The Remains of John Corbet, Section 4
§ 4. The nature of the Spiritual Power reſiding in the Paſtors.
THE Spiritual Power of Paſtors, Biſhops, or Elders, is expreſſed by the Author and Giver of it, in theſe terms, viz. The keys of the kingdom of heaven, binding and looſing, remitting and retaining ſins. To underſtand the true import of theſe terms, is to underſtand the Power enquired of. The keys of the kingdom of Heaven, ſignifie the Stewardſhip of Chriſts Goſpel, to diſpence to every one a due portion thereof, according to his command. Binding and looſing, is a Miniſterial Authority of holding impenitent ſinners under the curſe, and abſolving the penitent from it, only by the word of Chriſt generally or perſonally applied; and it may further ſignifie a Miniſterial prohibiting of that which is unlawful, and allowing of that which is lawful, by the doctrine of Chriſt. And the power of remitting and retaining ſins as granted to Miniſters, is only that of meer Stewards or Diſpenſers of the Bleſſing or the Curſe that hath proceeded out of the mouth of Chriſt their Lord; and there appears no grant from Chriſt to his Miniſters of other power than what is here expreſſed, or what is implyed in it, or by neceſſary conſequence follows from it.
In reference to the miniſterial power, a great Scholar diſtinguiſheth between a Vicar and a mere Miniſter, and ſaith, a Vicar doth produce actions of the ſame kind with him whoſe Vicar he is (his words are actiones congeneres) tho leſs perfectly; but a mere miniſter doth not produce ſuch actions; but only ſuch as are ſerviceable to the action of the principal cauſe. Therefore the name of the ſame action is properly, yet analogically attributed to the Vicar as to the principal; as for example, to paſs ſentence: but to the miniſter only tropically, as remitting and retaining of ſins.
Indeed the ſentence of a vicarious Judg, whether juſt or unjuſt, is deciſive or definitive, and valid as to matter of legal right, till it be reverſed by the principal; but the action of a Miniſter for the remitting and retaining of ſin, is of no force, no not for a moment, if it be unjuſt, or done (as the common expreſſion is) errante clave.
Hereupon it follows, that the miniſterial power of remitting and retaining ſins, and of binding and looſing (at leaſt as to the conſcience) is merely declarative, that is, it hath its force and vertue, as it is a true declaration of the mind of Chriſt in that particular, otherwiſe it is void and of no effect.
The power of Paſtors in the acts aforeſaid is but the power of Heralds, or Ambaſſadors, and therefore only declarative.
God and Chriſt doth by the law of grace abſolve or juſtifie the penitent, conſtitutivè: Even before the Paſtor pronounceth abſolution, every penitent is by the covenant of grace juſtifyed or made righteous: Therefore the Paſtor doth abſolve or juſtifie him only declarativè: For when a man is juſtified by the law of grace, and conſequently ſo eſteemed and judged of God, what hath his officer or miniſter afterwards to do in his name, but to declare what is already done in law.
As for the ſaying of Dominus expectat ſervum, that is, before God juſtifies the penitent believer who is ready to ſubmit to all his terms, he ſtays for the ſentence of abſolution to be pronounced by the Miniſter; I confeſs I underſtand not its conſiſtence with the Covenant of Grace.
Wherefore the paſtoral ſentence of abſolution doth confer no new right, nor doth it perfect the right already given by the law of Chriſt; but it doth authoritatively declare that right, and ſtrengthen the aſſurance, and comfort the conſcience of the penitent. The paſtoral binding of the impenitent is not the adding of a further curſe or obligation to divine vengeance, but merely a ſolemn declaration of the curſe already paſt upon the ſinner by the law of Chriſt.
But as the ſolemn declaration of the Kings pardon to repenting rebels, and the denunciation of vengeance to the obſtinate by an authorized officer according to the law, doth ſtrengthen the aſſurance of the conditional mercy, and increaſe the guilt of continuing in rebellion, and more forcibly preſs to obedience; ſo the like declarative acts of Chriſts Miniſters have the ſame force towards his ſubjects.
That the power of a Paſtor in binding and looſing as to the communion and external priviledges of the Church, is more than declarative of the mind of Chriſt therein, I yet diſcern not: For tho the ſentence of an erring judg in a Civil judicatory is valid till it be reverſed; yet the erring keys have no effect, and the Church and the Members thereof are not bound by the unjuſt ſentence of a Paſtor to reject a godly perſon, that hath not given juſt ſcandal, or to carry themſelves towards him as towards one unfit for Chriſtian Communion; but they are ſtill to receive him as a brother: Indeed the injured perſon may be bound to forbear the uſe of his right in ſome parts thereof, as coming to the Church-Aſſembly in caſe a ſchiſm or diſturbance would follow: But this obligation doth not ariſe from any validity that is in the unjuſt ſentence, but from the duty of preſerving peace and order.
The diſtinction of the power of Order, and the power of juriſdiction, is vain. For the ſpiritual Paſtor or Elder hath no other power than the power of the Keys, and the full power of the Keys intrinſecally belongs to the order or office of a Paſtor or Elder. But if any pretend that the full power of the Keys doth not intrinſecally belong to the office of a Paſtor or Elder, but a part only, or that there be two kinds of power of the Keys, the one whereof belongs only to one ſuperior kin… of ſpiritual officers, and the other is common to all …piritual …aſtors, let him prove ſuch diſtinction and diſtribution from the Word of God.