Q. But what difference will you make between Ministers and Lay-men, if you say we may confess our faults to Lay-men in private?

Q. But what difference will you make between Ministers and Lay-men, if you say we may confesse our faults to Lay-men in private?

A. When Christ saith, those sins you remit are remitted, it is not me••t that they have judicial power to absolve them, and say, Ego absolvo te, in nemine Patris, filii, & spiritus sancti: but he hath given them a Ministerial power to declare remission of sins to them that are penitent, if they see them penitent and humble, they may declare some promise whereto pardon is annexed.

Obj. But common Christians may do thus, and is there no difference between Ministers and them?

Obj. But common Christians may doe thus, and is there no difference between Ministers and them?

To forgive Sin, is to free a man from Sin, and Punishment, and to remit it, Jer. 31.33.

To cleanse from Sin, is to mortify Sin, and quicken Grace.

To cleanse from Sin, is to mortifie Sin, and quicken Grace.

Reas. 1. In respect of God;

1. From the great Honour confession of Sin doth to Gods Justice, no man confesseth his Sin to God, but he glorifies Gods Justice, though he should deal never so hardly with him, yet his Justice should be magnified, Psal. 51. Neh. 9.33. Dan. 9.7.

2. It sanctifies the name of Gods grace; why doth the Apostle so set out the sinfulness of all, in Cap. 2. & 3. ad Rom. but that he might magnify the riches of Gods grace? it shows, that if they have any mercy it is from Free Grace.

2. It sanctifies the name of Gods grace; why doth the Apostle so set out the sinfulnes of all, in Cap. 2. & 3. ad Rom. but that he might magnifie the riches of Gods grace? it shews, that if they have any mercy it is from Free Grace.

Reas. 2. In respect of our selves;

1. It exceedingly humbles us, and makes us willing to accept any hand of God, Lev. 26.41, 42. how do these men come to be humbled? if they confess their sins, and the sins of their Fathers, this will humble them.

1. It exceedingly humbles us, and makes us willing to accept any hand of God, Lev. 26.41, 42. how doe these men come to be humbled? if they confesse their sins, and the sins of their Fathers, this will humble them.

2. Confession of sin to God, doth restrain us from Commission of sin, for a man considers he must come before God, and break his heart for it, and an ingenuous heart is more ashamed of his sin before God, than before men, Ps. 51. Against thee, against thee only have I sinned, that most affected him.

2. Confession of sin to God, doth restrain us from Commission of sin, for a man considers he must come before God, and break his heart for it, and an ingenuous heart is more ashamed of his sin before God, than before men, Ps. 51. Against thee, against thee onely have I sinned, that most affected him.

3. Confession of Sin makes us examine our selves, and that is very profitable when a man comes and considers the frame of his heart and life, it afflicts him much, as the searching of a Wound doth anguish the Body, so examination of our selves doth much afflict our souls.

Now for the properties of this Confession, it must be serious and sincere, and with a resolution to do so no more, when a man confesseth his sins with grief of heart that he hath offended God, and resolves never to do the like again, this is very effectual.

Now for the properties of this Confession, it must be serious and sincere, and with a resolution to doe so no more, when a man confesseth his sins with griefe of heart that he hath offended God, and resolves never to doe the like again, this is very effectuall.

Use 1. It serves to teach us, that in Scripture phrase the repentance of an ⟨p. 39⟩humble Sinner goes before Justification, and Sanctification; many a man comes to be humbled, and yet is confident his sin is neither forgiven nor his heart sanctified: if Confession be the way to Pardon, what need a man confess his Sins, if he be truly persuaded they be forgiven? we grant therefore that Repentance is the way to Pardon, to the sense of it at least. It is a question whether Repentance go before Faith, or Faith before Repentance. I answer, if you take it practically, there is no man that either believes his sin pardoned, or healed, till he brought to Humiliation, contrition, and sorrow.

Ʋse 1. It serves to teach us, that in Scripture phrase the repentance of an ⟨p. 39⟩humble Sinner goes before Justification, and Sanctification; many a man comes to be humbled, and yet is confident his sinne is neither forgiven nor his heart sanctified: if Confession be the way to Pardon, what need a man confesse his Sins, if he be truly perswaded they be forgiven? we grant therefore that Repentance is the way to Pardon, to the sence of it at least. It is a question whether Repentance go before Faith, or Faith before Repentance. I answer, if you take it practically, there is no man that either believes his sin pardonned, or healed, till he brought to Humiliation, contrition, and sorrow.

Use 2. To teach all that stand either in need of pardon of Sin, or cleansing from Sin, what course to take; the best have need to increase it; but didst thou not find pardon at all, or cleansing here is a plain Promise, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins; as if he should say, If we should confess our Sins truly, and yet find no pardon, it would violate the faithfulness and righteousness of God.

Ʋse 2. To teach all that stand either in need of pardon of Sin, or cleansing from Sin, what course to take; the best have need to increase it; but didst thou not finde pardon at all, or cleansing here is a plaine Promise, If we confesse our sins, he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins; as if he should say, If we should confesse our Sins truly, and yet finde no pardon, it would violate the faithfulnesse and righteousnesse of God.