hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."*

In the Saviour's own mission from the Father to our world, was fulfilled the prediction which had been given by Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." In the synagogue of Nazareth, therefore, at an early stage of his public ministry, he read the passage from the scroll of the prophetic book, and applied it to himself; while the miracles which he performed were the credentials which he presented, and the warrant for faith in him to which he appealed. "Say ye of him, whom

*John xx. 19-23.

+ Isai. Ixi. 1—3.

the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him."*

Now, when the Saviour in sending forth his Apostles declared to them, that their mission from him corresponded with his from the Father; and attended that declaration with significantly breathing on them, and communicating the Holy Ghost; we may certainly consider him as transferring to them the prophetic description which had already been fulfilled in his own personal ministry, to be fulfilled also in theirs; and as furnishing them with the same credentials to present mighty signs and wonders, wrought by the power of the Spirit of God."

66

In the Redeemer's intercourse with his Apostles during the period of his own personal ministry, he gave them a distinct intimation, that, on its close, and his consequent departure, they should be abundantly furnished for the mission on which he was about to send them. In reply to a request from Philip, he said to

* John x. 36-38.

them all," Verily, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."* And that the promise was literally fulfilled, two passages of the narrator of their Acts will sufficiently prove: "And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, at the least, the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."+" And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

Thus far, the general outline of their personal mission is clear; and their possession of satisfactory credentials, obvious. That part of the Saviour's declaration to them, which relates to the remitting and retaining sins, demands a careful and distinct consideration.

* John xiv. 12.

† Acts v. 12, 15, 16.

Acts xix. 11, 12.

It may safely be assumed, that, since the Acts and Epistles contain such distinct and repeated references to every other part of the work which, as Apostles, they discharged; SO also some evident traces must remain in the same books, of what they performed in execution of this extraordinary power conveyed to them; and consequently, that any modern practice supposed to be warranted by this passage, but of which no indication can be discovered in the apostolic writings, must be of very questionable character, on two accounts: the want of a direct and personal apostolic commission by him who performs it; and the want of resemblance to any recorded apostolic function, supposing the transmission of the same authority could be demonstrated. Now, for any thing corresponding with absolution, as declared indefinitely after general confession to an assembled congregation, or pronounced authoritatively to a kneeling penitent, or prostrate patient, we search in vain through the pages of the New Testament. But, can we point to any functions which the Apostles are declared to have discharged, and which contain a satisfactory exemplification of the power which was committed to them to retain and remit sins? We think we can.

Be it premised, that when Peter made his

divinely prompted confession of the Saviour's Deity, besides the promise which was made to him, that he should receive the keys of the kingdom; he was also told, "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 of binding and loosing was subsequently promised to the other Apostles, and connected with the discipline which was to be exercised in the church: 66 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Now, in the case supposed in this passage, the church might take cognizance of the offence, might speak with authority to the offender, might, if he proved

* Matt. xvi. 19.

Matt. xviii. 15—18.