General confession
(gcide) | Confession \Con*fes"sion\, n. [F. confession, L. confessio.]
1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining
to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or
crime.
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With a crafty madness keeps aloof,
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state. --Shak.
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2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
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With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
--Rom. x. 10.
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3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest
in order to obtain sacramental absolution.
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Auricular confession . . . or the private and
special confession of sins to a priest for the
purpose of obtaining his absolution. --Hallam.
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4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised;
a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to
admission to membership of a church; a confession of
faith.
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5. (Law) An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed,
in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the
issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may
be explained or rebutted. --Wharton.
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Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which
the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary,
but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal
effect claimed for them. --Mozley & W.
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Confession of faith, a formulary containing the articles of
faith; a creed.
General confession, the confession of sins made by a number
of persons in common, as in public prayer.
Westminster Confession. See Westminster Assembly, under
Assembly.
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