The Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Danel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.

The Fourteenth accused Point.

That no man, nor any but God, can for∣give or retain Sins.

Ans. False as undistinguished. We hold, 1. That to forgive Sin, being the forgiving of the Punishment of Sin, and the obligation thereto, 1. Parents may on just cause forgive Corrective punish∣ment to their Children, and Masters to their Servants.

2. Magistrates may on just cause, for∣give Corporal punishment to Subjects.

3. Equals may forgive Injuries to Friends and Enemies.

4. Pastors may on just cause, forgive the Church penalties, of Excommunica∣tion, which they had power to inflict: And all the Flock must forgive and receive the penitent accordingly.

5. When a Sinner by Faith and Repen∣tance, truly performeth the Condition of Gods pardon expressed in Scripture, the Ministers of Christ are by Office authori∣zed to declare and pronounce him pardoned

by God, and by the Sacraments of Bap∣tism and the Lords Supper to Invest him in a pardoned State, by delivering him a Sealed pardon: But only Suppositively, If his Faith and Repentance be sincere, else he hath not Gods pardon of the Divine Punish∣ment. This is all true and plain, and enough.

But we detest their Doctrine that say, 1. That men can pardon the Spiritual and Eternal Punishment, any otherwise than consequently declaring and delivering Gods pardon, which shall hold good, if the Priest refuse to declare or deliver it.

2. Or that Popes or Priests pardon, Purgatory pains, and Masses, and Money, and the Redundance of Saints Merits, and pleasing the Pope, conduce thereto.

But if you will Speak so absurdly, as to say, that if the King send a pardon to a Traytor or Murderer, the Messenger par∣doned him; we leave you to your phrases.

None of the Texts or Fathers cited, speak for any more than what we hold. The Pastors are to declare men pardoned, that God pardoneth: And while they so judge according to Gods Word, it is par∣doned in Heaven: But not if they pardon the wicked and impenitent.