Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

254 ST. MATTHEW.
his name. This he receives from Christ, to show
that he receives the other also from him. The church
is immoveable and eternal, because the faith which
is the foundation of it is firm and unchangeable.
" 19. And 1 will give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The power to remit all sins is given to the church,
to show that this power is not to be found out of the
unity of the church. This power is abused when it
is used contrary to the design of Christ who gave it.
As nothing but sin shuts the kingdom of heaven
against men, so by remission of sin it is opened to
them. The church binds by excommunication, and
by the refusal or delay of absolution; and God rati-
fies in heaven the judgment of his ministers on earth,
when they judge according to the rules prescribed
by his word. God preserve us from such cowardly
or ignorant ministers, as know not what it is to bind
sinners !
Sect. IV. Peter rebuked.
" 20. Then charged he his disciples that they
should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."
This was the time of Christ's mission to the Jews.
None could enter into it until after his death and
resurrection, and the mission of the Holy Ghost.
It was necessary that he should be sacrificed for the
truth, before men could expose themselves to be
sacrificed for the sake thereof. Let us learn from
hence, not to discover to the world the great truths
of religion, except with prudence, and according to
the direction of God.