Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 3 · Lecture 39
Lecture XXXIX. on Psalme 51.3. Novemb. 7. 1626.
NOw it followeth, that we proceed unto the meanes, whereby we may attaine unto this grace. And those are five principally.
First. He that would be able to confesse his sins aright unto God, must seeke knowledge, and understanding in the word of God, without which no man can tell what is sin, and what is not, Rom. 3.20. By the Law commeth the knowledge of sin, and Eph. 5.3. All things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light. And though there be light sufficient in nature to discover unto us some sins, specially in the outward breaches of the second table, Rom. 2.…5. The worke of the Law is written in their hearts, their consciences also bearing witnes, and accordingly accusing, or excusing them. Yet are there two defects in that light. 1. It will not discover to us all our sins; nay there be many foule sins, and such as of all other most provoke God against us, which the naturall man cannot discerne by that light to be sins. The way of the wicked is as darkenesse (saith Solomon, Pro. 4.19.) they know not at what they stumble. That which Paul saith of concupiscence, the root of all sin, may be said of many other, Rom. 7 7. I had not knowne lust (that is to say, not to be sin) unlesse the Law had said, thou shalt not covet. 2. Those sins that it doth discover to us, it doth not discover them effectually, so as to humble us, and drive us to God thereby, but either dimly by the halves, so as they never affect or trouble us. As our Saviour speaketh, Pro. 10.23. It is a sport to a foole to doe mischiefe, or else to make us inexcusable, and overwhelme us with despaire, as Genesis 3.8. But that knowledge of sin that is effectuall to humble us, and drive us unto Gods mercy-seat, commeth not by the light of nature, but only by the word. It is that only that doth so convince a man of sin, and manifest to him the secrets of his heart, as maketh him fall down on his face, and worship God, as the Apostle speaketh, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. In which respect Paul saith, Rom. 7.7. I had not knowne sinne, but by the Law: As if hee should say, I had not knowne sinne effectually (for doubtlesse, hee did by nature know many sins) or to my good and comfort, but by the Law. The word is a lampe unto our feete, and a light unto our pathes, as David calleth it, Psalme 119.105. It is a glasse that will discover unto us, what manner of men wee are, Iames 1.23, 24. Let us therefore even for this cause, desire not onelyonly to live where wee may have this light, but to increase also in the knowledge of the Word. Let us therfore make this use of the light we live in, and use the word as a glasse that we may know our sins better, the more light wee have, the better we may discerne what is amisse about us. It is made the property of a wicked man to hate the Word for this, and refuse to come at it, because it discovereth to him his sins, Iohn 3.20. Every one that doth evill, hateth the light, neither commeth bee to it, lest his deeds should be reproved. And on the contrary, it is said of every one that hath grace, that he loveth the Word the better, even for this cause, Iohn 3.21. He that doth truth (that is, practiseth what he knoweth, and maketh conscience of his waies) commeth to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest
Secondly. He that would be able to confesse his sins unto God aright, must observe his own waies well, & bethink himselfe well before hand, or when he doth ought, whether it be lawfull or no. He that never mindeth nor regardeth what he doth, whether it please God or no, how should he ever know his sins, or confesse them aright unto God? We are therfore oft commanded to set our minds and hearts upon that wee doe. Pro. 4.26. Ponder the path of thy feet, & Hag. 1.5. Consider your wayes. And the godly man is described by this property, Pro. 14.15. The prudent looketh well to his going. Yea, this is spoken of, as a speciall mean, and help unto repentance, Ps. 119.9. Wherwith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy word; & ver, 59. I thought on my wayes, and turned my feete unto thy testimonies. And on the other side, this is made a chiefe cause (why men commit many sins, and never see them, nor are troubled with them, that they go rashly on in their waies, & at all adventures) Keri, Levit. 26.21. that they never consider what they do, Esa. 1.3. that they despise their wayes, regard them not; as if they should never be called to account for them, Pro. 19.16. And yet as light account as thou makest of them, know, God will reckon with thee for them one day, Matt. 12.36. If men would thinke and consider what they do, it would either keepe them from doing evill, or when they had done amisse, they would be able to discerne it, and make their peace with God. Solomon saith of the wise man, Eccl. 2.14. that his eyes are in his head. and in your worldly businesses, when you buy or sell, or do any worke in your calling, you will mind that you goe about, that you receive no hurt by your carelesnes and want of taking heed. O that wee could learne to bee as wise for our soules, to mind, and set our hearts upon every thing wee doe, least wee offend God by it. This is required of us, not only in our recreations, and in the ordinary affaires of our calling, but even in the services we doe unto God Take heed how you heare, saith our Saviour, Luke 8.18. Take heed to thy foote (saith Solomon, Eccle, 5.1.) when thou entrest into the house of God. As if hee had sayd, Marke what thou dost, and consider, whether thou performe thy service to God as thou shouldest doe, and be more ready to heare, then to offer the sacrifice of fooles, for they consider not that they doe evill. As if hee should say, this is the cause why most men offer such foolish sacrifices unto God, they consider not what they do.
