M. Hardinge.
By this wee are induced to graunte,* 1.1 that the knowledge of the Scripture is a Keie, whereby the gate to the Truthe is opened, the vse whereof consisieth in expoundinge of the Lawe, and Prophetes, as they shewe Christe. But wee say, this not to be the special Keies, whiche Christe gaue to the church, but one Keie alone. And so Christe calleth it, where he rebuked the Scribes and Phariseis. Though you haue put it otherwise then the Gospel hath, in the Plural number. And this Keie is common to the Lawe, and to the Gospel. But the Keies, whiche we speake of, are another thinge. By the name of these leies, We vnderstande the whole spiritual Power, whiche Christe firste promised to Peter, and af∣terwarde gaue to the Apostles, and from them is transferred to al Bishoppes and Priestes. By whiche Power Priestes teache the Gospel, Consecrate the Body and Bloude of Christe, and Minister the Sacra∣mentes, through Auctoritie of the VVoorde Absolue Penitētes, and excommunicate Publike and hainous sinners. The Keie that you confusely speake of, naminge it to be the VVoorde of the Gospel, and Ex∣poundinge of the Lawe, and Scriptures, is one parte perteininge to this spiritual Power: it is not the whole Power. And where this VVoorde is not, that is to saie, where the Scriptures be not taught, and the Gospel preached, there is not the Keie, saie ye: there is not the exercise of that Keie, saie we. Yet ther is this spiritual Power, that is to witte, ther be the Keies. Ye we say that a simple Prieste* 1.2 though he haue no greate learninge, yet hath he the Keies, though he might do better, and more worthely vse them, hauinge learninge and knowledge.