which consists in the putting, away of former, habits and for-
CHAP. XIX.] THE KEMISSIOX OF SINS. 1 that lies through space, but through a change of affections, and one which the guilt of our past sins like a hedge of thorns barred against us, what could He, who was willing to lay Himself down as the way by which we should return, do that would be still gracious and more merciful, except to forgive us all our sins, and by being crucified for us to remove the stern decrees that barred the door against our return ?
Chap, xviii.—The keys given to the Chi^rch.
17. He has given, therefore, the keys to His_Church, that whatsoever it should bind on earth might be bound in heaven, and whatsoever it should loose on earth might be loosed in
that is to say, that whosoever in the Church should heaven ; not believe that his sins are remitted, they should not be remitted to him; but that whosoever should believe, and should repent, and turn from his sins, should be saved by the same faith and repentance on the ground of which he is received into the bosom of the Church. For he who does not believe that his sins can be pardoned, falls into despair, and becomes worse, as if no greater good remained for him than to be evil, when he has ceased to have faith in the results of his own repentance.
Chap. xix.—Bodily and spiritual death and resurrection.
18. Furthermore, as there is a kind of death of the soul, which consists in the putting, away of former, habits and former ways of life, and which comes through repentance, so also the death of the body consists in the dissolution of the former principle of life. And just as the soul, after it has put away and destroyed by repentance its former habits, is created anew after a better pattern, so we must hope and believe that the body, after that death which we all owe as a debt contracted through sin, shall at the resurrection be changed into a better form ;—not that flesh and blood shall inherit the kingdom of God (for that is impossible), but that this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality.^ And thus the body, being the source of no uneasiness because it can feel no want, shall be animated by a spirit perfectly pure and happy, and shall enjoy unbroken peace.
1 Compare Matt. xvi. 19 with xviii. 18. ^ i Qot. xv. 50-53.
CHR. DOCT. B