Thirdly. He that would be able to confesse his sins unto God aright, must use to take a dayly account of himselfe, and of his wayes. This examination of our selves, wee find oft prescribed in the word, as a speciall meanes, and helpe to bring us unto true repentance, Lamentati. 3.40. Let us search, and try our wayes, and turne againe unto the Lord. Psalme 4.4. Tremble, and sinne not, examine your owne heart upon your bed. And on the other side, the neglect of it, is mentioned as a chiefe cause, and signe of impenitency, Ieremy 8.6. No man repented him of his wickednesse, saying, what have I done? And as this examination of our selves is profitable, and necessary, so the oftener wee use it, the more profitable it will be. Three notable benefits wee shall receive by it, if wee would accustome our selves to use it every day. 1. It would be a good meanes to bridle us, and restraine us from sin, when wee considered this with our selves, this I must account with God, and mine owne conscience for before I sleep, As the dayly thinking of the generall account wee must one day come to, is most effectuall this way, as is plaine in that speech of the Apostle, 2 Corinth. 5.10, 11. so would the thought of this particular account wee bring our selves to, doe us great good also. 2. It would free us from the feare of sudden death, which may befall any of us, and we would be prepared for it, when we suffer no sin to lodge with us all night, that we have not repented of. Watch yee therefore (saith our Saviour, Marke 13.35, 36.) for yee know not when the master of the house commeth, lest comming suddenly, hee find you sleeping. When a man hath made his peace with God, he may sleepe quietly, he need not feare death. Psal. 4 8. I will both lay me downe in peace, and sleepe. 3 By this meanes a man may remember his sins, and the circumstances of them much better, and so, more fully, and effectually confesse them unto God. Whereas, if wee suffer our selves to runne long upon the score, wee shall bee apt to forget much, and not bee so sensible as when our sins were fresh in memory. In this case we may say as Iob. 13.12. (though he speaketh it there in another sense) our memories are like unto ashes.
Fourthly. Hee that would confesse his sinnes in an effectuall manner unto God must not onelyonly observe, and call himselfe to an account for his daily sins, which happily will not much affect him, but keepe in mind, and call oft to remembrance his old sins, & such as he hath most fouly offended God by in times past, that he may renew his repentance for them Deut. 9.7. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord to wrath, in the wildernes. Thus doth David remember the sins of his youth, Psal. 25.7.
Fiftly and lastly. He that would fully and effectually confesse his sins to God, must beg grace, and helpe of God to doe it. For wee have heard, it is a singular gift, and grace of God, to bee able to confesse our sinnes aright. Iames 1.17. Every good gift is from above. Therefore Iob beggeth this of God, Iob 13.23. How many are mine iniquities and sinnes? make me to know my transgression, and my sin.