Until there is confession of sin, and not merely of a sin, there is no forgiveness. We find David
in Psalm 51, when he was confessing his sin, saying, "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin
did my mother conceive me." Not merely does he say that he has done this particular evil, but he
also recognizes the root and principle of sin. When our hearts are brought to recognize God’s
hand, it is not merely, then, a question of what particular sin may need forgiveness; God has
brought down the soul, through the working of His Spirit on it, to detect the principle of sin, and
so there is confession of that, and not merely of a particular sin. There is then positive restoration
of soul.

Now this is a much deeper thing in its practical consequences, and the Lord’s dealings thereon,
than we are apt to suppose. Freed from the bondage of things which hinder its intercourse with
God, the soul learns to lean upon God, instead of upon those things which had taken the place of
God. "Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me
with songs of deliverance" (Psalm 32:7). This is the confidence of the soul that is leaning upon
God.

We are often like the horse or the mule because our souls have not been plowed up. When there
is anything in which the will of man is at work, the Lord deals with us, as with the horse or the
mule, holding us in (Psalm 32:9). When every part of the heart is in contact with Himself, He
guides us with His "eye" (verse 8). "The light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine eye is
single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of
darkness" (Luke 11:34). When there is anything wherein the eye is not single, so long as this is
the case, there is not the free intercourse in heart and affections with God; and the consequence
is, our will not being subdued, we are not led simply of God. When the heart is in a right state,
the whole body is "full of light," and there is the quick perception of the will of God. He just
teaches us by His "eye" all He wishes, and produces in us quickness of understanding in His fear
(Isa. 11:3). This is our portion, as having the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, "quick of understanding
in the fear of Jehovah," hearts without any object except the will and glory of God.

(From "Confession and Forgiveness", in Bible Treasury, Vol.7N.)