CifConflìori, and Sorrow for Sin. ` Vol. our particular Sins ; as is plain in Sins of ignorance, liince our very calling them by that Naine, does neceffarily fuppofe that we do not know them. Ít is impof- fible we fhould remember thofe Sins afterwards, which we did not know when they were committed : And therefore either a general Repentance for theme and the other Sins I mentioned of the like Nature muff be l'efficient in order to the Pardon of them ; or we mull: fay, that they are unpardonable, which would be very unreafonable, becaufe this would be to make leffer Sins more unpardonable than-fhb-re which are far greater. And yet tho this difference between a general and particular Repentancebe no where exprefly mention'd in Scripture, there does not want foundation for it there. Pmal,19. 12. Who ran underhand h .r errours ? Cleanfe thou me from fecret Sins, (i. e,)- Such as we do not difcern and take notice of, when they are com- mitted : And yet David fuppofeth, that upon a general Acknowledgment of them and e; Repentance for them, we may be cleanfed from them, tho we can- not make a particular Acknowledgement of them, and exercife a particular Re- pentance for them, becaufe they arefecret, and we do not particularly under(tand what they are. As for our confefIing our Sins to Men, bothScripture and Reafon do in Some cafes recommend and enjoyn it. As, I. In order to the obtainingof the Prayersof good Men for ns. fames g, r 6. Confefiyour Sinn one to another; he faid before, the prayer offaith /hallfave the ¡rck, and theLord /hall rail him up. This in all probability is meant of the Miraculous Power of Prayer, which St. Chryfoflow reckons among the Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit, bellowed upon Chriftians in the firfl Ages of the Church : and this is very much countenanc'd and confirm'd by what prefently follows after this command ofConfejng our Sins one to another, andpraying one for another, and given as the Reafon of it; for the effectualfervent prayer ofa righteous Man availeth much, the Original is iieois aiei, the infpird prayer, which in the verfe before, is call'd the prayer offaith, meaning that Miraculous Faith, in the Power whereof Chri(li- ans did obtainof God whatever they were infpir'd to ask of him; according to our Saviour's Promife in the Golpe!, concerning the efficacy of the Prayers of Chriflians, which we find mention'd among the other Miraculous Powers, which were to be conferr'd upon them by the coming of the Holy Ghoft. 2. Confe(lion of our Sins to Men is likewife reafonable, in order to the cafe and fatisfa&ionof ourminds, and our being dire&ed in our Duty for the future. In this Cafe common Reafon and Prudence, without any Precept of Scripture, will dire& Men to have recourfe to this remedy, viz, todifcover and lay open our Difeafe to force skilful fpiritual Phyfician, to forne faithful Friendor prudent Guide, in order to fpiritual Advice and Direaion, for the peace and fatisfa&ion of our Minds. And then, 3. In cafe our Sins have been publick and fcandalous, both Reafon and the Pra&iceofthe Chrillian Church do require, that whenMenhave publickly offen- ded, they fhould give publick Satisfa&ion, and open Te(limony of their Re- pentance. But as for private and auricular Confeifion of our Sins to a Prie(l in all Cafes, and as of abfolute neceflity to our obtaining Pardon sod Forgivenefs from God, as the Church ofRome teacheth, this is neither neceffary by divine Precept, nor by any Conflitution and Pra&ice of the ancient Chriftian Church, as I have (hewn in my former Difcourfe. Not to mention the bad confequences of this Pra&ice, and the impious and dangerousufe which bath been made of this Seal of Confeflion, for the conceal- ing and carrying on of the molt wicked and barbarous Defigns ; and the debauch- ing of the Penitents, by drawing them into the Commifiïon of the fame and grea- ter Sins, than thofe which they confeffed ; which the moredevout Perlons of that Church have frequently complain'd of. I proceed now to Phew briefly in the III. Place, the Grounds and Reafons of the nece(fity of confefiingour Sins to God ; and I (hall but juft mention them. r. From the Precept and Commandof God; for which I have already produ- ced clear Proof ofScripture. 2. From
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