A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

this is none of the least of their miseries, that they have not a clear, distinct, particular view of their own corruptions and abominations. But,

Fifthly, The true penitent does not only distinctly and particularly confess his sins, but he does very highly aggravate his sins,¹ by confessing not only the kinds and acts (so far as he knows and remembers them) but the circumstances of them also. There are (sometimes) some circumstances that may somewhat lessen a penitent mans sins; now these he readily and easily passes over, but then there are other circumstances which do exceedingly heighten and aggravate his sins, and that makes them more heinous and dangerous; and these he carefully and faithfully acknowledges. The penitential confessions recorded in the old and new Testament, are full of exaggerating expressions, as is evident in these instances. Ezra at once heightens and aggravates their sins by this circumstance, that they had been committed against manifold experiments that they had had, both of the severity, and also of the mercy of the Lord, Ezra 9. and so does Nehemiah also, Neh. 9. The like instance you have in Daniel, Chap. 9. 5, 6. We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts, and from thy judgments: neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the Prophets which spake in thy Name, to our Kings, our Princes and our Fathers, and to all the people of the Land. In these words you have seven circumstances that Daniel useth in confessing of his and the peoples sins, and all to heighten and to aggravate them. First, We have sinned. Secondly, We have committed iniquity. Thirdly, We have done wickedly. Fourthly, We have rebelled against thee. Fifthly, We have departed from thy precepts. Sixthly, We have not hearkened unto thy servants. ⟨p. 243⟩