{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/211/2111118.htm","path":"chr/ecf/211/2111118.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/211/2111118.htm","text":"How the confession of the blessed Peter is the faith of the whole Church.\nBut what are the other words which follow that saying of the Lord\u2019s, with which He commends Peter? \u201cAnd I,\u201d said He, \u201csay unto thee, that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church.\u201d Do you see how the saying of Peter is the faith of the Church? He then must of course be outside the Church, who does not hold the faith of the Church. \u201cAnd to thee,\u201d saith the Lord, \u201cI will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.\u201d This faith deserved heaven: this faith received the keys of the heavenly kingdom. See what awaits you. You cannot enter the gate to which this key belongs, if you have denied the faith of this key. \u201cAnd the gate,\u201d He adds, \u201cof hell shall not prevail against thee.\u201d The gates of hell are the belief or rather the misbelief of heretics. For widely as hell is separated from heaven, p. 571 so widely is he who denies from him who confessed that Christ is God. \u201cWhatsoever,\u201d He proceeds, \u201cthou shalt bind on earth, shalt be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shalt be loosed also in heaven.\u201d The perfect faith of the Apostle somehow is given the power of Deity, that what it should bind or loose on earth, might be bound or loosed in heaven. For you then, who come against the Apostle\u2019s faith, as you see that already you are bound on earth, it only remains that you should know that you are bound also in heaven. But it would take too long to go into details which are so numerous as to make a long and wearisome story, even if they are related with brevity and conciseness.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XI: The Wor...","type":"page"}