The Tenth Article.
Q. WHAT is the tenth article?
A. The forgiveness of sins.
A. The forgiveness of sins.
Q. What do you understand by this?
A. I understand that God is both able and willing to forgive our sins, if we be heartily sorry for them, and confess them; and have given power to his church to remit them by baptism and penance.
A. I understand that God is both able and willing to forgive our sins, if we be heartily sorry for them, and confess them; and have given power to his church to remit them by baptism and penance.
Q. How prove you that?
A. Out of Matt. ix. 8, where it is recorded by the Holy Ghost, that the multitude glorified God, who hath given such power unto man, as to forgive sins, (Christ having before proved the said power by a miracle) ver. 6, 7.
A. Out of Matt. ix. 8, where it is recorded by the Holy Ghost, that the multitude glorified God, who hath given such power unto man, as to forgive sins, (Christ having before proved the said power by a miracle) ver. 6, 7.
Q. Is any sin so great that God cannot forgive it?
A. No there is not; for his mercy is far above our malice.
A. No there is not; for his mercy is far above our malice.
Q. Can any one mortal sin be remitted without the rest?
A. It cannot, because the remission of mortal sin is a renewing of friendship with God by his grace, which can never be effected, so long as there remains in us any mortal sin.
A. It cannot, because the remission of mortal sin is a renewing of friendship with God by his grace, which can never be effected, so long as there remains in us any mortal sin.
Q. Can we have absolute certainty, that our sins are forgiven us?
A. Without special revelation we cannot: I am not guilty in conscience (saith St. Paul) of any thing, but herein I am not justified. 1 Cor. iv. 4.
A. Without special revelation we cannot: I am not guilty in conscience (saith St. Paul) of any thing, but herein I am not justified. 1 Cor. iv. 4.
Q. What other proof have you?
A. Because a man knows not whether he be worthy of love or hatred. Eccl. i. 9.
A. Because a man knows not whether he be worthy of love or hatred. Eccl. i. 9.
Q. Can we be certain of our final perseverance?
A. Not without special revelation, and therefore St. Paul said, I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I preach to others I myself become a reprobate, 1 Cor. ix. 27, and Phil. ii. 12. He exhorts, saying, with fear and trembling, work out your salvation.
A. Not without special revelation, and therefore St. Paul said, I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I preach to others I myself become a reprobate, 1 Cor. ix. 27, and Phil. ii. 12. He exhorts, saying, with fear and trembling, work out your salvation.
Q. How then shall we have peace of conscience?
A. Because we may have moral certainty and a most lively hope, that our sins are forgiven by us by the due use of the sacraments, which is enough for our peace.
A. Because we may have moral certainty and a most lively hope, that our sins are forgiven by us by the due use of the sacraments, which is enough for our peace.
Next - The Douai Catechism, 1649 - CHAPTER III. - The Creed Expounded - The Eleventh Article.
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