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

And thus I have run hastily over the answering of this third Objection, I have done it merely for the relief of a perplexed Conscience; thus I have done with this doctrine, I confessed, & thou forgavest. Thou forgavest, to forgive; saith Musculus, is a word of favour, or grace, not merit. Thou forgavest; It notes, pardon of sin is not vouchsafed to men by way of debt, but of gift; I confessed, and thou forgavest; thou forgavest what? Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin, the sin of my sin. Interpreters have various apprehensions touching the meaning of these words, what it is for God to forgive the iniquity of my sin. I will bring it to a two fold channel: Some there are that by iniquity, understand the punishment of sin; I acknowledged my sin, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin; That is, thou forgavest the punishment of my sin; the reason of that interpretation is, because in the Hebrew language the same word [Greek or Hebrew] that signifies iniquity, signifies punishment, and therefore they understand the iniquity of sin, the punishment of sin; but Interpreters generally go against this interpretation, for usually the word is taken for sin it self; Again the whole scope of the Psalm is not in seeking the outward punishment to be forgiven; but the forgiveness of sin is referred to eternal guilt.

And thus I have run hastily over the answering of this third Objection, I have done it meerly for the relief of a perplexed Conscience; thus I have done with this doctrine, I confest, & thou forgavest. Thou forgavest, to forgive; saith Musculus, is a word of favour, or grace, not merit. Thou forgavest; It notes, pardon of sin is not vouchsafed to men by way of debt, but of gift; I confessed, and thou forgavest; thou forgavest what? Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin, the sin of my sin. Interpreters have various apprehensions touching the meaning of these words, what it is for God to forgive the iniquity of my sin. I will bring it to a two fold channell: Some there are that by iniquity, understand the punishment of sin; I acknowledged my sin, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin; That is, thou forgavest the punishment of my sin; the reason of that interpretation is, because in the Hebrew language the same word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that signifies iniquity, signifies punishment, and therefore they understand the iniquity of sin, the punishment of sin; but Interpreters generally go against this interpretation, for usually the word is taken for sin it self; Again the whole scope of the Psalm is not in seeking the outward punishment to be forgiven; but the forgivenesse of sin is referred to eternall guilt.