The truly blessed man

4. If we hope to obtain forgiveness of him, we must seek it in his way. As there is forgiveness with him, Psal. 130.4. So there is a course to be taken by such as would obtain it of him: and among other things which he requireth, this is one, viz. that we confess it to him humbly, heartily, fully: hence the promise is connected with it, Prov. 28.13. Lev. 26.40. 1 Joh. 1.9. God ⟨p. 218⟩will not baulk this, and for us to neglect it, is to cut our selves off from the Gospel hope. Now this Confessing to God intends, not only a coming before him in Prayer, and laying open the case, but a particular reflection and animadversion on the sin, under this consideration, that it is against him: to see, and bewail before him, the wrong we have done to his name, the dishonour we have brought to his declarative glory, the reproach to his Gospel, and the profession we have made of it; these are the aggravations we are to put to it, and by them to lay the greatest weight upon it: this was doubtless Davids aim, Psal. 51.4. Against thee, thee only, &c. Not that he had forgot the wrong he had done to others, but the concern of Gods Glory went nearest to him, and swallowed up the rest; so faith the poor Prodigal, Luk. 15.18. I have sinned against heaven and before thee.

4. If we hope to obtain forgiveness of him, we must seek it in his way. As there is forgiveness with him, Psal. 130.4. So there is a course to be taken by such as would obtain it of him: and among other things which he requireth, this is one, viz. that we confess it to him humbly, heartily, fully: hence the promise is connected with it, Prov. 28.13