knowledgment, then, is suited to all, and embraces all possible cases and degrees of human infirmity.

Again as the worst of sinners can but unite with his less guilty brethren, in the same confession of guilt: so is he admissible, upon true faith and repentance, to the same hope of forgiveness. All therefore, who are thus duly disposed to sue for pardon, may proceed, as guided by the voice of the minister, to implore the divine goodness and forbearance. "But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults; restore thou them that are penitent."

66

That God will restore none to his favour, but those who humbly confess their faults, we are already satisfied. That he will restore those, who are truly penitent, we have the infallible assurance of Him, who offered himself upon the Cross for our restoration. Come unto me," said he, "all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you." As a further encouragement, then, to ask with faith, we are here reminded of this gracious assurance; or rather, we are directed to 'Matth. xi. 28.

plead it, in our petition for mercy :-" according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord."

Lastly; since, fallen and corrupt as we are, it is certain, that we have not strength, in ourselves, to perfect our repentance, and withdraw our affections from the idols of the world; we conclude by supplicating our heavenly Father to " grant, for Christ's sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous and sober life, to the glory of his holy name."!

And now follows, in due course, "the ABSOLUTION, or Remission of Sins: to be pronounced (as the Rubric directs) by the priest "alone:" but, if we duly notice the terms, in which it is conceived, we shall see, that therein the priest does not assert any power, as residing either in the Church, or in himself, to absolve or remit any man's sins. He only claims authority, as the

2

This form has been so generally approved, that many dissenting ministers, averse as they are to common and premeditated forms of Prayer, are said regularly to introduce it into their services.

* See Appendix (A.) ̧

ambassador of Christ, to declare and pronounce to the people, that "ALMIGHTY GOD pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel." Even this declaration, then, of God's pardon, does not extend to such of them, as do not truly repent and believe: neither does the priest, in any case, undertake to distinguish the penitent from the impenitent; leaving that point to be settled between God and their own hearts, and the Divine promise to be applied by each of them severally to their own case, according to their consciousness of their own fitness or unfitness to receive it. Conformably with this view, he thus proceeds: "wherefore, let us beseech Him to grant us true repentance, and his holy Spirit, that those things may please Him, which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy" concluding by invoking the mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord; which the people are directed to confirm and adopt as their own petition, by answering "Amen!". 66 --- as at the end of all

other prayers."

And here it may not be useless to remark, that,

as the form of absolution is directed" to be pronounced by the priest alone," so does the very sense and design manifestly forbid the congregation to join in it, otherwise, than by listening with attention, and by the response of " Amen” at the close."

To complete this most solemn and essential division of the Service, and make up, in some measure, for any possible defects in their performance of it, the people are directed, in the next place, to repeat after the minister that most perfect form of prayer, which our Lord himself delivered to his disciples: into which it is not my present purpose to enter; as both the importance of this divine composition, and the variety of topics, which it embraces, demand that it should be considered at large in a separate discourse. At present, therefore, I shall only repeat my

1 A similar observation may be applied to the Exhortation, the Blessing, and-in short-to all parts of the service, which the rubric appropriates to the minister. The last reflection would convince the most ignorant, how grossly they violate common sense and propriety, by exhorting, blessing, and even absolving themselves.

earnest desire, that, as often as you return to the solemn office of Confession, you may diligently recollect, sincerely abhor, and firmly renounce, your past sins and transgressions: and, that whenever you hear the form of Absolution pronounced, you may feel yourselves qualified, by genuine repentance and true faith, to receive from your heavenly Father that best and greatest of all gifts the remission of your sins.