In Luther's Short Directory for Confession, &c., [[Note 3] tr.

note: there is no note number in the original to go with the corresponding footnote, but this appears to be where it should go] we have his formula for _private_ or individual absolution, which will convey to the reader a more correct idea of its form: After the directions for confession of sins; the Confessor says: "_God be merciful to thee and strengthen thy faith.
Amen_." "_Dost thou believe that my remission of thy sins is God's remission ?_ Answer of the penitent: "_Yes, dear sir, I do_." Then the confessor says: "_According to thy faith, so be it unto thee.
And I, by command of our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.Amen.Depart in peace_." Another specimen of private absolution we find in the Kirchenordnung, [Note 4] or Church Directory of Count _Wolfgang_, of the Palatinate, on the Rhine, &c., published in Nuernberg, 1557.
"The Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will be gracious and merciful to thee, and will pardon all thy sins, for the sake of his dear Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for them.

And in the name of this, our Lord Jesus Christ, by his command, and in virtue of his declaration, 'Whose sins ye remit they am remitted,' &c., _I pronounce thee free and clear of all thy sins_, that they shall all be forgiven thee, as certainly and completely, as Jesus Christ by his sufferings and death merited the same, and in his gospel has commanded it to be preached to all the world.

Receive, therefore, this consoling promise, which I have now made to thee in the name of the Lord Christ, let thy conscience be at rest, and do thou confidently believe, that thy sins are assuredly forgiven thee, for Christ's sake, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Amen." 2.