A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…

I Know well enough it offendeth many even in this discourse, that I use the term power so seldom, and the word ministry or ministration so often, when notwithstanding the Scripture doth openly give power to the ministers, and it is commonly called the power of the keys. But how small a thing is that I beseech you, if it be compared with the fullness of power which these men challenge to them selves openly? I grant in deed that the administration of the Church, or (if ye like it better) of the keys, is called power. For the Lord saith in the Gospel: Like as a man that at his going into a strange country, left his house and gave his servants power. &c. But who knoweth not that the power which is spoken of here, is none other but to do service or to minister: specially seeing that in an other Evangelist, it is more effectually opened what manner of power the same is, in these words: to give his household meat in due season, saith the Lord. Which thing no man will wrest to the fullness of power, but he that is past all shame. For the Lord speaketh manifestly of the preaching of the Gospel, whereby meat is set before the household, I mean before the Church of God. And when Paul to the Corinthians had termed the preaching of the Gospel the word of atonement:¹ by and by expounding him self he addeth, that the office or ministration of preaching the atonement was given unto him: behold, here he calleth that thing a ministration, which he had even now ⟨image 23⟩