A sixth difference is this, that godly men are distinct and clear to confess these particular special evils that have most predominancy over them. Beloved, observe this; Wicked men in their confessions are confused, and only run in general that they are sinners; Just like Ahimaaz when he would bring tidings to David, touching the issue of the battle with Joab and Absalom, saith he, I saw a tumult, and I heard a noise, but I know nothing. Wicked men will tell you that ⟨p. 34⟩their sins do make a noise within them, but they can tell you nothing distinctly, and nothing particularly, but only go at random. Wicked men in confessing sin are like Nebuchadnezzar, 1Dan. 2. He dreamt something but he could not tell what it was: Wicked men dream of sins and think of them as confusedly as a man in a dream; but when, how, and where, and with what aggravating circumstances they know not: they have not a distinct and clear view of their corruptions. Thus Bellarmine did show his wickedness in saying he was not wicked, when he was on his death-bed; and his Confessor came to him to have him confess his sin to him, saith Bellarmine, I do not know any sin in my self to confess. This was not the holiness of the man, but heedlessness that he did not observe his ways. Donatus the great ringleader of the Donatists, saith, O Lord I have nothing that thou shouldst pardon me. Beloved, this doth arise from stupidity that men see not sin; it doth not arise from holiness, but from heedlessness and carelessness. It is an observation that one hath on Job, saith Job, I have sinned, and cause me know mine iniquity, and my transgression and my sin. Whilst Job made this complaint that he had finned, God saith, in all this Job sinned not: that is, not absolutely, but meaning comparatively. ⟨p. 35⟩Beloved, to be free in complaints, and to be full in confession of sins, doth not argue that you have more sin then other men have; but it argues that you have more sight then other men have, and the less sin you have in you.
A sixt difference is this, that godly men are distinct and clear to confesse these particular speciall evils that have most predominancy over them. Beloved, observe this; Wicked men in their confessions are confused, and only run in generall that they are sinners; Just like Ahimaaz when he would bring tidings to David, touching the issue of the battell with Joab and Absalom, saith he, I saw a tumult, and I heard a noyse, but I know nothing. Wicked men will tell you that ⟨p. 34⟩their sins do make a noyse within them, but they can tell you nothing distinctly, and nothing particularly, but only go at randome. Wicked men in confessing sin are like Nebuchadnezzar, 1Dan. 2. He dreamt something but he could not tell what it was: Wicked men dream of sins and think of them as confusedly as a man in a dream; but when, how, and where, and with what aggravating circumstances they know not: they have not a distinct and clear view of their corruptions. Thus Bellarmine did shew his wickednesse in saying he was not wicked, when he was on his death-bed; and his Confessor came to him to have him confesse his sin to him, saith Bellarmine, I do not know any sin in my self to confesse. This was not the holinesse of the man, but heedlesnesse that he did not observe his wayes. Donatus the great ringleader of the Donatists, saith, O Lord I have nothing that thou shouldst pardon me. Beloved, this doth arise from stupidity that men see not sin; it doth not arise from holinesse, but from heedlesnesse and carelesnesse. It is an observation that one hath on Job, saith Job, I have sinned, and cause me know mine iniquity, and my transgression and my sin. Whilest Job made this complaint that he had finned, God saith, in all this Job sinned not: that is, not absolutely, but meaning comparatively. ⟨p. 35⟩Beloved, to be free in complaints, and to be full in confession of sins, doth not argue that you have more sin then other men have; but it argues that you have more sight then other men have, and the lesse sinne you have in you.
- 1Dan. 2.
