# Second Helvetic Confession
## Chapter 14 - Of Repentance, and the Conversion of Man
The Gospel has the doctrine of repentance joined with it; for so said the Lord in the Gospel, ‘In my name must repentance and remission of sins be preached among all nations’ ([Luke 24:47](/get-passage/Luke+24:47)).

By repentance we understand the change of the mind in a sinful man stirred up by the preaching of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit, and received by a true faith: by which a sinful man does acknowledge his natural corruption, and all his sins, seeing them convinced by the Word of God, and is heartily grieved for them; and does not only bewail and freely confess them before God with shame, but also does loathe and abhor them with indignation, thinking seriously of present amendment, and of a continual care of innocency and virtue, wherein to exercise himself holily all the rest of his life.

And surely this is true repentance—namely, an unfeigned turning unto God and to all goodness, and a serious return from the devil and from all evil. Now we do expressly say, that this repentance is the mere gift of God, and not the work of our own strength. For the apostle directs the faithful minister diligently to ‘instruct those who oppose the truth, if so be at any time the Lord may give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth’ ([2 Timothy 2:25](/get-passage/2+Timothy+2:25)). Also the sinful woman in the Gospel, who washed Christ’s feet with her tears; and Peter, who bitterly wept and bewailed his denial of his Master—do manifestly show what mind the penitent man should have, to wit, very earnestly lamenting his sins committed. Moreover, the prodigal son, and the publican in the Gospel, that is compared with the Pharisee, do set forth unto us a most fit pattern of confessing our sins to God. The prodigal son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee: I am not worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants’ ([Luke 15:18-19](/get-passage/Luke+15:18-19)). The publican, also, not daring to lift up his eyes to heaven, but smiting his breast, cried, ‘God be merciful unto me a sinner’ ([Luke 18:13](/get-passage/Luke+18:13)). And we doubt not but the Lord received them to mercy. For John the apostle says, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and purge us from all iniquity. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us’ ([1 John 1:9-10](/get-passage/1+John+1:9-10)).

We believe that this sincere confession, which is made to God alone, either privately between God and the sinner, or openly in the church, where that general confession of sins is rehearsed, is sufficient; and that it is not necessary for the obtaining of remission of sins that any man should confess his sins unto the priest, whispering them into his ears, that, the priest laying his hands on his head, he might receive absolution: because we find no commandment nor example thereof in the Holy Scripture. David protests and says, ‘I made my fault known to thee, and my unrighteousness did I not hide from thee. I said, I will confess my wickedness to the Lord against myself, and thou hast forgiven the heinousness of my sin’ ([Psalm 32:5](/get-passage/Psalm+32:5)). Yea, and the Lord, teaching us to pray, and also to confess our sins, said, ‘So shall ye pray: Our Father which art in heaven, forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors’ ([Matthew 6:9-12](/get-passage/Matthew+6:9-12)). It is requisite, therefore, that we should confess our sins unto God, and be reconciled with our neighbor, if we have offended him. And the Apostle James, speaking generally of confession, says, ‘Confess each of you your sins to one another’ ([James 5:16](/get-passage/James+5:16)). If so be that any man, being overwhelmed with the burden of his sins, and troublesome temptations, will privately ask counsel, instruction, or comfort, either of a minister of the Church, or of any other brother that is learned in the law of God, we do not mislike it. Like as also we do fully allow that general and public confession which is wont to be rehearsed in the church, and in holy meetings (whereof we spake before), being, as it is, agreeable with the Scripture.

