The confession ofevil works is the first beginning ofgood works. ~Augustine of HippoOne thingthey specially commend, that theblush ofshame in the penitent is a severepunishment, which makes him morecautious for thefuture, and anticipates divine punishment, by his punishing himself. As if a man was not sufficiently humbled with shame when brought under the cognizance of God at his supreme tribunal. Admirable proficiency—if we cease to sin because we are ashamed to make one man acquainted with it, and blush not at having God as the witness of our evil conscience! ~John CalvinBut ourfriend Timmy can't reallytalk. All he can do is say his ownname, so he can't really confess hissins. So is he goin' to go tohell? ~Trey ParkerWhoever conceals their sins does notprosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them findsmercy. ~Solomon
Confession is the acknowledgment of sin (or one's sinfulness) or wrongs done. It is a religious practice in a number of faith traditions. In law, a confession is a statement by a suspect in crime which is adverse to that person. Some authorities narrowly define a confession as "a statement admitting or acknowledging all facts necessary for conviction of a crime".
The confession ofevil works is the first beginning ofgood works.
Augustine of Hippo, reported in Henry Southgate,Many Thoughts of Many Minds (1862), p. 671.
The Lord anciently enjoined the people of Israel that they should repeat the words after the priest, and make public confession of their iniquities in the temple; because he foresaw that this was a necessary help to enable each one to form a just idea of himself. And it is proper that by confession of our misery, we should manifest the mercy of our God both among ourselves and before the whole world. It is proper that this mode of confession should both be ordinary in the Church, and also be specially employed on extraordinary occasions, when the people in common happen to have fallen into any fault. Of this latter description we have an example in the solemn confession which the whole people made under the authority and guidance of Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh. 1:6, 7). ... And it matters not though in one assembly it may sometimes happen that a few are innocent, seeing that the members of a languid and sickly body cannot boast of soundness. Nay, it is scarcely possible that these few have not contracted some taint, and so bear part of the blame.
One thingthey specially commend, that theblush ofshame in the penitent is a severepunishment, which makes him morecautious for thefuture, and anticipates divine punishment, by his punishing himself. As if a man was not sufficiently humbled with shame when brought under the cognizance of God at his supreme tribunal. Admirable proficiency—if we cease to sin because we are ashamed to make one man acquainted with it, and blush not at having God as the witness of our evil conscience!
If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.
