In those former darker times, this golden Ball was thrown up by the Clergy (so called) alone to run for among themselves: And as they quietly possessed the name [Greek or Hebrew], The Clergy, and of the Church, appropriated to themselves; so answerably all manner of interest in power or cognisance of matters of the Church, was wholly left & quitted to them: whilst the People that then knew not the Law, having given up their souls to an implicit faith in what was to be believed, did much more suffer themselves to be deprived of all Liberties in Church affairs. this royal donation bestowed by Christ upon his Church, was taken up and And placed in so high thrones of Bishops, Popes, General Council, &c. not only far above these things on earth, the people; but things in Heaven also, we mean the Angels and Ministers of the Churches themselves; in so great a remoteness from the people, that the least right or interest therein, was not so much as suspected to belong to them. But towards these latter times, after many removals of it down again, and this as the issue of many suits again and again renewed and removed, and upon the sentence (even of whole States) as oft reversed. It hath now ⟨image 3⟩in these our days been brought so near unto the people, that they also have begun to plead and sue for a portion, and legacy bequeathed them in it. The Saints (in these knowing times) finding that the Key of knowledge hath so far opened their hearts, that they see with their own eyes into the substantials of Godliness, and that through the instruction and guidance of their teachers, they are enabled to understand for themselves such other things as they are to join in the practise of. They do therefore further (many of them) begin more then to suspect, that some share in the Key of power should likewise appertain unto them.
In those former darker times, this golden Ball was throwne up by the Clergy (so called) alone to runne for among themselves: And as they quietly possessed the name 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, The Clergy, and of the Church, appropriated to themselves; so answerably all manner of interest in power or cognisance of matters of the Church, was wholly left & quitted to them: whilst the People that then knew not the Law, having given up their soules to an implicite faith in what was to be beleeved, did much more suffer themselves to be deprived of all Liberties in Church affaires. this royall donation bestowed by Christ upon his Church, was taken up and And placed in so high thrones of Bishops, Popes, Generall Councell, &c. not onely farre above these things on earth, the people; but things in Heaven also, we meane the Angels and Ministers of the Churches themselves; in so great a remotenesse from the people, that the least right or interest therein, was not so much as suspected to belong to them. But towards these latter times, after many removalls of it downe againe, and this as the issue of many suits againe and againe renued and removed, and upon the sentence (even of whole States) as oft reversed. It hath now ⟨image 3⟩in these our dayes been brought so neere unto the people, that they also have begunne to pleade and sue for a portion, and legacy bequeathed them in it. The Saints (in these knowing times) finding that the Key of knowledge hath so farre opened their hearts, that they see with their owne eyes into the substantialls of Godlinesse, and that through the instruction and guidance of their teachers, they are enabled to understand for themselves such other things as they are to joyne in the practise of. They doe therefore further (many of them) begin more then to suspect, that some share in the Key of power should likewise appertain unto them.
