Anotherpointoftheircommissionisto“teachallnations“；asitisinMatthew，28。19，orasinSt。Mark，16。15，“Gointoalltheworld，andpreachthegospeltoeverycreature。“Teaching，therefore，andpreachingisthesamething。Fortheythatproclaimthecomingofakingmustwithalmakeknownbywhatrighthecometh，iftheymeanmenshallsubmitthemselvesuntohim：asSt。PauldidtotheJewsofThessalonica，when“threeSabbathdayshereasonedwiththemoutoftheScriptures，openingandallegingthatChristmustneedshavesuffered，andrisenagainfromthedead，andthatthisJesusisChrist。“*ButtoteachoutoftheOldTestamentthatJesuswasChrist，thatistosay，king，andrisenfromthedead，isnottosaythatmenarebound，aftertheybelieveit，toobeythosethattellthemso，againstthelawsandcommandsoftheirsovereigns；butthattheyshalldowiselytoexpectthecomingofChristhereafter，inpatienceandfaith，withobediencetotheirpresentmagistrates。
3
Anotherpointoftheircommissionisto“baptize，inthenameoftheFather，andoftheSon，andoftheHolyGhost。“Whatisbaptism？
Dippingintowater。Butwhatisittodipamanintothewaterinthenameofanything？Themeaningofthesewordsofbaptismisthis。
HethatisbaptizedisdippedorwashedasasignofbecominganewmanandaloyalsubjecttothatGodwhosepersonwasrepresentedinoldtimebyMoses，andthehighpriests，whenHereignedovertheJews；andtoJesusChrist，HisSon，GodandMan，thathathredeemedus，andshallinhishumannaturerepresenthisFather’spersoninhiseternalkingdomaftertheresurrection；andtoacknowledgethedoctrineoftheApostles，who，assistedbytheSpiritoftheFatherandoftheSon，wereleftforguidestobringusintothatkingdom，tobetheonlyandassuredwaythereunto。Thisbeingourpromiseinbaptism；andtheauthorityofearthlysovereignsbeingnottobeputdowntillthedayofjudgement；forthatisexpresslyaffirmedbySt。Paul，wherehesaith，“AsinAdamalldie，soinChristallshallbemadealive。Buteverymaninhisownorder，Christthefirstfruits，afterwardtheythatareChrist’sathiscoming；thencomeththeend，whenheshallhavedeliveredupthekingdomtoGod，eventheFather，whenheshallhaveputdownallrule，andallauthorityandpower。“*Itismanifestthatwedonotinbaptismconstituteoverusanotherauthoritybywhichourexternalactionsaretobegovernedinthislife，butpromisetotakethedoctrineoftheApostlesforourdirectioninthewaytolifeeternal。
Thepowerofremissionandretentionofsins，calledalsothepowerofloosingandbinding，andsometimesthekeysofthekingdomofheavenisaconsequenceoftheauthoritytobaptizeorrefusetobaptize。ForbaptismisthesacramentofallegianceofthemthataretobereceivedintothekingdomofGod；thatistosay，intoeternallife；thatistosay，toremissionofsin：foraseternallifewaslostbythecommitting，soitisrecoveredbytheremittingofmen’ssins。Theendofbaptismisremissionofsins：thereforeSt。Peter，whentheythatwereconvertedbyhissermononthedayofPentecostaskedwhattheyweretodo，advisedthemto“repent，andbebaptizedinthenameofJesus，fortheremissionofsins。“*Andtherefore，seeingtobaptizeistodeclarethereceptionofmenintoGod’skingdom，andtorefusetobaptizeistodeclaretheirexclusion，itfolloweththatthepowertodeclarethemcastout，orretainedinit，wasgiventothesameApostles，andtheirsubstitutesandsuccessors。AndthereforeafterourSaviourhadbreatheduponthem，saying，“ReceivetheHolyGhost，“*2headdethinthenextverse，“Whosesoeversinsyeremit，theyareremitteduntothem；andwhosesoeversinsyeretain，theyareretained。“Bywhichwordsisnotgrantedanauthoritytoforgiveorretainsins，simplyandabsolutely，asGodforgivethorretaineththem，Whoknoweththeheartofmanandtruthofhispenitenceandconversion；butconditionally，tothepenitent：andthisforgiveness，orabsolution，incasetheabsolvedhavebutafeignedrepentance，isthereby，withoutotheractorsentenceoftheabsolved，madevoid，andhathnoeffectatalltosalvation，but，onthecontrary，totheaggravationofhissin。