We do not present our supplication before you for our own (continued)
CONFESSION OF SIN of the second part of prayer, which is, confession of sin, complaints of ourselves, and humble professions of repentance.
Havinggiven glory to God, which is His due, we must next take shame to ourselves, which is our due, and humble ourselves before Him in the sense of our own sinfulness and vileness; and herein also we must give glory to Him, as ourjudge, by whom we deserve to be condemned, and yet hope, through Christ, to be acquitted and absolved. Joshua 7:19.
In this part of our work, 1. WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT REASON WE HAVE TO LIE VERY LOW BEFORE GOD AND TO BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES WHEN WE COME INTO HIS PRESENCE, AND TO BE AFRAID OF HIS
WRATH, HAVING MADE OURSELVES BOTH ODIOUS TO HIS HOLINESS, AND OBNOXIOUS TO HIS JUSTICE.
O Our God, we are ashamed and blush to lift up our faces before you, our God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Ezra 9:6.
To us belongs shame and confusion offace because we have sinned against you. Daniel 9:8.
Behold we are vile, what shall we answer you? we will lay our hand upon our mouth, and put our mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope; crying with the convicted leper under the law, Unclean, unclean. Job 40:4. Lamentations 3:29. Leviticus 13:45.
You put no trust in your saints, and the heavens are not clean in your sight: How much more abominable and filthy is man, who drinks iniquity like waters! Job 15:15, 16.
When our eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts, we have reason to cry out, Woe unto us, for we are undone. Isaiah 6:5.
Dominion and fear are with you, you make peace in your high places: There is not any number of your armies, and upon whom doth not your light arise? How then can man be justified with God, or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Job 25:2-4.
You, even you are to be feared, and who may stand in your sight, when once you are angry? Even you, our God, are a consuming fire, and who knows the power of your anger? Psalm 76:7. Hebrews 12:29.
Ifwe justify ourselves, our own mouths shall condemn us, ifwe say we are perfect, that also shall prove us perverse; for ifyou contend with us, we are not able to answer you for one ofa thousand. Job 9:20,
Ifwe knew nothing by ourselves, yet were we not thereby justified, for he that judges us is the Lord, who is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. But we ourselves know that we have sinned,
Father, against heaven, and before you, and are no more worthy to be called your children. 1 Corinthians 4:4. 1 John 3:20. Luke 15:21.