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…

Ans. They invest him with rule, partly by choosing him to the office which God hath invested with rule, partly by professing their own subjection to him in the Lord: we by the rule of Relatives doth necessarily infer, and prefer the authority of the Elders over them. For in yielding subjection, they either set up, or acknowledge Authority in him, to whom they yield subjection.

Ans. They invest him with rule, partly by chusing him to the office which God hath invested with rule, partly by professing their own subjection to him in the Lord: we by the rule of Relatives doth necessarily inferre, and preferre the authoritie of the Elders over them. For in yeelding subjection, they either set up, or acknowledge Authoritie in him, to whom they yeeld subjection.

Ob. 2. The body of the Church is the Spouse of Christ, the Lambs wife, and ought not the wife to rule the servants and stewards in the house, rather then they her? Is it not meet that the keys of Authority should hang at her girdle rather then at theirs?

Ob. 2. The body of the Church is the Spouse of Christ, the Lambs wife, and ought not the wife to rule the servants and stewards in the house, rather then they her? Is it not meet that the keyes of Authoritie should hang at her girdle rather then at theirs?

Answ. There is a difference to be put between Queens, Princesses, Ladies of great Honour, (such as the Church is to Christ, Psal. 45.9.) and Country housewives, poor mens wives. Queens and great persons have several offices and officers for every business and service about the house, as Chamberlains, Stewards, Treasurers, Comptrollers, Ushers, Bailiffs, Grooms, and Porters, who have all the authority of ordering the affairs of their Lords house in their hands. There is not a key left in the Queens hand of any office, but only of power and liberty to call for what she wanteth according to the Kings royal allowance: which if she exceed, the officers have power to restrain her by order from the King. But country housewives, and poor mens wives, whose husbands have no Officers, Bailiffs or Stewards, to oversee and order their estates, they may carry the keys of any office at their own girdles, which the husband keepeth not in his own hand. Not because poor housewives have greater authority in the house then Queens; but because of their poverty and mean estate, they are fain to be in stead of many servants to their husbands.