, I can bear the censures of strangers, who knew not them or me. I am not so proud as to expect that men so much above me, should stoop to read any directions of mine, much less to think me fit to teach them. Every one may reprove a poor servant, or a beggar (it is part of their privilege). But great men must not be so much as admonished by any but themselves, and such as they will hear. At least nothing is a duty, which a man hath reason to think is like to do much more harm than good. And my own judgment is much against pragmatical, presumptuous preachers, who are over-forward to meddle with their governors, or their affairs, and think that God sendeth them to reprove persons and things that are strange to them, and above them; and vent their distastes upon uncertain reports, or without a call.