_In the last decade of the second century_, and in the first twenty years of the third century, the famed Tertullian, who was born at Carthage about the year 160, and who lived and labored in Rome and North Africa, ending his life, it is variously stated, from 220 to 240, wrote, before joining the Montanist sect: "If thou drawest back _from confession (exomologesis), consider in_ thine heart that hell-fire which _confession shall quench for thee_; and first imagine to thyself the greatness of the punishment, that thou mayest not doubt concerning the adoption of the remedy. * * * When, therefore, thou knowest that against hell-fire, after that first protection of the baptism ordained by the Lord, there is _yet in confession (exomologesis) a second aid_, why dost thou abandon thy salvation? Why delay to enter on that which thou knowest will heal thee? Even dumb and unreasoning creatures know at the season the medicines which are given them from God. * * * Shall the sinner, _knowing that confession has been instituted by the Lord_ for his restoration, pass over that which restored the king of Babylon to his kingdom? * * * Why should I say more of _these two planks_, I may call them, for saving men?"[39] _In the middle of the third century_, Origen, pupil of St. Clement of Alexandria, was born in that town about 184, labored there for a time, and afterwards at Caesarea in Palestine. He died at Tyre in 253. Again and again does he make reference to confession of sin and its absolution by a priest. "Hear therefore now," says he, "how many are the remissions of sin in the Gospels. The first is this by which we are baptized unto the remission of sins. * * * There is also yet a seventh, although hard and laborious: the remission of sins through penitence when the sinner washeth his bed with tears, and his tears become his bread day and night, and when he is not _ashamed to declare his sin to the priest of the Lord, and seek a remedy_."[40] And commenting on the words of the Psalmist--"Because I declare my iniquity"--Origen writes: "Wherefore see what divine Scripture teaches us, that we must not hide sin within us. * * * But if a man become his own accuser, while he accuses himself and confesses, he at the same time ejects the sin, and digests the whole cause of the disease. Only look diligently round to whom then oughtest _to confess thy sin_. Prove first the physician, * * * that so in fine then mayest do and follow whatever he shall have said, whatever counsel he shall have given."[41] Again does Origen write: "For if we have done this, and revealed our sins not only to God, but also to _those who are able to heal our wounds and sins_, our sins will be blotted out by Him who saith: 'Behold, I will blot out thy iniquities as a cloud, and thy sins as a mist.'"[42]