A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

The Apologie, Cap. 7. Diuision. 4.

And therefore our Saueour Iesus Christe, to reproue the Negli∣gence of the Scribes, and Phariseis in teachinge, did with these woordes rebuke them, saieing: Woe be vnto you Scribes, & Phari∣seis, whiche haue taken away the Keyes of knowledge, & haue shutte vp the Kingedome of Heauen before menne. Seeinge then the Keie whereby the way, and entrie to the Kingdome of God is opened vnto vs, is the Woorde of the Gospel, and the Expoundinge of the Lawe, and Scriptures, wee saie plainely, where the same Woorde is not, there is not the Keie.

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.

The B. of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge mutche and often complaineth of the Confusion of the Keies: that wée appointe not distinctly eche Keie to his seueral office. Marke therefore, I be∣seche thée, Gentle Reader, hewe distinctly, and plainely M. Hardinge him selfe in∣treateth of the same.

Firste,* 1.3 of the twoo Keies, that Christe hath deliuered vs in the Gospel, he hathe made a greate many of Keies: The Keie of knowledge: The keie of Order: The Keie of Power: The Keie of Discretion: The Keie of Sacramentes: And for as mutche, as Sacramentes by his Doctrine be Seuen in number, there muste also be of this sorte Seuen other seueral Keies. And yet ouer and bisides al these Keies bée∣ing so many, the Pope hath also One Special Maister Keie. Afterward by a sleight. and by nimblenesse of his fingers, he conueigheth al this heape of Keies into twoo Onely Keies: whereof the One he calleth the Keie of knowledge, and the other the Keie of Power: Whiche twoo Keies notwithstandinge in the ende are suddainely consumed both into One onely Keie. For where as the Keie of knowledge is lost, there, by M. Hardinges Iudgement, Power onely remaineth without knowledge: And that Keie alone dischargeth al offices, and is vtterly al in al.

This Keie of Power without knowledge, muste néedes be y^• Keie of Ignorance: Or, as they them selues haue vsed to cal it, Clauis Errans, The Keie of Errour. Or whiche Keie vndoubtedly Christe saide sommetime,* 1.4 Hoc est tempus vestrum, & Po∣testas Tenebrarum: This is your time, and the Power of Darkenesse. Peter Lombarde him selfe saithe, Many Priestes be Ignorante, and haue not the Keie of knowledge: Alexander of Hales saithe, Scientia non est Clauis: Knowledge is no Keie at al.

Yet M. Hardinge answeareth vs, that the simple ignorant Prieste, that kno∣weth nothinge, hath not onely One Keie, but both Keies (for so he calleth them in the Plural number) that is to saie, as wel the Keie of knowledge, as the Keie of Power. And thus haue they forged a Keie of knowledge without knowledge: and with the same keie they expounde, and open the Scriptures: they Minister the Sa∣cramentes: they Binde: they Loose: and breake vp a by way into the Kingedome of Heauen. Yet muste wée beleue, that they speake simply, and plainely of these Keies, and without confusion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  the knovv∣ledge of the Scripture is a Keie.
• * 1.2

  Vntruth. The Keie of Knovve∣ledge, vvithout knowledge.
• * 1.3

  confusion of Keies.
• * 1.4

  Luk. 22. 4. Senten. Dist. 19. Postquam. Alexand. De Hales, Par. 4. Qu. 79.