The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 31
The one and thirtieth Lords day.
Mat. 16. 19.
And I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven: whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.
IN these words is contained an explication of that promise, which Christ in the last preceding verse had made to Peter, of building his Church upon the Rock, and of the strength of that building, which the gates or power of Hell should not overcome. Now the building of his Church is signified by the instrumental cause thereof; that is, the Ministry of the Gospell. The strength or firmness of this building is shewn in the firmness it hath from Heaven, which is its principal cause. And the building of the Church by the Ministry is Metaphorically explained, by the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven, because the giving of the keyes to bear, is the signe of power given over that House, or Town unto which they belong; therefore Christ most fitly designed the power of the Ministry, in such things as belong unto the Kingdome of Heaven by this simile. The confirmation or strength of this Heavenly building is explained from things compared in likeness; to wit, between the administration of men about these keys; and the approbation thereof, and ratification by God. This parity or likeness is explained in two parts, according to the two uses that keys use to serve for, of … and binding; and of opening and loosing.
Doct. 1. Christ appointed in his Church a certain order …r rank of Ministers, for the building of her up, and keeping …er in repair or strength.
He appointed a Ministry, not a Magistry, mastership or Lordly power; because he ordained not that any in the Church should do any thing from or of his owne authority, or according to his owne pleasure; but onelyonly from and by the authority of Christ himself, who is the only King, Lord, and Lawgiver in his Church. He appointed a certain order.
Reas. 1. Because God is the God of order, and not of confusion, which ought to be far from his House.
Reas. 2. Because no other but the Lord of the Church had power to ordain any such thing; or make it effectual for its ends.
Reas. 3. Because thus it became Christ to shew himself faithfull in the House of God, as Moses was, Heb 3.
He appointed this order for the building of his Church, or keeping her in repair, or strengthening of her.
Reas. 1. Because he would deal with men in a man-like and moral manner, as was suitable to their nature. And this servantship or Ministry is a moral meanes of building up and confirming the faithfull.
Reas. 2. Because believers imperfections and diverse tentations, require such means, whereby they may be established and ordained in the faith.
Reas. 3. Because he would so put forth his powerfull working by such earthen vessels, and weak meanes, for the greater praise end illustration of his grace.
Use, Of Information, that we understand how to esteem the Ministry of the Gospell; to wit, as a most holy and saving Ordinance of Christ ought to be esteemed.
Doct. 2. To this Ministry is adjoyned a ministerial, or servant-like power, in things that belong to the Kingdome of Heaven.
This is collected from giving of the keyes. For although by a key is sometimes designed supreme, or Lordlike power and command, as Rev. 1. 18. yet sometimes also a Ministerial power onelyonly, as Isa. 22. 22. And that it is so understood here is clear, in that Christ alone is King of his Church, and commander, endowed with supreme power. And by this he is distinguished from the Apostles themselves, Mat. 18. 19, 20. as also by this, that the Apostles every where profess themselves the Ministers of Christ.
Reas. 1. Because every order, rank, or degree instituted of God, hath some suitable power adjoyned to it. As therefore a commanding or an imperial power is adjoyned unto Empire or the State; so a ministerial power is adjoyned unto Ministers.
Reas. 2. Because the building and keeping in repair, and strengthening and advancing the Church, in which the end of this Ministry consists, cannot be procured by men, but by such a power.
Reas. 3. Because the Kingdome of Heaven is of that nature, that it can be sub…ect to no imperial or commanding power of sinfull man, but to him onelyonly that is infallible, and imperable, God and man, Christ Jesus; and to a Ministerial or servant-like power of sinfull men only.
Use 1. Of Refutation, against Papists, who give an imperial and commanding power to Peter, and to the Popes of Rome: which also they would fain pick out of this place. But the power here spoken of, is equally given, or joyned to all the Ministers of the Word, and not to Peter alone, as they would have it. For, 1. Peter here represented the persons of all the Apostles, and of all Ministers of the Word, their successors; and in some kinde of the whole Church. For as Christ thus proposed the question to them all, and had the answer given by Peter by the approbation and consent of them all, as that to which they adhered, and allowed as well as he, and therefore might be said to have been made in the name of all, he being the senior, and so often the speaker for all; so also in this promise instead of them all, Christ directs his speech to Peter. 2. This same power is solemnly given unto all the Apostles, and to their successors, Ioh. 20. 23. 3. Unto every true Church this power is in some kind extended.
Use 2. Of Direction as well of Ministers, that they attempt nothing but from the command of Christ, as his Ministers; as of others, that they so look at Ministers, as they keep not still their eye upon their persons, and look no further; but that they lift up their eyes to Christ, whose Ministers they are, and love and honour them for his sake, and the imployment he hath laid upon them, wherein, and as far as they carry themselves sutably to both.
Doct. 3. This power is properly exercised in binding and loosing, or in shutting and opening; that is, in retaining, or remitting of sins.
Reas. 1. Because the whole consolation and edification of the Church chiefly consists in the remission of sins given and granted unto believers, which is also set out and illustrated by retaining of sins, or denial of remission, which is denounced to unbelievers in the Church.
Reas▪ 2. Because all other duties that belong unto the Ministry depend on these, and may conveniently be reduced into them, either as meanes, effects, adjuncts, and the like.
Reas. 3. Because in these the excellency and worth of the Ministry of the Gospell do singularly appear; because that chief work of forgiving sins, which properly and absolutely agreeth onelyonly to God, is in some sort communicated to the Ministers of Christ, or made common to them with God; to wit, because the denunciation, testification, declaration, and certification of forgiveness of sins, belongs unto the Ministers of Christ, by their office; and that in two wayes; to wit, either in the preaching of the Word, or in the exercise of Discipline.
Use 1. Of Information, about the excellency and worth of the Ministry of the Gospell, that it may not be disgraced by Ministers themselves, nor condemned, or spoken against by others.
Use 2. Of Comfort to believers, because the whole Ministry of the Gospell labours for this, that believers may be ascertained of the forgiveness of their sins.