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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Faith \Faith\ (f[=a]th), n. [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid,
   feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr.
   pei`qein to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the
   influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See Bid,
   Bide, and cf. Confide, Defy, Fealty.]
   1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is
      declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his
      authority and veracity; reliance on testimony.
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   2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of
      another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he
      utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of
      any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth.
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            Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the
            finite will and understanding to the reason.
                                                  --Coleridge.
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   3. (Judeo-Christian Theol.)
      (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the
          Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of
          its teachings, sometimes called historical and
          speculative faith.
      (b) (Christian Theol.) The belief in the facts and truth
          of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them;
          especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in
          the person and work of Christ, which affects the
          character and life, and makes a man a true Christian,
          -- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith.
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                Without faith it is impossible to please him
                [God].                            --Heb. xi. 6.
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                The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the
                mind which is called "trust" or "confidence"
                exercised toward the moral character of God, and
                particularly of the Savior.       --Dr. T.
                                                  Dwight.
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                Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence
                in the testimony of God.          --J. Hawes.
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   4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science,
      politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of
      religious belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Mohammedan
      faith; the Christian faith; also, the creed or belief of a
      Christian society or church.
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            Which to believe of her,
            Must be a faith that reason without miracle
            Could never plant in me.              --Shak.
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            Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
                                                  --Gal. i. 23.
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   5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a
      person honored and beloved; loyalty.
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            Children in whom is no faith.         --Deut. xxvii.
                                                  20.
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            Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
            I should conceal.                     --Milton.
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   6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he
      violated his faith.
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            For you alone
            I broke me faith with injured Palamon. --Dryden.
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   7. Credibility or truth. [R.]
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            The faith of the foregoing narrative. --Mitford.
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   Act of faith. See Auto-da-f['e].

   Breach of faith, Confession of faith, etc. See under
      Breach, Confession, etc.

   Faith cure, a method or practice of treating diseases by
      prayer and the exercise of faith in God.

   In good faith, with perfect sincerity.
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