The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin…

Case 1 First, In case of public scandal given to the Church, whereof thou art a member, by falling into some notorious and known sin, when thy sin becomes scandalous and known to all that live about thee, and the Congregation where thou dost communicate is blemished by thy fall; in that case thou art bound to make a confession, to confess thy sin to the Church. David fell into the sin of Adultery, and the sin was known among all the Gentiles, insomuch that the enemies of God spoke ill of Religion, and spoke ill of God: what doth David do to recompense the wrong done to the Church? he makes the 51. Psalm, which was not for his private use only but for public use; mark the Title of it. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet, came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. This Psalm was permitted to be sung in the Sanctuary, and in the Temple, that so the Church of God being scandalized by Davids sin, should be satisfied by Davids public confession and repentance: Beloved, this is equitable, because the Communicants of a Congregation, of a Church, are offended by thy scandal, and whilst thy sin is notorious they are scrupled: therefore there must be a public repentance. And besides, public scandal given by any member of the Church may bring Gods wrath on the Congregation,¹ if the offender doth not confess his sin. Josh. 22. 20. Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity. Achan sinned alone, but did not perish alone, the wrath of God fell upon all the Congregation. Therefore for the good of the Congregation and Church, whereof thou art a member; if thy sin becomes notorious and known, thou art bound to confess it; not that every private sin must be confessed to the Church, but in case of public scandal, thou art then to compensate the congregation by manifesting thy confession.

Case 1 First, In case of publique scandal given to the Church, whereof thou art a member, by falling into some notorious and known sin, when thy sin becomes scandalous and known to all that live about thee, and the Congregation where thou dost communicate is blemished by thy fall; in that case thou art bound to make a confession, to confess thy sin to the Church. David fell into the sin of Adultery, and the sin was known among all the Gentiles, insomuch that the enemies of God spoke ill of Religion, and spoke ill of God: what doth David doe to recompence the wrong done to the Church? he makes the 51. Psalm, which was not for his private use onely but for publique use; mark the Title of it. To the chief Musitian, A Psalme of David, when Nathan the Prophet, came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. This Psalm was permitted to be sung in the Sanctuary, and in the Temple, that so the Church of God being scandalized by Davids sin, should be satisfied by Davids publick confession and repentance: Beloved, this is equitable, because the Communicants of a Congregation, of a Church, are offended by thy scandal, and whilest thy sin is notorious they are scrupled: therefore there must be a publick repentance. And besides, publick scandal given by any member of the Church may bring Gods wrath on the Congregation,