The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

5. Hence sometimes it is requisite to make a public Confession, when the Sin cannot be legally proved against us: Viz. When Gods Providence giveth so much light, as our profession is scandalized among men, though there be not a full proof. When there are such circumstances of discovery, as give a moral certainty to men, and there are several things known, that render us justly suspected: as when there is a common fame, and such things as make the most charitable suspicious of us, and force an enquiry to be made: Now we are either innocent or guilty, and the honour of God requires that we either assert our innocency, or acknowledge our Guilt; the Apostle reproved the Corinthians on a common report, 1 Cor. 5. 1. ⟨p. 216⟩And he commends their earnestness in clearing themselves, 2 Cor. 7. 10.

5. Hence sometimes it is requisite to make a publick Confession, when the Sin cannot be legally proved against us: Viz. When Gods Providence giveth so much light, as our profession is scandalized among men, though there be not a full proof. When there are such circumstances of discovery, as give a moral certainty to men, and there are several things known, that render us justly suspected: as when there is a common fame, and such things as make the most charitable suspicious of us, and force an enquity to be made: Now we are either innocent or guilty, and the honour of God requires that we either assert our innocency, or acknowledge our Guilt; the Apostle reproved the Corinthians on a common report, 1 Cor. 5. 1. ⟨p. 216⟩And he commends their earnestness in clearing themselves, 2 Cor. 7. 10.