Gods arrow against atheists. By Henry SmithGods arrovve against atheists. By Henrie Smith

I need not recite any particular places, the whole book of God is plentiful herein. I do not deny, but Ministers of the Gospel have power to bind and to loose sinners (as Christ himself showeth, Math. 16.) but how, and whom? They can neither justify the unrighteous whom God abhorreth, nor yet condemn ⟨image 51⟩the godly and faithful, whom God dearly loveth: In as much therefore as they cannot pardon such as God condemneth, nor yet condemn such whom God acquiteth, Rom. 8.33.34. it is manifest that all their power of binding and loosing sinners, is limited and bounded within the compass of Gods word, which they may not pass: for if they do, they go beyond their warrant, and so all that they do will be of no force. The incredulous and obstinately wicked persons, they may by warrant of Gods word pronounce condemnation against, except they do repent, and to the assuredly faithful repentant and godly persons, whose continual care is to please God and walk in his ways, they may pronounce the sentence of undoubted and certain salvation, because the word of God doth affirm as much: and this all the binding and loosing of sinners which they have. For in all their pronunciations of pardons, and forgiveness of sins, they must be sure they speak not in their own names, nor their own wills and pleasures, but they must do it in the name of God, being first assured that it is his word, will, & pleasure which they utter. But the Bishop of Rome observeth not the rule of Gods word to square & measure his pardon by: but pardoneth whom he lift, & as he list, as if he were a God himself, having absolute power in himself (without respect of Gods word or will) to do what he list. Insomuch as Traitors & rebels against God and their lawful Princes, he will not only pardon without exception, but he will abet them in their devilish devised, and persuade them forward in their damnable courses, till at last (when it is too late for them to repent) they will (if they take not good heed in time) feel the ••art of it in hell torments together for ever. ⟨image 51⟩What the religion of Rome is, may appear by this, that any man for money may get a pardon for his sins: