Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 34.

19. Confes∣sing fre∣quently your sins to your spiritual Guide.

1. Confessing very frequently all your sins to your spiritual Father and Director; to receive his ministerial Absolution from them upon judgment of your penitence; his Sacer∣dotal Benediction; and prescription of such Humiliations, and Penances, as may be thought further necessary for the appeasing of God's wrath towards them, and your present cure from them: to receive his spiritual advice and Conso∣lations; his Prayers, and Intercessions to God for you; to put your self to the oftener shame, and the taking revenge on your self for them; to glorify the justice of God's judg∣ments, (if then you lye under any) and to avert them. For Confession of sin is a special means to the sick, or other∣wise afflicted, for their recovery, and deliverance out of their distress; Jam. 5.14, 15, 16. The resolution of such fre∣quent confessing keeps a modest man in awe from sinning; the preparing for Confession helps him better to know his Sins; the testifying to another of his sorrow for them, binds him more to forsake them; and God's grace and illu∣mination accompanies such Humiliation.

2. Your Confession (to reap the more benefit therefrom) to be always very particular, that by the more exact know∣ledge of the state of your conscience (both concerning the several facts, and especially concerning the motives to,

and the continuance of, them) your spiritual Physitian may apply more proper remedies to your disease.

3. Ʋncovering your sins (especially your greater sins and those that more afflict your conscience) to other your confidents; and, amongst them, to those rather by whom you are esteemed, and who are more eminent than you in Piety, for your greater Mortification. And very bene∣ficial it is to do the same, upon the rising of any tempta∣tion: for this much confounds your spiritual adversary that suggests them, to see himself ministerial to your ver∣tues, instead of faults.

4. Ordering, with some others daily conversation with you, a mutual, conscientious, and free, admonition of your faults; Even the wisest, and holiest of men, being not, so well as others much inferior, able to discern some of their imperfections