The charge and office of those in general, and namely of pastors, is to be diligent, & take he de to their doctrine a(under the which also we comprehend the sacraments) & to prayer under the which also we understand the blessing of marriages of the faithful, according to the ancient custom of the Church: although often times the deacons have supplied that office, of the administration of the sacramentsb, and also that which concerneth marriages: all the which things Jesus Christ did understand by binding and loosing, shutting and opening, and by the keys of the kingdom of heavenc, which is a matter very evil understood, & as yet much worse practised. Forasmuch then as Heaven is proposed and set open to us as a perpetual dwelling place, and there is none other way to go, nor other gate to enter in, then Jesus Christd: And for so much as the only means to have Jesus Christ is faithe, the which is created and preserved ⟨p. 195⟩in us by the holy Ghost, through the preaching of the Gospelf, and the Sacraments, as it hath been said heretoforeg: Behold then wherefore it is said that the pastors or doctors, to whom this word and administration of sacraments is committed, have the key of the kingdom of heavenh. Because that by their preachings, the world may be brought to eternal life, having in their mouths the word of reconciliation and trueth. Moreover, because that our sins hold us bound. And the preaching of the Gospel annexed with the Sacraments,9 declareth to us the deliverance from sin, from death, and from the devilk. For this cause it is said, that the Ministers have power to loose and to bind, with the authority of God. But here must be noted the points that followeth.
THe charge and offyce of those in generall, and namelie of pastors, is to be diligent, & take he de to their doctrine a(vnder the which also we comprehend the sacraments) & to praier vnder the which also we vnderstand the blessing of mariages of the faithfull, accordyng to the auncient custome of the Church: although often tymes the deacons haue supplied that office, of the administration of the sacramentesb, and also that which concerneth mariages: al the which things Iesus Christe dyd vnderstande by byndinge and lowsynge, shutting and opening, and by the keyes of the kingdome of heauenc, which is a matter verye euyll vnderstoode, & as yet much worse practised. For asmuch then as Heauen is proposed and set open to vs as a perpetuall dwellyng place, and there is none other waye to go, nor other gate to enter in, then Iesus Christed: And for so muche as the onelye meanes to haue Iesus Christe is faythe, the which is created and preserued ⟨p. 195⟩in vs by the holy Ghost, thorow the preaching of the Gospellf, and the Sacramentes, as it hath bene sayde heretoforeg: Behold then wherfore it is sayd that the pastours or doctours, to whome this worde and administration of sacramentes is committed, haue the keye of the kingdome of heauenh. Because that by theyr preachings, the worlde may be brought to eternall life, hauing in their mouthes the word of reconciliation and trueth. Moreouer, because that our sinnes hold vs bound. And the preaching of the Gospell annexed with the Sacramentes,9 declareth to vs the delyuerance from sinne, from death, and from the deuyllk. For this cause it is sayde, that the Ministers haue power to loose and to bynde, with the authoritye of God. But here must be noted the poynts that foloweth.
- aActs. 6. 1. Timo. 4Actes. 6. 1. Timo. 4
- b1. Cor. 1.
- cMath. 17.
- dJohn. 14. and. 10.Iohn. 14. and. 10.
- eCollos▪ •.
- fRoma. 10. 1. Peter. 1.
- gActs. 8. Roma. 4.Actes. 8. Roma. 4.
- hMath. 17.
- 9• 2. Cor. 5.
- kActs. 26.Actes. 26.
