The Soul's Preparation for Christ

¹For the first, the difference between the true and the false confession is discovered in these three particulars.

¹For the first, the difference betweene the true and the false confessiō is discovered in these three particulars.

1. 1Difference betwixt true and false confession of sins.Difference betwixt true and false confession of sinnes.

First, they differ in the end, a broken hearted sinner confesseth his sins that he may take shame to himself, and glorify God, this is the frame of the soul that truly confesseth his sins, he doth it to honour the Gospel which he hath so much dishonoured, to discover the vileness of his person and of his sin, that he hath so much set up; he is willingly content that the glory of it may be Gods, and the shame his own. Consider that passage of the good Thief upon the Cross, ¹when the reprobate was going to be executed for his ⟨p. 223⟩sin,² he railed upon Christ, (whence observe this by the way, a wicked man will be a wretch though he should go to hell presently;) now when he was railing, see what the Good thief replies; Fearest thou not God? we have sinned and are justly punished for our sins, to die and go to hell too▪ if God be not the more merciful; this man, you see, was content to fall out with himself, and his sins, and to honour the justice and holiness of God in condemning of him.