heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven," Mat. 16: 18, 19. Could finite man speak thus? Who but God Himself can build the church, or who but He could speak of it as His church when built? “Do good” saith the Psalmist “in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem." 51: 18. "Except Jehovah build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except Jehovah keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." 127: 1. "Again, I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel." Jer. 31 : 4. Who but the infinite and almighty Jehovah hath power to open heaven to man, or to shield him from the gates of hell? And who, therefore, but He alone can give to any one the keys of the kingdom of heaven? How then could Jesus Christ speak thus, unless he were Jehovah?
Jesus saith, "Behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill, and crucify, and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.” Mat. 23: 34. Strange indeed would it sound to hear a finite man speak in this manner! Did ever a rational human being arrogate to himself the power and prerogative of raising up, commissioning, and sending into the world, prophets, wise men, and scribes at his own pleasure?
