Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII:
The Decretals.: Part IV

IV.

Of the seats of the bishops.

Furthermore, as to the fact that in the churches of the bishops there are found elevated seats set up and prepared like a throne, they show by these that the power of inspection and of judging, and the authority to loose and bind, are given to them by the Lord.  Whence the Saviour Himself says in the Gospel, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 2770   And elsewhere:  “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.  Whose soever sins ye remit, are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” 2771

Footnotes

Matt. xviii. 18.

John 20:22, 23.