For first it is evident, that Christ establisheth the power of binding, and loosing in the hands of the Church, speaking in the 3. person, v. 17. & that so firmely, as what brother soever refuseth to heare her voice is to be expelled from all religious cōmunion. Vnto this the 18. v. is added partly for explanation, and partly for confirmation. For where as the party admonished might say with himself, well, if the Church disclaim mee, I shall disclaym it, if it condemn me, I shall condemn it again, the Lord doth here back the Churches censures for her incouragement, and for the terrour of the refractary, despising her voice, and that vnder a contestati∣on, that what she bindes, and looseth vpon earth, (namely after his will) he also will bind, and loose in heaven.
And for the change of persons in the 17. and 18, verses, it is mere∣ly grammaticall, and not naturall. It is common with the Holy Ghost, sometimes for elegancy, sometimes for explication, some∣times for further inforcement of the same thing, to, and vpon the same persons, thus to vary the phrase of speach in the first, second, or third person grammatically, as the reader may take a tast in these particulars. Psal. 75. 1. Is. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. &c. Math. 5. 10. 11. 12. &c. and in this very Chapt. v. 7. 8. Rom. 6. 14. 15. 16. & 8. 4. 5. 12. 13. &c.