God has committed to His Church a high duty which is far superior to what the individual members are capable of in their private capacity. Her officials can speak with an authority, and advance claims therefore, which would be preposterous in any who had not received the same divine commission. It has been said to them, "The Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops to rule the Church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood" (Acts xx. 28). No plenitude of power could be greater than that which the Founder of the Church conveyed to it in the person of its chief pastor. "To thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven" (Matt. xvi. 19). This authority, conveyed by God Himself, justifies the claim of the Church that she should be believed and obeyed by all in spiritual matters ; it justifies the faithful in trusting implicitly to such a guide, for such a trustfulness is trust in Christ Himself. No man or body of men could claim such a position ; no gifts of talent or virtue, no commission from earthly rulers, no degree of personal influence and popular appreciation would justify any man in assuming to speak as the Church speaks, or would justify others in submitting their liberty to his control. You are able to say, applying the words at once to Christ and to His Church, "I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him" (2 Tim. i. 12). Rejoice in this security.
