at
steps were to be taken by one who wished to enter the Kingdom? With
what use of water would the Holy Spirit's power be connected? Here was
a practical question requiring a decided answer. And we conclude that
this was one of "the things pertaining to the Kingdom" which were
spoken of during this time, because we find a brief record of distinct
instructions given by our Lord to His Apostles how they were to admit
men as His disciples or subjects. No discourse is recorded, but this
clear commission is handed down by S. Matthew--evidently given in such
a way that the Apostles could not fail to understand its meaning--"Go
ye and make disciples[11] of all nations, baptizing them in the Name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (S. Matt.
xxviii. 19). And consequently Holy Baptism became at once, and has
been ever since, the form of admission into "The Kingdom of Heaven"
(Acts ii. 38-41). And being an outward form, and yet a spiritual act,
we have herein both "the water and the Spirit." It is an outward form
in which there is a ceremonial use of water; and yet it is a spiritual
act, because united with the most solemn naming of the Name of God, as
He has in these last days revealed Himself to man; "In the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;" and S. Paul does
not hesitate to say, "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body"
(1 Cor. xii. 13).

The other question arising out of some words of our Lord, which we
conclude was discussed and answered by Him during this time, was the
difficult one about the meaning of "the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven." He had once said, after S. Peter had confessed Him as the
Christ, "I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven[12]"
(S. Matt. xvi. 19). And the same words about binding and loosing were
repeated shortly afterwards to all the Apostles (S. Matt. xviii. 18).
We can hardly doubt but that the question must have arisen in their
minds what the keys of the Kingdom could be whereby the power of
binding and loosing was given them. And although no discourse is
recorded, it seems that this was another of "the things pertaining to
the Kingdom" of which He spoke. For S. John, in the brief record which
he has given of His first appearance to the Apostles after His
Resurrection, has thus described what occurre