perpetration a secret sin, known only to God and the person's own
conscience, secret repentance sufficeth: nor can the church require any
thing else, in regard such sins come not within the sphere of her
cognizance;--but if the sin be public and national, or only personal,
but publickly acted, so as the same has been stumbling, scandalous, and
offensive to others; then it is requisite, for the glory of God and good
of offended brethren, that the acknowledgment be equally public as the
offence. These are _first principles_ that will not need to be proved,
but may be taken for granted. But, 3dly, To make it appear that it is
consonant to the practice of the godly to make public confession of
national backsliding, we will advance two or three Scripture instances.
Joshua, chap. vii. 19, compared with verse 11, commands Achan, who had
broken God's covenant which he commanded Israel, and so brought upon the
whole nation the Lord's anger, that he would give glory to God, by
making confession to him. Whence it appears, that such sins as are
national in their consequences, and bring national judgments upon a
people, ought to be publickly confessed for turning away these
judgments, and vindicating the honour of the Supreme Lawgiver, Ezra x.
1,2--"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping, and
casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him
out of Israel a very great congregation of men, women, and children: for
the people wept very sore." Verse 2d, And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel,
one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed
against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land.
Verse 3d, Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God, to put away
all the wives, and such as are born of them. Verse 10, And Ezra the
priest stood up and said unto them, Ye have transgressed and taken
strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Verse 11, Now
therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his
pleasure. Verse 12, Then all the congregation answered, and said with a