of any one, and with care lay all before him, easily will he amend his failings. The Confession of sins is the abolition of crimes.” Ibid. p. 175.—“We have it in our power, to obtain forgiveness and the remission of our faults. You shall hear in what manner. Enter the Church-grieve for your sins; confess your crimes;[1] give alms; pray ferventlyweep over your offences. These are the remedies of sin." Homil. vi. T. xii. p. 355. Edit. Paris. 1735.
It must be admitted that, in many incidental passages in the works of this Saint, it is affirmed by him, that it is nowise necessary, that Confession of our sins be made to men, but to God alone, who knows the secrets of the heart. Thus he says: “ If thou art ashamed to declare thy sins to any one, daily repeat them in thy mind: I tell thee not to confess them to thy equal, who may reproach thee : tell them to God, whom it concerns.” Homil. ii. in Psal. 1. T. v. p. 589. —“ Have no witnesses of your faults: within your conscience reform your failings, in the presence of God alone who sees all things.” Homil. vi. de Poenit. p. 326. --“I lead thee not before the public theatre of thy brethren: I force thee not to discover thy sins to men.' [2] Homil. v. de Incomprehen. Natura Dei. T. i. p. 490.-" I tell thee not to appear in public, nor to accuse thyself before others. Repeat thy sins before God: declare them with prayer; if not with the tongue, at least in the recollection
- ↑ àv doloywpev ta njuapanueva.—This, with ten other Homilies, was published, for the first time, by Montfaucon ; who adds, that they were certainly preached by St. Chrysostom at Constantinople, and in the years 398 and 399.
- ↑ This Homily is placed by the Benedictin editors among the spurious works of St. Chrysostom.
