The Institution of Christian Religion

then (which is their last refuge) they answer that the giving of the keys, must be construed with a limitation, that is to say, that Christ hath promised, that before his judgement seat such sentence of the Priest shall be allowed as hath been justly pronounced, according as the deservings of him that is bound or loosed, did require. Moreover they say, that these keys are given by Christ to all Priests, and are delivered to them by their Bishops, at the time of their promoting to priesthood: but the free use of them, remaineth only with such as do exercise Ecclesiastical offices: and that the excommunicate & suspended Priests have in deed the keys, but rusty & bound up. And they that say these things may well seem modest and sober in comparison of the rest, which upon an new an uield have forged new keys, with which they say the treasure of the church is locked up. These keys we shall hereafter try in place fit for it.

then (whiche is their laste refuge) they aunswere that the geuing of the keyes, muste bee construed with a limitation, that is to saye, that Christ hath promised, that before his iudgement seate suche sentence of the Preste shalbe allowed as hathe bene iustly pronounced, according as the deseruinges of hym that is bounde or loosed, did require. Moreouer they saye, that these keyes are geuen by Christe to all Priestes, and are delyuered to them by their Byshoppes, at the tyme of their promotinge to presthode: but the free vse of them, remayneth only with suche as doe exercise Ecclesiasticall offices: and that the excommunicate & suspended Prestes haue in deede the keyes, but rusty & bounde vp. And they that say these thynges may wel seme modest and sober in comparison of the rest, which vpon an new an uield haue forged newe keyes, with which they say the treasure of ye churche is locked vp. These keyes we shall hereafter trye in place fit for it.

Now I will in few words answer to every one these particularly. But at this present I speak not by what right or what wrong they bind the souls of the faithful with their laws, for as much as we will consider that when place serveth. But where they charge men with a law of reckoning up all their sins: where they say that sin is not forgiven but upon condition, if there be an intent conceived to confess it: where they babble that there remaineth no entry into Paradise, if occasion of confessing be neglected: this is in no wise to be suffered.