OF THE CONFESSION OF SIN.

What is the Confession of Sin?

Ans. – The confession of sin includes two parts: the first is the acknowledgment of sins; the other is the reception of absolution from the confessor or minister of the Gospel, as from God himself; so that one should by no means doubt, but firmly believe that sin is thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins ought to be confessed?

Ans. – Before God we should acknowledge ourselves guilty of all sins, even of such as we do not know, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the minister we ought to confess those sins only, which we know and feel in our hearts.

Which are they?

Ans. – Let every one examine his condition according to the Ten Commandments, whatever relation he sustains, whether a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a master or a mistress, a man-servant or a maid-servant; whether he has been disobedient, unfaithful, indolent; whether he has injured any person by words or deeds; whether he has pilfered, been negligent, or has otherwise done harm.