Confession and False Teachers

[Gnomistry 1115]

Spoiler

 

[!] The following sermon would be preached passionately within the marble confines of Oren’s capital Basilica by a rather austere Churchman. Transcripts would circulate about the notice boards of the city [!]

Confession and False Teachers

 

-I pray that itching ears take hold of you as I speak this day with great conviction. The saddest place on this plane is the capital of Man, where every soul has just enough Religion to send them all straight to the Nether. Enough Canonism to soothe their religious conscience while their minds are laid completely barren of the knowledge of the Faith they purport to hold.  It is a sad spectacle to see such a great multitude packing the pews of our Church’s Grand Basilica- wherein noble persons and senior social elite not engaging offer not more than a glance at a Confessional. It is an even greater shameful display that no such confessional resides in our Grand Basilica.

 

-It is plain to say that sinners such as they, those who refuse to confess regardless of the physical structure, who remain unrepentant are destined for punishment. Verily I say, there exists many a soul presently kindling in everlasting torment who have sinned far less than you have done, dear listener. But, it is through thine Confession that the sins committed by the flesh against the spirit are absolved. Therefore, I preach to you now that Confession should no longer be concealed within the confines of a  traditional wooden box laced with fine curtains. Rather, it is to be a public lamentation offered willingly before GOD in the face of the congregations. All that will exist to still the heightened beating of thine heart as transgressions are spilled from the lips of those who doth quoth them will be a shrinkage in one’s weekly sins.   

 

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-I speak now of the lax clergy who fail to chastise those- Nay, who do not utter a syllable on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The primary excuse no doubt delivered to the ears of the Father by the unrepentant before their separation from Him. It is not becoming of men of the cloth to withhold knowledge essential to the salvation of souls. If it be their intention to withhold knowledge of Confession, these men are false teachers who doth quaff the inebriating liqueur of the Defiler himself. However, it is not these men who must be condemned this day. For the sinner is not a victim of them, rather the close-lipped rectors are the Judgement of GOD upon us for failing to work out our own salvation and inquire of our Faith. Lest we be blind the Confessional is always visible in this house. Yet it is the sinner who gazes plainly during service and departs from it at the benediction. 

 

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-Pray that GOD shant count thinself within the Congregation of the Unrighteous wherein the sinners thus described are held. For it is these souls who will wish nothing more than nonexistence when their spirits meet the Consuming Fire. The Consuming Fire of Divine judgment. The flames even now rage and glow. The Defiler also stands ready to fall on the wicked and take them as his own, the moment GOD allows. It is these men who refuse Confession who belong to the Defiler, he has their souls in his possession and under his rule. The Daemons are watching you who do not confess and are always at hand, as greedy hungry wolves wait for the opportune time to devour their prey- so the Daemons stand waiting for the wicked. It is the Daemons who expect to get these souls, but are held back for the moment. 

If GOD were to withdraw His hand of restraint from them, they would at once attack their poor souls. Iblees himself is staring at you at this very hour with his mouth open, and the mouth of the Nether so too waits to receive you. If GOD were to allow it, you would quickly be swallowed up. Be these words of grimm judgement and bleak fate our sign of parting. Forget not it is our duty to execute the judgment of the flesh on this plane and the duty of GOD to deal in your souls.

 

☩ Reverend Doctor Ludolfus Voch-Troast