ThereforetheApostlesandtheirsuccessorsaretofollowbuttheoutwardmarksofrepentance；whichappearing，theyhavenoauthoritytodenyabsolution；andiftheyappearnot，theyhavenoauthoritytoabsolve。Thesamealsoistobeobservedinbaptism：fortoaconvertedJeworGentile，theApostleshadnotthepowertodenybaptism，nortograntittotheunpenitent。Butseeingnomanisabletodiscernthetruthofanotherman’srepentance，furtherthanbyexternalmarkstakenfromhiswordsandactions，whicharesubjecttohypocrisy，anotherquestionwillarise：whoisitthatisconstitutedjudgeofthosemarks？AndthisquestionisdecidedbyourSaviourhimself：“Ifthybrother，“saithhe，“shalltrespassagainstthee，goandtellhimhisfaultbetweentheeandhimalone；ifheshallhearthee，thouhastgainedthybrother。Butifhewillnothearthee，thentakewiththeeoneortwomore。Andifheshallneglecttohearthem，tellituntotheChurch；butifheneglecttoheartheChurch，lethimbeuntotheeasanheathenmanandapublican。“*3Bywhichitismanifestthatthejudgementconcerningthetruthofrepentancebelongednottoanyoneman，buttotheChurch，thatis，totheassemblyofthefaithful，ortothemthathaveauthoritytobetheirrepresentant。Butbesidesthejudgement，thereisnecessaryalsothepronouncingofsentence：andthisbelongedalwaystotheApostle，orsomepastoroftheChurch，asprolocutor；andofthisourSaviourspeakethintheeighteenthverse，“Whatsoeveryeshallbindonearthshallbeboundinheaven；andwhatsoeveryeshalllooseonearthshallbeloosedinheaven。“AndconformablehereuntowasthepracticeofSt。Paulwherehesaith，“ForIverily，asabsentinbody，butpresentinspirit，havedeterminedalready，asthoughIwerepresent，concerninghimthathathsodonethisdeed；inthenameofourLordJesusChrist，whenyearegatheredtogether，andmyspirit，withthepowerofourLordJesusChrist，todeliversuchaonetoSatan“；*4thatistosay，tocasthimoutoftheChurch，asamanwhosesinsarenotforgiven。
Paulherepronounceththesentence，buttheassemblywasfirsttohearthecauseforSt。Paulwasabsent，andbyconsequencetocondemnhim。Butinthesamechapterthejudgementinsuchacaseismoreexpresslyattributedtotheassembly：“ButnowIhavewrittenuntoyounottokeepcompany，ifanymanthatiscalledabrotherbeafornicator，“etc。，“withsuchaonenonottoeat。ForwhathaveI
todotojudgethemthatarewithout？Donotyejudgethemthatarewithin？“*5ThesentencethereforebywhichamanwasputoutoftheChurchwaspronouncedbytheApostleorpastor；butthejudgementconcerningthemeritofthecausewasintheChurch；thatistosay，asthetimeswerebeforetheconversionofkings，andmenthathadsovereignauthorityintheCommonwealth，theassemblyoftheChristiansdwellinginthesamecity；asinCorinth，intheassemblyoftheChristiansofCorinth。
ThispartofthepowerofthekeysbywhichmenwerethrustoutfromthekingdomofGodisthatwhichiscalledexcommunicationandtoexcommunicateis，intheoriginal，aposunagogonpoiein，tocastoutofthesynagogue；thatis，outoftheplaceofdivineservice；aworddrawnfromthecustomoftheJews，tocastoutoftheirsynagoguessuchastheythoughtinmannersordoctrinecontagious，asleperswerebythelawofMosesseparatedfromthecongregationofIsraeltillsuchtimeastheyshouldbebythepriestpronouncedclean。
