repentance has been most diligently treated and laid open by
our teachers.

But of Confession they teach that an enumeration of sins is
not necessary, and that consciences be not burdened with
anxiety to enumerate all sins, for it is impossible to recount
all sins, as the Psalm testifies, 19,13: Who can understand
his errors? Also Jeremiah, 17 9: The heart is deceitful; who
can know it; But if no sins were forgiven, except those that
are recounted, consciences could never find peace; for very
many sins they neither see nor can remember. The ancient
writers also testify that an enumeration is not necessary. For
in the Decrees, Chrysostom is quoted, who says thus: I say not
to you that you should disclose yourself in public, nor that
you accuse yourself before others, but I would have you obey
the prophet who says: "Disclose thy self before God."
Therefore confess your sins before God, the true Judge, with
prayer. Tell your errors, not with the tongue, but with the
memory of your conscience, etc. And the Gloss (Of Repentance,
Distinct. V, Cap. Consideret) admits that Confession is of
human right only [not commanded by Scripture, but ordained by
the Church]. Nevertheless, on account of the great benefit of
absolution, and because it is otherwise useful to the
conscience, Confession is retained among us.


Article XXVI: Of the Distinction of Meats.

It has been the general persuasion, not of the people alone,
but also of those teaching in the churches, that making