The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is structured in three parts. An unnamed editor narrates the opening and closing parts. In the opening part, the editor introduces the Colwan family. As lords of Dalcastle, the Colwans have ruled over the area for many generations. In 1687, George Colwan takes on the title of Laird, becoming Laird Colwan. A young woman named Rabina marries the older, wealthy Laird Colwan. Rabina follows “the stern doctrines of the reformers,” (5) but Colwan very much does not. He drinks heavily and engages in many forms of debauchery. Rather than fear God, he prefers to live according to the “cordial terms” (6) he holds with the world around him. Their wedding is very extravagant. Amid the drinking and dancing, Rabina spends her time in a hushed discussion with her priest, Robert Wringhim. She spends the evening reading religious books and, when her new husband arrives in the bed chamber, she distracts the drunken Colwan until he passes out.

Rabina tries to escape him by sleeping in her cousin’s room, so Colwan wakes up alone. Colwan carries Rabina “triumphantly” (10) back into his bedroom against her will, as she claims that she would rather die than have sex with such a sinful man.