Monday, August 1, 2011

William Law on CONFESSION (From class 7/25):

c. 1720
A Serious Call to a Devout & Holy Life


The Scripture says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins," which is as much as to say that our sins are forgiven--and we are cleansed from the weight of them--only when they are specifically confessed. Daily repentance has very little significance and loses all tis chief benefit, unless it be a particular confession & repentance of the sins of that day. You cannot repent or express sorrow, unless you allow time for that, nor can you repent except so far as you know what it is that you are repenting of.
Suppose another person should hold that a confession of ours in general once at the end of every week was sufficient--no need for a particular repentance at the end of every day; I think you see the impiety of this!
But dear friend, if your own particular sins are left out of your confession, your confessing of sin in general has no more effect upon your mind that if you had only confessed that all men in general are sinners.

Consider then that the mysterious redemption God affected on our behalf, and all the sacrifices and sufferings, both of God and man, brought to bear through two covenants, were only to remove the guilt of sin! Then let this teach you with what tears and contrition you ought to purge yourself from it.