A34689:638
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first Epistle general of John by ... John Cotton ...A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...
London: printed by M.S. for Thomas Parkhurst, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Confession is the ready way to Justification and Sanctification, pardoning of sin, and cleansing from sin.
This place is stood upon by Bellarmine for auricular confession, he saith, it is meant of confession, not to God, but to the Priest, and what is his ground but this? to the confession here spoken of, is a promise made of pardon, but no word of promise in Scripture to confession to God, but to confession to the Apostles and Ministers of Christ, John 20.23. But
1. It is a notorious Falsehood to say, that no promise is made to him that confesseth to God. Prov. 28.13. we understand it of confession to God; he denies it, because he speaks it of confession to him from whom sin may be hid, which cannot be from God. But yet many a man hides his sin from himself, and will not search into his own heart, and labours to hide it from God, Isa. 29.15. Ps. 32.3, 4, 5. And that that place in the Proverbs is meant of confession to God, appears, in that he speaks it of confessing to him of whom he might find mercy, but confession to man often brings ruin. I would yet further ask them, if there be no place that expresseth pardon to him that confesseth his sins towards the Temple? see Psal. 32.5, 6. Job 33.27. and that whole prayer ⟨p. 38⟩