A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

For the further clearing of this, we must handle another point, which is derived hence;¹ concerning the power of the keys: which is a power whereby the power of the keys of David is put in execution. This power of the Keys is mentioned, Mat. 16.19, when Christ saith unto Peter; I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth▪ shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. This power of the keys, is a ministry granted to Gods church, to open and shut the kingdom of heaven. First, I call it a Ministry: that is, a service; because whatsoever the church doth in Christs name, is nothing but the duty of servants unto their Lord: from whence it is, that the most worthy members and officers that ever were in the Church, as the Prophets and Apostles, were but the Ministers of Christ. That this is a service, I show more plainly thus; When Adam fell; in his sin all mankind fell with him, and thereby were all barred from the kingdom of heaven. Now since that fall, Christ became man, and in his manhood satisfied the justice of God for mans sins. And this satisfaction of Christ, is properly that key whereby heaven is opened, being opposite to mans sin whereby it was shut. And Gods Church and Ministers cannot properly open Heaven by any power they have, but only reveal unto men what Christ hath done for them; and withal apply unto them, the doctrine of Christs satisfaction which is revealed. And in this regard they are said, to open and shut the kingdom of heaven; not as Lords, but as ministers & servants.

For the further cleering of this, we must handle another point, which is deriued hence;¹ concerning the power of the keyes: which is a power whereby the power of the keyes of Dauid is put in execution. This power of the Keyes is mentioned, Mat. 16.19, when Christ saith vnto Peter; I will giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen, and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpon earth▪ shall be bound in heauen; and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heauen. This power of the keyes, is a ministery granted to Gods church, to open and shut the kingdome of heauen. First, I call it a Ministerie: that is, a seruice; because whatsoeuer the church doth in Christs name, is nothing but the duetie of seruantes vnto their Lord: from whence it is, that the most worthy members and officers that euer were in the Church, as the Prophets and Apostles, were but the Ministers of Christ. That this is a seruice, I shew more plainely thus; When Adam fell; in his sinne all mankinde fell with him, and thereby were all barred from the kingdome of heauen. Now since that fall, Christ became man, and in his manhood satisfied the iustice of God for mans sinnes. And this satisfaction of Christ, is properly that key whereby heauen is opened, beeing opposite to mans sinne whereby it was shut. And Gods Church and Ministers cannot properly open Heauen by any power they haue, but onely reueale vnto men what Christ hath done for them; and withall apply vnto them, the doctrine of Christs satisfaction which is reuealed. And in this regard they are said, to open and shut the kingdom of heauen; not as Lords, but as ministers & seruants.