cience by the Spirit of God： 〃For by the law is the knowledge of sin。〃 And again； 〃I had not known lust； unless the law had said； Thou shalt not covet；〃 Rom。 vii。 7。 This law； now when it effectually ministereth convictionof sin to the conscience； doth it by putting of life； and strength； and terror into sin。 By its working on the conscience； it makes sin revive； 〃and the strength of sin is the law；〃 Rom。 vii。； 1 Cor。 xv。 It also increaseth and multiplieth sin； both by the revelation of God's anger against the soul； and also by mustering up and calling to view sins committed and forgotten time out of mind。 Sin seen in the glass of the law is a terrible thing； no man can behold it and live。 〃When the commandment came； sin revived； and I died；〃 when it came from God to my conscience； as managed by an almighty arm； then it slew me。 And now is the time to confess sin； because now a soul knows what it is； and sees what it is； both in the nature and consequence of it。
2。 To a right confession of sin； there must be sound knowledge of God； especially as to his justice； holiness； righteousness； and purity； wherefore the Publican here begins his confession by calling upon or by the acknowledgement of his Majesty： 〃God be merciful to me a sinner：〃 As if he should say； God； O God； O great God； O sin… revenging God； I have sinned against thee； I have broken thy law； I have opposed thy holiness； thy justice； thy law； and thy righteous will。 O consuming fire （〃for our God is a consuming fire〃）； I have justly provoked thee to wrath； and to take vengeance on me for my transgressions。 But alas！ how few that make confession of sin have right apprehension of God； unto whom confession of sin doth belong。 Alas！ it is easy for men to entertain such apprehensions of God as shall please their own humours； to bear up under the sense of sin； and that shall make their confession rather facile and fantastical； than solid and heartbreaking。 The sight and knowledge of the great God is； to sinful man； the most dreadful thing in the world； which makes confession of sin so rare。 Most men confess their sins behind God's back； but few to his face； and you know there is ofttimes a vast difference in thus doing among men。
3。 To the right confession of sin； there must be a deep conviction of the terribleness of the day of judgment。 This John the Baptist inserts； where he insinuates； that the Pharisees' want of （sense of； and） the true confession of sin； was because they had not been warned （or had not taken the alarm） to flee from the wrath to come。 What dread； terror； or frightful apprehension can there be； where there is no sense of a day of judgment； and of our giving unto God an account for it？ Matth。 iii。 7； Luke iii。 7。
I say； therefore； to confession of sin； there must be；
（1。） A deep conviction of the certainty of the day of judgment； namely； that such a day is coming； that such a day shall be。 This the apostle insinuates； where he saith； 〃God commandeth all men； every where； to repent： because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained； whereof he hath given assurance unto all men； in that he hath raised him from the dead；〃 Acts xvii。 30； 31。
This will give a sense of what the soul must expect at that day for sin； and so will drive to an hearty acknowledgement of it； and strong cries for a deliverance from it。 For thus will the soul argue that expecteth the judgment…day； and that believes that it must count for all。 O my heart！ it is in vain now to dissemble； or to hide； or to lessen transgressions； for there is a judgment to come； a day in which God will judge the secrets of men by his Son； and at that day he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness； and will manifest the counsels of the heart。 If it must be so then； to what end will it be now to seek to dissemble？ 1 Cor。 iv。 5。 This also is in the Old Testament urged as an argument to cause youth； and persons of all sizes； to recall themselves to sobriety； and so to confession of their sin to God； where the Holy Ghost saith ironically； 〃Rejoice； O young man； in thy youth； and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth； and walk in the ways of thine heart； and in the sight of thine eyes： but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment。〃 So again； 〃God shall bring every work into judgment； with every secret thing； whether it be good or whether it be evil；〃 Eccles。 xi。 9； xii。 12； 14。
The certainty of this； I say； must go to the producing of sincere confession of sin； and this is intimated by the Publican； who within his confession； addeth； 〃God be merciful to me a sinner。〃 As if he should say； If thou art not merciful to me； thy judgment shall swallow me up： without thy mercy I shall not stand； but fall by the judgment which thou hast appointed。
（2。） As there must be； for the producing of sincere confession of sin； a deep conviction of the certainty； so of the terribleness； of the day of judgment： wherefore the apostle； to put men on repentance； which is sincere confession of sin； saith； 〃For we must all appear before the judgment…seat of Christ； that every one may receive the things done in his body； according to that he hath done； whether it be good or bad。 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord； we persuade men；〃 2 Cor。 v。 10； 11。 The terror of the Lord； as we see here； he makes use of； to persuade men to confession of sin； and repentance to God for mercy。
And I am persuaded； that one reason that this day doth so swarm with wanton professors； is； because they have not sound conviction for； nor go to God with sincere confession of； sin： and one cause of that has been； that they did never seriously fall in with； nor yet sink under either the certainty or terribleness； of the day of judgment。
O the terrors of the Lord！ the amazing face that will be put upon all things before the tribunal of God！ Yea； the terror that will then be read in the face of God； of Christ； of saints and angels； against the ungodly！ Whoso believes and understands it； cannot live without confession of sin to God； and a coming to him for mercy。
〃Mountains； fall upon us； and cover us； and hide us from the face of him that sits upon the throne； and from the wrath of the Lamb； for the great day of his wrath is come； and who is able to stand？〃 This terror is also signified； where it is said； 〃And I saw a great white throne； and him that sat on it； from whose face the （very） earth and the heaven fled away： and there was found no place for them。 And I saw the dead； small and great； stand before God： and the books were opened； and another book was opened； which is the book of life： and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books； according to their works。 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it； and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them： and they were judged every man according to his works。 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire。 This is the second death。 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life； was cast into the lake of fire；〃 Rev。 xx。 Here is terror； and this is revealed in the word of God； that sinners might hear and consider it； and so come and confess； and implore God's mercy。
The terror of the Lord； how will it appear； when he 〃shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels； in flaming fire； taking vengeance on them that know not God； and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ！〃 2 Thess。 i。 7…9。
The terror of the Lord； how will it appear； when his wrath shall burn and flame out like an oven or a fiery furnace before him； while the wicked stand in his sight！ Matt。 xiii。 50。
The terror of the Lord； how will it appear； while the angels at his command shall gather the wicked to burn them！ 〃As the tares are gathered and burned in the fire； so shall it be in the end of this world。 The Son of man shall send forth his angels； and they shall gather together out of his kingdom all things that offend； and them that do iniquity； and shall cast them into a furnace of fire； where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth；〃 Matt。 xiii。 40…42。 Who can conceive this terror！ much more unable are men to express it with tongue or pen； yet the truly penitent and sin…confessing Publican hath apprehension so far thereof； by the word of the testimony； that it driveth him to God with a confession of sin for an interest in God's mercy。 But；
4。 To right and sincere confession of sin there must be a conviction of a probability of mercy。 This also is intimated by the Publican in his confession； 〃God （saith he） be merciful to me a sinner。〃 He had some glimmerings of mercy； some conviction of a probability of mercy； or that he might obtain mercy for his pardon； if he went and with unfeigned lips did confess his sins to God。
Despair of mercy shuts up the mouth； makes the heart hard； and drives a man away from God； as is manifest in the case of Adam and the fallen angels。 But the least intimation of mercy； if the heart can but touch； feel； taste； or have the least probability of it； that will open the mouth； tend to soften the heart； and to make a very publican come up