The truly blessed man

1. That God requires this Confession of these that hope to obtain forgiveness of him. The influence therefore of one upon the other, is only as it is the way of Divine Appointment to obtain it; the promise so runs, Prov. 28.13. And that clause is inserted, Jer. 3.13. Only acknowledge, &c. God will be sought to for pardon, and there can be no asking forgiveness without acknowledging Guilt. Hence, though this be Gods gift as well as the other, yet it is whiles the Guilty Sinner is prostrating himself at the foot stool of Mercy, taking shame to himself, that God comes and passeth the act of pardon upon him, Luk. 15.17. In sum, where God giveth a Pardon, he gives Repentance, and where true Repentance is, there will be confession: ⟨p. 263⟩So we may safely conclude, that he who is not brought truly to confess hath not truly repented of his sins: and if he be still an impenitent, he is certainly an unpardoned man.

1. That God requires this Confession of these that hope to obtain forgiveness of him. The influence therefore of one upon the other, is only as it is the way of Divine Appointment to obtain it; the promise so runs, Prov. 28.13. And that clause is inserted, Jer. 3.13. Only acknowledge, &c. God will be sought to for pardon, and there can be no asking forgiveness without acknowledging Guilt. Hence, though this be Gods gift as well as the other, yet it is whiles the Guilty Sinner is prostrating himself at the foot stool of Mercy, taking shame to himself, that God comes and passeth the act of pardon upon him, Luk. 15.17. In summe, where God giveth a Pardon, he gives Repentance, and where true Repentance is, there will be confession: ⟨p. 263⟩So we may safely conclude, that he who is not brought truly to confess hath not truly repented of his sins: and if he be still an impenitent, he is certainly an unpardoned man.