A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the…A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the…

Here have we occasion ministered, ⟨image 107⟩to speak somewhat of the authority and office of church ministers: wherein ¹some have with much labour disputed, and have made subject unto their power, all the chiefest things in the earth, clean contrary to the commandment of the Lord, which forbade his disciples, to strive for chief rule, and highly commended humility. ²In deed there is an absolute authority, which is called Juris, authority by right of prescription, whereby ³all things are subject, to Christ the Lord of all, as he testifieth, saying: Power is given to me in heaven and in earth: And again, I am the first and the last, behold I live world without end, and have the Keys of hell and of death. Also, he hath the keys of David, which openeth, and no man shutteth, shutteth and no man openeth. This power the Lord keepeth to himself, and giveth to none other, that he might stand idly, beholding his ministers, while they do work. For Isaiah writeth, I will lay upon his ⁴shoulder, the key of the house of David. ⟨p. 62⟩And again, whose rule shall remain upon his shoulders: but he reserveth, and still useth his power, ruling all. Moreover, there is an other power, belonging to the office or ministry, ⁵limited of him, who hath full and absolute authority, that power is rather to be likened to service, then to rule. For some lord giveth to his steward, power over his house, and therewithal ⁶he giveth his keys also, wherewith he may let in or shut out of the house, whom the Lord will, either to be let in, or shut out. According to this power, the minister doeth by his office, that which he is commanded to do of his Lord, who ratifieth and alloweth his doings, and will have his ministers deed, to be esteemed and acknowledged as his own. And this is the meaning of those sentences in the Gospel, I will give thee the keys