Note 107 — II. OUR DUTIES. (continued 4)

The confession of sins (‏ודוי‎) as contained in our Prayer-book is made by the whole community collectively; and those who have not themselves committed the sins mentioned in the confession regret that they were unable to prevent them from being committed by others. The form of the confession is therefore in the plural: “We have been guilty,” &c. The words ‏אבל אנחנו חטאנו‎ “Indeed we have sinned,” would suffice for the purpose of confession. But the long lists of various forms of sins in the sections beginning ‏אשמנו‎, ‏על חטא‎ or ‏על חטאים‎ and which are repeatedly recited during the Service, help us to remember our misdoings; what has escaped our attention the first time may be revived in our memory, when we read the confession a second or third time. Especially numerous are the terms denoting sins committed with our tongue; and indeed they are numerous! And where is the person that could say that his tongue has never been employed in falsehood, or slander, or self-praise, or hasty promises, and similar offences? It is necessary that we should reflect over and over again on these vices, and on the way in which to obtain better control over our tongue, and thereby a fuller mastery over the passions of our heart. ↑