This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... Mr. Carpenter has not turned our attention to this word. It would have scarcely served his purpose. It would havo proved far too clearly that the forgiveness which the Bishop conveys the power to bestow when the priest absolves, is the "doing" of something, and not the "declaring" that something is ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... Mr. Carpenter has not turned our attention to this word. It would have scarcely served his purpose. It would havo proved far too clearly that the forgiveness which the Bishop conveys the power to bestow when the priest absolves, is the "doing" of something, and not the "declaring" that something is done. Not one of the meanings of the word "forgive" is to "declare," but in every case it is to impart the blessing; it is to pardon a person"--"to pardon a crime"--"not to exact a debt or penalty." "Whatever obscurity, therefore, or ambiguity, might hang around the word "absolve," is cleared at once by a reference to the word "forgive," which the Bishop employs when he confers the prerogative of absolution. This word "forgive," according to the "King of Lexicographers," does not mean to declare "forgiven," but to bestow pardon. If ecclesiastical questions, therefore, are to be settled by an appeal to Dr. Johnson, Mr. Carpenter has been unfortunate in his invocation of his name. But Mr. Carpenter urges a second consideration against my remarks on Absolution, viz., "He (Mr. Mellor) grounds his objection to the meaning on the assumption that the clergy are pledged to interpret the PrayerBook in a literal sense; which assumption is wholly gratuitous. He cannot produce authority to prove it." Mr. Carpenter is here at his congenial work of dogmatising once more. In what sense the clergy are pledged to interpret the Prayer-book, and by what sense they have to abide when summoned to trial, I can cite authority far higher than Mr. Carpenter to shew. He has heard of Judge Lushington, and, as Mr. Carpenter belongs to a Law church, he must listen with great respect to the voice of the Lawyer. Here, then, are Dean Lushington's words, which are found in...
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