AN ENQUIRY INTO THE

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

OF ENGLAND UPON

ABSOLUTION.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM MASKELL, M.A.

VICAR OF S. MARY CHURCH AND DOMESTIC

CHAPLAIN TO THE LORD BISHOP

OF EXETER.

LONDON

WILLIAM PICKERING

1849

TIBKVBA

The reader is requested to make the following corrections.

p. 41. l. 1. for representing, read refuting.

p. 164. l. 16. for the power to forgive and to retain sins, read, the necessity of confession.

7. 18. for that power, read, the power of absolution.

TO THE REVEREND THE CLERGY

OF THE

DIOCESE OF EXETER.

MY REVEREND BRETHREN,

T

may be thought, and perhaps most justly, a presumptuous thing that I should inscribe this volume to you:

but it is not from any idle vanity, nor because I suppose its pages to be worthy of your regard, that I venture to do so.

There are local circumstances connected with the publication of it, which I trust will serve, in some measure, as my excuse for thus addressing

you.

In August last, at the visitation of the Bishop of the diocese, I preached at Totnes. My sermon contained statements upon chief doctrines of the Christian Faith, which, left to recollection only, might very easily have been mistaken or exagge

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