The truly blessed man

4 In the many Circumstances of the Action. Hereby the Sin is reputed either greater or less: and here a great many things might come under consideration; but this would make too great a digression: only let us remember that all these things have their weight and consideration in a right Confession of Sin: and hence to a right Confession, four things are requisite.

1. An Acknowledgement of the Fact. For if we deny the thing it self, we by consequence deny the Sin. He that saith, I have not done this, […] omitted that, doth wholly justify himself in th•• regard: for if there be not the act, there cannot be the obliquity of it, which is a Law respect adhering to it. When Gebezi said, Thy Servant went no whither, 2 King. 5.28. He sought so to acqu•• himself from blame.

1. An Acknowledgment of the Fact. For if we deny the thing it self, we by consequence deny the Sin. He that sai•h, I have not done this, 〈…〉 omitted that, doth wholly justifie himself in th•• regard: for if there be not the act, there cannot be the obliquity of it, which is a Law respect adhering to it. When Gebezi said, Thy Servant went no whither, 2 King. 5.28. He sought so to acqu•• himself from blame.

2 An acknowledgement of the Sinfulness of the Fact. Not only that we have done, but have Sinned in to doing; it is one thing to own a fact, another to confess a Sin. There is many a man doth amiss, and will not deny what he hath done, but justifieth himself, stands on his innocency, he hath done well, and needs not be ashamed: this is not to confess sin. So the Pharisees,