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HE curfes, all his judgments. Now self accufing will prevent Satans accufing of us. He can lay no. more to our charge, than we in our confeffions are willing to charge our felves with: And 16 felf-judging will prevent Gods judging of us, 1 Cor.11.31. If we would judge our felves, we fhould not be judged. We are not to judge others, but we may and muft judge our felves.

then

Concerning Confeffion of fin take thefe Rules. 1. Confeffe all thy particular known fins particularly: Take thy felf in private, and open the cafe of thy foul clearly, and without guile of fpirit before the Lord, make private confeffion of all thy fins unto him: not that thoù canft acquaint God with any thing he did not before know, but that it may appear, thou thy felf knoweft, and art acquainted with the plague of thine own heart, and art fenfible of thy fins, iniquities, and defects in obedience. And feeing every one is guilty of many more fins than he can remember, though he examine his heart and life never fo feriously: Therefore when thoa haft humbly confeffed, and bewailed all thy particular known fins to God, then with ageneral confeffion acknowledge the reft, namely, all thy fecret, unknown, undifcovered fins; faying, as David, Pfal.19.12. Lord cleanfe me from my fecret fins. Cleanfe me O Lord, not only from thofe particular fins I do remember, and humbly confefle before thee, but from all other fins allo

that

that I am any manner of way guilty of,though I do not now remember them.

2. Remember, that 'tis not only words, and handsome expreffions God regards in confeffion! of fin, but there must be shame, a deep fenfe and feeling of the evil of fin, a heart hatred against fin, a true forrow for all our offences againft God, that muft accompany our confeffions, elfe they are no way pleafing unto him.

3. Befides con effing unto God, there are fome cafes, wherein confeffion alfo unte man is requifite; as

1. Under deep wounds of Confcience, 'Tis requifite then to open the true ftate and cafe of thy foul to fome Godly Minifter, or some faithful, experienced Chriftian, that fo they may give advice and counsel, and fuit their prayers to thy particular Cafe.

2. When fome eminent judgment feizeth on any, for fome eminent provocation. Here as Fofhuah faid to Achan, Josh.7.19. My fox, confeß, and give glory to God. That Gods juftice may be cleared, for hereby God receiveth a great deal of Glory, and men a wonderful confirmation, of the care and juftice of Providence,

3. He that by any notorious offence really fcandalizeth his Brother, or the Church of Chrift, ought to be willing by a private, or publick confession and forrow for his fin, to declare his repentance to thofe that are offended, who are thereupon to be

reconciled

reconciled to him, and in love to receive him. Fifthly, Forfaking fin,leaving off whatever appears to be displeafing unto God. The true penitent 1. Forfakes the acting of known fins for the prefent.

2. Refolves against fin for the future.

I. Forfakes all his former known fins, Jecret fins as well as open, profitable fins, as well as thofe that are not. True and fincere obedience is univerfal, especially in refpect of the purpose of the heart: He that out of Confcience of duty to God, forfakes one fin, will for the fame reafon fear to offend in another; there being the fame Divine authority, awing and binding the Confcience in one fin, as in another. To pick and chufe, here to obey, there to difpenfe with our felves, is a fhrewd fign of hypocrific.

II. Refolves against fin. And his refolutions

come,

1. From folid reafons, and not only from fome fudden affections.

2. Are accompanied with earnest and fervent prayers to God. He that is ftrong in refolution, and weak in fupplication is quickly foil'd.

3. Are made, not in his own ftrength, but the ftrength of Christ, which he humbly implores, and refts upon.

Sixthly, Converfion,, whereby the bent of the heart is turned towards God, choosing him for its chief delight, and portion, defiring to

walk

walk with him, and approve it felf unto him in fincere obedience. A true and real penitent does not content himself with a meer negative holineffe, and leaving off his former finful waies, 'Tis not enough for fuch an one to be no drun kard, no fwearer, no unclean perfon, &c. But as he hates every evil way, so he makes Confcience of every known duty required of him. The Commands that require duty, are as binding to him, as those that forbid fin. There will be a vifible change in fuch a perfon; and that

1. In reference to God: He will love God more, and delight in his waies and worship now, more than formerly.

2. In reference to men, He will be careful to difcharge his relative duties: He will labour to walk exactly and righteously,& to observe a strict integrity in his dealings with men. And in these two things he will manifeft the reality of his converfion.

1. If he remember he has wronged any man for merly, in his goods, or estate, either by defrauding, or unjust detaining what is due to him, he will endeavour to make him reftitution, or other fatisfaction. He that confeßeth, and for faketh his fin, fhall find mercy, Prov.28.13. He that restoreth not ill gotten goods, liveth ftill in his fin, Reftitution being an infeparable fruit of true Repent

ance.

2. If he be at variance with any, he will defire

and

and feek reconciliation, being willing to forgive injuries done to him, and defiring forgivenesse of thofe he has any way injured.

3. In the Government of himself, he will endea vour to he fober, and temperate, and watchfnl over his heart and waies, his words and actions. See more concerning watchfulneffe, in the fifth Chapter,

Thus much of the nature of true Repentance. I come now to fome Directions concerning, Ait.

I. Remember, Repentance (though never fo ferious) is not to be rested in, as any fatisfaction for fin, or any taufe of the pardon thereof (that being the act of Gods free Grace in Christ) yet it is of fuch neceffity to finners, that none may expect pardon without it.

'Tis necessary for these three Reasons.

1. Becaufe God hath commanded it, and the Goffel enjoynes it, as a condition of the new Co

vemant.

2. That we may taft something of the bitternesse of fin, that fo we may the more carefully avoid it for the time to come.

3. To prepare and fit us to receive pardon, to difpofe us into fuch a frame, as is futable to fuch a blessing.

4. To make us fet a higher value on Gods pardoning Mercy, and Chrifts Merits, and Bloed. How dear and precious is Chrift to a foul truly humbled for fin? II. Confider