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 Text in Mat. 16.9. saith, whatsoever, which reacheth not (so far as the Papists would stretch it) to whatsoever oaths, or covenants, or contracts, or counsels, or laws; as if whatsoever oaths of allegiance, covenants of lease or marriage, &c. the Pope ratifieth or dissolveth on earth, should be ratified or dissolved in heaven: No, this is not the key of the kingdom of heaven, but the key of the bottomless pit, Rev. 9.1. But this word whatsoever, is here put in the Neuter Gender, (not in the Masculine, whomsoever) to imply both things and persons; Things, as sins; Persons, as those that commit them. For so when our Saviour speaketh of the same acts of the same keys (Joh. 20.21.) he explaineth himself thus: Whose sins soever ye remit, they are remitted, and whose sins soever ye retain, they are retained. Whatsoever you bind on earth, is as much therefore, as whose sins soever you retain on earth; and whatsoever you loose on earth, is as much as whose sins soever you loose on earth.

The Text in Mat. 16.9. saith, whatsoever, which reacheth not (so far as the Papists would stretch it) to whatsoever oathes, or covenants, or contracts, or counsels, or lawes; as if whatsoever oathes of allegiance, covenants of lease or marriage, &c. the Pope ratifieth or dissolveth on earth, should be ratified or dissolved in heaven: No, this is not the key of the kingdome of heaven, but the key of the bottomelesse pit, Rev. 9.1. But this word whatsoever, is here put in the Neuter Gender, (not in the Masculine, whomsoever) to imply both things and persons; Things, as sins; Persons, as those that commit them. For so when our Saviour speaketh of the same acts of the same keys (Ioh. 20.21.) he explaineth himself thus: Whose sins soever yee remit, they are remitted, and whose sins soever yee retain, they are retained. Whatsoever you binde on earth, is as much therefore, as whose sins soever you retain on earth; and whatsoever you loose on earth, is as much as whose sins soever you loose on earth.