Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 18:18

18 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.

We met with this Sentence, Ch. 16. v. 19. where we observed that by Binding, and Loosing, was signified (according to the usage of the Iews of those times) declaring of Propositions, true or false, or Iudging things Lawful, or Vnlawful. Some think that it hath no further import here; but it is the Opinion of Mr. Calvin, and other very judicious Interpreters, that it is here to be extended to the Censures of the Church: The Sentence of the Church pronounced justly in the Case of Offences, and is added, lest Persons justly denied the Communion of the Church, should contemn such Censures. Chri[illegible: 1 letter]t assures these Persons, that such Censures ought not to be slighted▪ for God would confirm them in Heaven, as also to their Absolutions, or Re-admissions of such Persons into their Communion, upon their true Repentance, an acknowledgement of their Errors. Not that our Lord by this intended to confirm all Sentences of Excommunication, or to patronize any Cheat or Hypocrisie in any, to gain an Absolution, or Restauration to the Church. But only as to the first to assure stubborn, and impenitent Sinners, that he would ratifie what his Church did, according to the Rule he had given them to Act by. It is therefore a terrible Text, to those who are justly, and duly cut off from the Communion of the Church, for Notorious and Scandalous sins: Such as whoso committeth, and doth not repent of, they shall never enter into the Kingdom of God. And as Comfortable to those, who being so cast out do truly repent, and are under Temptations, to be swallowed up of too much Sorrow. If therefore any be cast out of any Church, for professing, or standing to any Truth of the Gospel, or because he will not do what is sinful; we must not understand them bound in Heaven, tho they be bound on Earth, nor have any such Excommunications any Terror in them. How forcible are right Words, but these arguings, what do they reprove? The Church is not by this Text made infallible, nor is the Holy God, by it ingaged to defend their Errors.

Marginal references: Joh. 20.23. 1 Cor. 5.4.