The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…

THE greatest commotions in Kingdoms have for the most part been raised and maintained for and about Power, and Liberties, of the Rulers and the Ruled, together with the due bounds and limits of either: And the like hath fallen out in Churches, and is continued to this day in the sharpest contentions (though now the seat of the war is changed) who should be the first adequate, and complete subject of that Church-power, which Christ hath left on earth; how bounded, and to whom committed. This controversy is in a special manner the lot of these present times: And now that most parties (that can pretend any thing towards it) have in several ages had their turns & vicissitudes of so long a possession of it, and their pleas for their several pretences, have been so much and so long heard, it may well be hoped it is near determining; & that Christ will shortly settle this power upon the right heirs to whom he primitively did bequeath it.

THE greatest commotions in Kingdomes have for the most part beene raised and maintained for and about Power, and Liberties, of the Rulers and the Ruled, together with the due bounds and limits of either: And the like hath fallen out in Churches, and is continued to this day in the sharpest contentions (though now the seate of the warre is changed) who should bee the first adequate, and compleate subject of that Church-power, which Christ hath left on earth; how bounded, and to whom committed. This controversie is in a speciall manner the lot of these present times: And now that most parties (that can pretend any thing towards it) have in severall ages had their turns & vicissitudes of so long a pessession of it, and their pleas for their severall pretences, have beene so much and so long heard, it may wel be hoped it is neere determining; & that Christ wil shortly settle this power upon the right heires to whom he primitively did bequeath it.

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