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For in the Scriptures we find, that the confession which the penitent sinner maketh to God alone, hath the promise of forgiveness annexed unto it: which no Priest upon earth hath power to make void, upon pretence that himself or some of his fellows were not first particularly acquainted with the business. ^cI acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. And lest we should think that this was some peculiar privilege vouchsafed to ^dthe man who was raised upon high, the Anointed of the God of Jacob: the same sweet Psalmist of Israel doth presently enlarge his note, and inferreth this general conclusion thereupon. ^eFor this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found. King Solomon, in his prayer for the people at the dedication of the Temple, treadeth just in his Fathers steps. If they turn (saith ^fhe) and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying; We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly: if they return to thee with all their heart, and with all their soul; &c. forgive thy people, which have sinned against thee, all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee. And the poor ^gPublican putting up his supplication in the Temple accordingly [God be merciful to me a sinner,] went back to his house justified; without making confession to any other ghostly Father, but only ^hthe Father of Spirits. of whom S. John giveth us this assurance: that ⁱif we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Which promise, ⟨p. 84⟩that it appertained to such as did confess their sins unto God, the ancient Fathers were so well assured of: that they cast in a manner all upon this Confession, and left little or nothing to that which was made unto man. Nay, they do not only leave it free for men, to confess or not confess their sins unto others (which is the most that we would have:) but some of them also seem, in words at least, to advise men not to do it at all; which is more then we seek for.