The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

CHAP. XIIII. Of the Confession of sin.

CHAP. XIIII. Of the Confession of sinne.

This is a good affection of Christianity, to conceal a fault; and this also is a good affection of men regenerate, to testify their faults to all¹ men, whereby they make known their thankfulness, in that whereas by nature they were thus, by grace they are so and so. Again, men use it to comfort others, that though they be in their old estate, yet they may receive grace, if they hinder not themselves, and shut out the grace of God from them. Thus the children of God are wont to² aggravate their sins, that others might have comfort in the like case. Matthew in the ninth chapter and the ninth verse, shameth himself by the name of a Publican: and yet if we look to his sin, it was not like the sin of Peter against the ninth commandment: nor like the sin of David against the six and seventh commandments, the sin of Paul against the first, as of them that crucified Christ himself. But that which he concealeth, the other Evangelists blaze abroad; that which they conceal he blazeth abroad. And this is one argument of the truth of the word: for whereas other Chronicles do³ ever commend themselves and their own native countries best (as if you read the Chronicles of England, you will think it the hest nation) it is contrary in the word: the denial of Peter is more expressly set down of Mark, than of any other, yet did he write the Gospel out of his mouth. Paul setteth out his own faults in more sharp measure and manner, than any other can do,