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The first Ground is, That in the trou∣bles of conscience, it is meete and conue∣nient, there should alwaies be vsed a pri∣uate Confession. For Iames saith, Confesse your faults one to another, and pray one for another, thereby signifying that Confession in this case, is to be vsed as a thing most requisite. For in all reason, the Physitian must first know the disease, before he can applie the remedie: and the griefe of the heart will not
be discerned, vnlesse it be manifested by the confession of the partie diseased; and for this cause also in the griefe of conscience, the scruple, that is, the thing that troubleth the conscience must be knowne.
Neaerthelesse in priuate confession, these caueats must be obserued. First, it must not be vrged, as a thing simply or absolutely neces∣sarie, without which there can be no saluatiō. Againe, it is not fit that confession should be of all sinnes, but onely of the scruple it selfe, that is, of that or those sinnes alone, which do trouble and molest the conscience. Thirdly, though confession may be made to any kind of m••n, (Confesse one to another, saith Iames,) yet is it especially to be made to the Pro∣phets and Ministers of the Gospell. For they in likelyhood, of all other men, in respect of their places and gifts, are the fittest and best able to instruct, correct, cōfort, & en••orme the weake & wounded cōscience. Lastly, the per∣son to whome it is made, must be a man of trust & fidelity, able & willing to keepe secret things that are reueiled, yea to burie thē (as it were) in the graue of obliuion, for Loue coue∣reth a multitudeof sinnes.
Iam. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.