Theuseandeffectofexcommunication，whilstitwasnotyetstrengthenedwiththecivilpower，wasnomorethanthattheywhowerenotexcommunicateweretoavoidthecompanyofthemthatwere。Itwasnotenoughtoreputethemasheathen，thatneverhadbeenChristians；forwithsuchtheymighteatanddrink，whichwithexcommunicatepersonstheymightnotdo，asappearethbythewordsofSt。Paulwherehetelleththemhehadformerlyforbiddenthemto“companywithfornicators“；*but，becausethatcouldnotbewithoutgoingoutoftheworld，herestrainethittosuchfornicatorsandotherwiseviciouspersonsaswereofthebrethren；“withsuchaone，“hesaith，theyoughtnottokeepcompany，“nonottoeat。“AndthisisnomorethanourSavioursaith，“Lethimbetotheeasaheathen，andasapublican。“*2ForpublicanswhichsignifiethfarmersandreceiversoftherevenueoftheCommonwealthweresohatedanddetestedbytheJewsthatweretopayit，asthatpublicanandsinnerweretakenamongstthemforthesamething；insomuchaswhenourSaviouracceptedtheinvitationofZacchaeusapublican，thoughitweretoconverthim，yetitwasobjectedtohimasacrime。Andtherefore，whenourSaviour，toheathen，addedpublican，hedidforbidthemtoeatwithamanexcommunicate。
Asforkeepingthemoutoftheirsynagogues，orplacesofassembly，theyhadnopowertodoitbutthatoftheowneroftheplace，whetherhewereChristianorheathen。AndbecauseallplacesarebyrightinthedominionoftheCommonwealth，aswellhethatwasexcommunicatedashethatneverwasbaptized，mightenterintothembycommissionfromthecivilmagistrate；asPaulbeforehisconversionenteredintotheirsynagoguesatDamascus，toapprehendChristians，menandwomen，andtocarrythemboundtoJerusalem，bycommissionfromthehighpriest。*
BywhichitappearsthatuponaChristianthatshouldbecomeanapostate，inaplacewherethecivilpowerdidpersecuteornotassisttheChurch，theeffectofexcommunicationhadnothinginit，neitherofdamageinthisworldnorofterror：notofterror，becauseoftheirunbelief；norofdamage，becausetheyreturnedtherebyintothefavouroftheworld；andintheworldtocomeweretobeinnoworseestatethantheywhichneverhadbelieved。ThedamageredoundedrathertotheChurch，byprovocationofthemtheycastouttoafreerexecutionoftheirmalice。
ExcommunicationthereforehaditseffectonlyuponthosethatbelievedthatJesusChristwastocomeagaininglorytoreignoverandtojudgeboththequickandthedead，andshouldthereforerefuseentranceintohiskingdomtothosewhosesinswereretained；
thatis，tothosethatwereexcommunicatedbytheChurch。AndthenceitisthatSt。PaulcallethexcommunicationadeliveryoftheexcommunicatepersontoSatan。ForwithoutthekingdomofChrist，allotherkingdomsafterjudgementarecomprehendedinthekingdomofSatan。Thisisitthatthefaithfulstoodinfearof，aslongastheystoodexcommunicate，thatistosay，inanestatewhereintheirsinswerenotforgiven。WherebywemayunderstandthatexcommunicationinthetimethatChristianreligionwasnotauthorizedbythecivilpowerwasusedonlyforacorrectionofmanners，notoferrorsinopinion：foritisapunishmentwhereofnonecouldbesensiblebutsuchasbelievedandexpectedthecomingagainofourSaviourtojudgetheworld；andtheywhosobelievedneedednootheropinion，butonlyuprightnessoflife，tobesaved。
Thereliethexcommunicationforinjustice；as，ifthybrotheroffendthee，tellithimprivately，thenwithwitnesses；lastly，telltheChurch，andthenifheobeynot，“Lethimbetotheeasanheathenman，andapublican。“*Andthereliethexcommunicationforascandalouslife，as“Ifanymanthatiscalledabrotherbeafornicator，orcovetous，oranidolater，oradrunkard，oranextortioner，withsuchaoneyearenottoeat。“*2Buttoexcommunicateamanthatheldthisfoundation，thatJesuswastheChrist，fordifferenceofopinioninotherpointsbywhichthatfoundationwasnotdestroyed，thereappearethnoauthorityintheScripture，norexampleintheApostles。ThereisindeedinSt。Paulatextthatseemethtobetothecontrary：“Amanthatisanheretic，afterthefirstandsecondadmonition，reject。“*3Forahereticishethat，beingamemberoftheChurch，teachethneverthelesssomeprivateopinionwhichtheChurchhasforbidden：