The Doctrine of Repentance

It reproves them who do in their confessions¹ mince and extenuate their sins. A gracious soul labours to make the worst of his sins, hypocrites make the best of them; they do not deny they are sinners, but yet do what they can to lessen their sins; they indeed offend sometimes, but it is their nature, and it is long of such occasions. These are rather excuses than confessions, 1 Sam. 15. 24. I have sinned, I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, because I feared the people. Saul lays his sin upon the people. They would have him spare the Sheep and Oxen. 'Twas an Apology, not a self-indictment. This runs in a blood. Adam acknowledgeth he did taste the forbidden fruit, ⟨p. 35⟩but instead of aggravating his sin, he translates it from himself to God, Gen. 3. 12. The woman whom thou gavest me, she gave me of the Tree, and I did eat: If I had not had this woman to be a tempter, I had not transgressed.

It reproves them who do in their confessions¹ mince and extenuate their sins. A gracious soul labours to make the worst of his sins, hypocrites make the best of them; they do not deny they are sinners, but yet do what they can to lessen their sins; they indeed offend sometimes, but it is their nature, and it is long of such occasions. These are rather excuses than confessions, 1 Sam. 15. 24. I have sinned, I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, because I feared the people. Saul layes his sin upon the people. They would have him spare the Sheep and Oxen. 'Twas an Apology, not a self-indictment. This runs in a blood. Adam acknowledgeth he did taste the forbidden fruit, ⟨p. 35⟩but instead of aggravating his sin, he translates it from himself to God, Gen. 3. 12. The woman whom thou gavest me, she gave me of the Tree, and I did eat: If I had not had this woman to be a tempter, I had not transgressed.