as admonishing of the unruly and disorderly, Matt, xviii. 18, 19; casting out the incorrigible and obstinate from the spiritual fellowship of the saints, Matt. xviii. 18, 19; 2 Cor. v. ult.:  receiving again into spiritual communion of the faithful, such as are penitent, 2 Cor. ii. 6.  Thus the binding and loosing, which are counted the chief acts of the keys, are spiritually by our Saviour interpreted to be the remitting and retaining of sins; compare Matt, xviii. 18, 19, with John xx. 21, 23.

4.  Spiritual in the form and manner, as well as in the matter.  For this power is to be exercised, not in a natural manner, or in any carnal name, of earthly magistrate, court, parliament, prince, or potentate whatsoever, as all secular civil power is; no, nor in the name of saints, ministers, or the churches:  but in a spiritual manner, in the name of the Lord Jesus, from whom alone all his officers receive their commissions.  The word is to be preached in his name, Acts xvii. 18:  seals dispensed in his name, Matt. xxviii. 19; Acts xix. 5:  censures inflicted in his name, 1 Cor. v. 4, &c. (See chap.  V.)

5.  Spiritual in the subject intrusted with this power; which is not any civil, political, or secular magistrate, (as after will more fully appear, in chap.  IX.) but spiritual officers, which Christ himself hath instituted and bestowed upon his Church, apostles, &c., pastors, teachers, elders, Eph. iv. 7, 8, 10, 11.  To these only he hath given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, Matt. xvi. 19, and xviii. 18,19, and xxviii. 18, 19; John xx. 21-23; 2 Cor. x. 8, authority which the Lord hath given us.  These he hath made governments in his Church, 1 Cor. xii. 28.  To these he will have obedience and subjection performed, Heb. xiii. 17, and double honor allowed, 1 Tim. v. 17.

6.  Spiritual in respect of the object about which this power is to be put forth and exercised, viz. not about things, actions, or persons civil, as such; but spiritual and ecclesiastical, as such.  Thus injurious actions, not as trespasses against any statute or law political; but as scandalous to our brethren, or the Church of God, Matt, xviii. 18, 19; are considered and punished by this power.  Thus the incestuous person was cast out, because a wicked person in himself, and likely to leaven others by his bad example, 1 Cor. v. 6.  Thus the persons whom the Church may judge are not the men of the world without the Church, but those that are in some sense spiritual, and within the Church, 1 Cor. v. 12.