e,
what is the inward fountain it flows from? If the heart be brought to the
distinct and clear view of itself and to discern the iniquity and plague
of it, and so to fall down under the mighty hand of God, and before his
tribunal, as guilty, as not being able or willing to open his mouth in an
excuse or extenuation of sin or to plead for compassion from any
consideration in himself, a soul thus placed between iniquities set in
order and battle array, on the one hand, and the holy law and
righteousness of God, on the other hand, the filthiness of the one filling
with shame and confusion, and the dreadfulness of the other causing fear
and trembling, in this posture, I say, for a soul to come and fall at the
Judge's feet, and make supplication to him in his Son Christ, thus being
inwardly pressed to vent and pour out our hearts before him, in the
confession of our sins, and to flee unto the city of refuge,--his mercy and
grace that is declared in Jesus Christ,--this, I say, is indeed to confess
our sins, for then confession is an exoneration and disburdening of the
heart,--it flows from the abundance of the inward contrition of it. And as
this must be the spring of it, so there is another stream that will
certainly flow from the ingenuous confession of our sins that is, a
forsaking of them. These are the two streams that flow from one head and
spring the inward fountain of contrition and sorrow for sin there is a
holy indignation kindled in the heart against sin, and an engagement upon
such a soul, as indeed flees to mercy, to renounce sin, and here is the
complete nature of true repentance. Solomon joins them, "He that
confesseth and forsaketh shall have mercy," Prov. xxviii. 13. And this is
opposed to covering of sins--for "he that covereth his sins shall not
prosper." And what is that to cover his sin? Confessing them in a general
confused notion, without any distinct knowledge or sense of any particular
guiltiness? That is a covering of sins. Or confessing sin and not
forsaking of it? That is a covering of sin for to act sin over again with
continual fresh delight and vigour, is to retract our confessions and to
bury and cover them with the mould of new transgressions. Now, take this
unto you, you "shall not prosper." What can be said worse? For you are
but in a dream of happiness, and you shall one day be shaken out of it,
and that fancied pardon shall evanish, and then your sins that you covered
in this manne