Confession of Faults by Editor

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Dec 13, 1853

Confession of Faults.

By Editor

SAYS the Apostle, "Confess your faults one to another." James v, 16. Errors and faults among professed Christians are generally the result of pride; therefore the best way to remove the cause is to enter heartily upon the pride-destroying work of confession. This is the gospel plan. But those who are overtaken in faults and errors, that wound the precious cause, and grieve the Holy Spirit, should feel deeply. It is no small thing for a professed friend of truth to dishonor the cause of Christ, and wound the feelings of hundreds of devoted souls, to whom the cause is dearer than their own life. It is no small thing thus to incur the frown of God, and grieve our only Intercessor. And O, may Heaven grant that the careless soul may realize what it is to grieve away the Holy Spirit. God is more willing to give his Spirit to his humble followers than parents are to bestow gifts upon their children. But it is a tender Spirit. It will not dwell with pride, and self-righteousness; nor with those who disregard its reproofs and teachings. No one would dare to insult God, or his Son Jesus, were they brought to stand before them; but the Holy Spirit is often slighted, insulted, and its teachings rejected by professed followers of truth. Poor little proud self rushes on carelessly,

and disregards and resists the Holy Ghost! What madness! What a sin in the sight of God. Take care, careless soul, how you treat the Holy Ghost. "Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him." Matt. xii, 32.

Confessions should be deep-felt and thorough.—They should cover the whole ground of the offence. Then the church can feel to forgive from the heart. But those who have repeatedly erred, should not expect the church at once to put perfect confidence in their judgment, even if the confession seemed to be thorough. A little time will prove whether the work is genuine. If it is, it will be seen by the meekness, and godly walk of the one who has confessed his faults. One good mark is a willingness to live a life of confession and repentance. Such a mark is sure to endear the person to the church, and restore them fully to the confidence of their brethren. Such ones will always be as much (if not more) beloved than if they had never been overtaken in fault. A very bad mark in some who pretend to confess, is a disposition to confess very sparingly, and if their faults are of necessity referred to, they become irritated. "Why, I confessed that," says the poor soul, "why do you bring it up again?" Pride is not subdued in such.—The work is too superficial.

For the sake of the cause of truth, and for their own soul's sake, we rejoice to see the erring confess. There are some cases where it seems necessary that the confession should be quite public; but it is unpleasant to give place to confessions in the limited columns of the REVIEW. It is indeed a pity that the friends of Christ cannot, or, rather, do not, so live that such unpleasant matters may be avoided. It is in our hearts to help those who feel that they need help, and to forgive any mortal who may in any way have injured us. We speak these things only because they are true, and vastly important.