As concerning the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which the Lord committed to his apostles, they [the papists] prate many strange things; and of these keys they make swords, spears, scepters, and crowns, and full power over mighty kingdoms, yea, and over men’s souls and bodies. But we, judging uprightly, according to the Word of God, do say that all ministers, truly called, have and exercise the keys, or the use of them, when they preach the Gospel; that is to say, when they teach, exhort, reprove, and keep in order the people committed to their charge. For they do open the kingdom of God to the obedient, and shut it against the disobedient. These keys did the Lord promise to the apostles, in [Matthew 16:19](/get-passage/Matthew+16:19); and delivered them, in [John 20:23](/get-passage/John+20:23); [Mark 16:15-16](/get-passage/Mark+16:15-16); [Luke 24:47](/get-passage/Luke+24:47), when he sent forth his disciples, and commanded them to preach the Gospel in all the world, and to remit sins. The apostle, in the epistle to the Corinthians, says that the Lord ‘gave to his ministers the ministry of reconciliation’ ([2 Corinthians 5:18](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+5:18)). And what this was he straightway makes plain and says, ‘The word or doctrine of reconciliation’ ([2 Corinthians 5:19](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+5:19)). And yet more plainly expounding his words, he adds, that the ministers of Christ do, as it were, go an embassage in Christ’s name, as if God himself should by his ministers exhort the people to be reconciled to God ([2 Corinthians 5:20](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+5:20)); to wit, by faithful obedience. They use the keys, therefore, when they persuade to faith and repentance. Thus do they reconcile men to God; thus they forgive sins; thus they open the kingdom of heaven and bring in the believers; much differing herein from those of whom the Lord spake in the Gospel, ‘Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye have not entered in yourselves, and those that would have entered ye forbade’ ([Luke 11:52](/get-passage/Luke+11:52)).

Rightly, therefore, and effectually do ministers absolve, when they preach the Gospel of Christ, and thereby remission of sins; which is promised to every one that believes, even as every one is baptized; and to testify of it that it does particularly appertain to all. Neither do we imagine that this absolution is made any whit more effectual for that which is mumbled into some priest’s ear, or upon some man’s head particularly; yet we judge that men must be taught diligently to seek remission of sins in the blood of Christ, and that every one is to be put in mind that forgiveness of sins does belong unto him.

But how diligent and careful every penitent man ought to be in the endeavor of a new life, and in slaying the old man and raising up the new man, the examples in the Gospel do teach us. For the Lord said to him whom he had healed of the palsy, ‘Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee’ ([John 5:14](/get-passage/John+5:14)). Likewise to the woman taken in adultery he said, ‘Go thy way, and sin no more’ ([John 8:11](/get-passage/John+8:11)). By which words he did mean that any man could be free from sin while he lived in this flesh; but he does commend unto us diligence and an earnest care, that we (I say) should endeavor by all means, and beg of God by prayer, that we fall not again into sins, out of which we are risen after the manner, and that we may not be overcome of the flesh, the world, or the devil. Zacchæus, the publican, being received into favor by the Lord, cried out, in the Gospel, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken from any man any thing by false accusation, I restore him fourfold’ ([Luke 19:8](/get-passage/Luke+19:8)). After the same manner we preach that restitution and mercy, yea, and giving of alms, are necessary for them who truly repent. And, generally, out of the apostle’s words we exhort men, saying, ‘Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it through the lusts thereof. Neither give ye your members as weapons of unrighteousness to sin; but give yourselves unto God’ ([Romans 6:12-13](/get-passage/Romans+6:12-13)).

Wherefore we condemn all the ungodly speeches of those who abuse the preaching of the Gospel, and say, To return unto God is very easy, for Christ has purged all our sins. Forgiveness of sins is easily obtained; what, therefore, will it hurt to sin? And, We need not take any great care for repentance, etc. Notwithstanding, we always teach that an entrance unto God is open for all sinners, and that this God does forgive all the sins of the faithful, only that one sin excepted which is committed against the Holy Ghost ([Mark 3:28-29](/get-passage/Mark+3:28-29)).

And, therefore, we condemn the old and new Novatians and Catharists; and especially we condemn the Pope’s painful doctrine of penance. And against his simony and simoniacal indulgences we use that sentence of Simon Peter, ‘Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God might be bought with money. Thou hast no part or fellowship in this matter: for thy heart is not upright before God’ ([Acts 8:20-21](/get-passage/Acts+8:20-21)).

We also disallow those who think that themselves, by their own satisfactions, can make recompense for their sins committed. For we teach that Christ alone, by his death and passion, is the satisfaction, propitiation, and purging of all sins ([Isaiah 53:4](/get-passage/Isaiah+53:4)). Nevertheless, we cease not to urge, as was before said, the mortification of the flesh; and yet we add further, that it must not be proudly thrust upon God for a satisfaction of our sins ([1 Corinthians 8:8](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+8:8)); but must humbly, as it becomes the sons of God, be performed, as a new obedience, to show thankful minds for the deliverance and full satisfaction obtained by the death and satisfaction of the Son of God.
