Editing Contrition (section)

===== Criticism of imperfect contrition =====
In his 1537 ''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'', [[Philipp Melanchthon]] argued against the concept of imperfect contrition on the basis that it leaves the penitent person uncertain:<ref>''Apology of the Augsburg Confession'', [http://bookofconcord.org/defense_10_repentance.php#para9 Article XII (V): Of Repentance.]</ref>
{{blockquote|When, however, will a terrified conscience, especially in those serious, true, and great terrors which are described in the psalms and the prophets, and which those certainly taste who are truly converted, be able to decide whether it fears God for His own sake, or is fleeing from eternal punishments?}}

In his 1537 ''[[Smalcald Articles]]'', Martin Luther argued against the Catholic doctrine of imperfect contrition, arguing that "such contrition was certainly mere hypocrisy, and did not mortify the lust for sins; for they had to grieve, while they would rather have continued to sin, if it had been free to them." Instead he argued that "repentance is not piecemeal," and "In like manner confession, too, cannot be false, uncertain, or piecemeal."<ref>''Smalcald Articles'', [http://bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#part3.3.10 Part III, Article III. Of Repentance],</ref>