We are very glad to see that the Bishop of
Winchester in the course of an admirable address delivered to his clergy at Andover on Saturday last spoke most searchingly and strongly against the confessionaL The gist of his charge, as we understand it, is that the Church of England forbids the confessional—i.e., that systematised, obligatory, and in- quisitorial institution of confession which is so liable to
weaken the conscience and to injure the sense of personal responsibility—but leaves ample opportunities, and indeed makes special provision, for those exceptional unburden- ings of the humar soul which sometimes afford so great a relief to an offender. Therefore the Bishop in solemn and eloquent words warns his clergy "to beware of the insidious growth of a usage fraught, as I believe, with much that is perilous to the healthy and robust development of the Christian life." Compulsion, adds the Bishop, is not merely to be discouraged, it is absolutely forbidden ; and he speaks strongly against the confession of children. "The wisest human counsellor is he who leads the sinner to need human counsel least." That is a great truth well expressed.
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