With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would
bring him on to some confession Of his true state.
--Shak.
2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
--Rom. x. 10.
3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest
in order to obtain sacramental absolution.
Auricular confession . . . or the private and
special confession of sins to a priest for the
purpose of obtaining his absolution. --Hallam.
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.
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.
{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.
{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}.