of temptation, but
were none the less conscious of heart and hidden sins, stood up,
"confessing and declaring their deeds," as in a memorable scene long
afterwards (Acts xix. 17-20).

The formalist confessed that the whited sepulchre of his religious
observances had concealed a mass of putrefaction. The sceptic
confessed that his refusal of religion was largely due to his hatred of
the demands of God's holy law. The multitudes confessed that they had
been selfish and sensual, shutting up their compassions, and refusing
clothing and food to the needy. The publican confessed that he had
extorted by false accusation and oppression more than his due. The
soldier confessed that his profession had often served as the cloak for
terrorizing the poor and vamping up worthless accusations. The
notoriously evil liver confessed that he had lain in wait for blood,
and destroyed the innocent and helpless for gain or hate. The air was
laden with the cries and sighs of the stricken multitudes, who beheld
their sin for the first time in the light of eternity and of its
inevitable doom. The lurid flames of "the wrath to come" cast their
searching light on practices which, in the comparative twilight of
ignorance and neglect, had passed without special notice.

Upon that river's brink, men not only confessed to God, but probably
also to one another. Life-long feuds were reconciled; old quarrels
were settled; frank words of apology and forgiveness were exchanged;
hands grasped hands for the first time after years of alienation and
strife.

Confession is an essential sign of a genuine repentance, and without it
forgiveness is impossible. "He that covereth his transgressions shall
not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain
mercy." "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So long as we
keep silence, our bones wax old through our inward anguish; we are
burnt by the fire of slow fever; we toss restlessly, though on a couch
of down. But on confession there is immediate relief. "I said, I will
confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavest me the
iniquity of my sin."

Confess your sin to God, O troubled soul, from whom the vision of
Christ is veiled. It is more than likely that some undetected or
unconfessed sin is shutting out the rays of the true sun. Excuse
nothing, extenuate nothing, omit nothing. Do not speak o