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

2. We do not make our Confession penitently. It is an humble Confession that God looks for; and there is a proud sort of Confession that we are prone to: and it appears in such things;

1. We do not take the whole blame to our selves. We confess the fact, and it may be our folly too, but withal we seek in part to put it off somewhere else, possibly the bigger part, and reserve the least for our selves: we make fearful cries against the Devil; the Devil tempted me, and was too subtle for me; &c. The Devil indeed is called the Tempter, but remember, it is not his, but our fault if we are tempted, Jam. 1. 14. Acts 5. 3. Satan's Instruments also shall be brought in for our excuse: I had not done it but for such or such an one, &c. As if they could have forced our consent against our will: yea, God himself shall be reflected on to extenuate our fault; this is not the Confession that is truly penitent.

1. We do not take the whole blame to our selves. We confess the fact, and it may be our folly too, but withal we seek in part to put it off somewhere else, possibly the bigger part, and reserve the least for our selves: we make fearful cries against the Devil; the Devil tempted me, and was too subtile for me; &c. The Devil indeed is called the Tempter, but remember, it is not his, but our fault if we are tempted, Jam. 1. 14. Acts 5. 3. Satans Instruments also shall be brought in for our excuse: I had not done it but for such or such an one, &c. As if they could have forced our consent against our will: yea, God himself shall be reflected on to extenuate our fault; this is not the Confession that is truly penitent.