The application of redemption

If the Lord shall (as he hath promised in his holy Word) seal up the acceptation of our persons, and the pardon of our sins, as it seems good to his Will, when we shall make confession thereof unto himself; we then need not, […] in truth we should not make confession of ⟨p. 626⟩our secret sins to man. First, […] it is God may, yea many times, nay most usually doth evidence the […] of our sins unto our souls, when we humbly and unfeignedly bewail them unto himself. So the Apostle John concludes it as beyond question, 1 […], 1-2 last verse, If we confess our sins, God is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity; nay, we shall not only have forgiveness granted in Heaven, but evidenced to our hearts on Earth, Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and forsaketh, shall find mercy. If a mans confession be of the right make, not counterfeit, but currant, he shall not only have mercy […] for him in the Deck, but he shall have the use of it, find the sweet of it, he shall find mercy pardoning, pitying, pacifying, comforting, and saving mercy. As when we have sought the thing that we have in our house, we say we have found it, when we have it in our hand, and for our use. Yea, God is marvellous ready to meet the sinner half way in his mercy and compassions, when he perceives that with a serious purpose of heart he sets himself […] this work, Psal. 32. 5. I said (saith the Prophet) I will confess my sin, and thou forgavest […] iniquity. The unfeigned purpose of Spirit this way, God takes in good part, and is so marvellously pleased therewith, that he gives him pardon, and forgives his sins, before he can mention by his words what he purposed in his mind, 1 Kings, 8. 38. […] prayer shall be made by any man that shall know the plague of his heart, he will hear in Heaven, and forgive, &c.

If the Lord shall (as he hath promised in his holy Word) seal up the acceptation of our persons, and the pardon of our sins, as it seems good to his Will, when we shall make confession thereof unto himself; we then need not, 〈…〉 in truth we should not make confession of