doores, chestes, and such other thinges are opened or shut. And they be conueyed ouer from bodily thinges to spiritu∣all thinges, from earthly thinges to heauenly thinges: and sometime they be taken for souerein and full power, like as when we read in the Apocalips that Christ hath the keyes of Dauid, of death, and of hell. For by that phrase of spéech is betokened that Christ hath the souerein and most absolute power or authoritie to gouerne the kingdome of Dauid, and also full power ouer death it self, and ouer hell, and that he is able to deliuer from death, or to thrust down into hell whomsoeuer he listeth. These Keyes, that is to say, this power, belongeth onely vnto Christ, and no crea∣ture is partaker of it. Wherupon also in the Apocalips the Lord sayth with a vehemencie, I haue the Keyes: and he sayth not, I haue had, but I haue, I say I haue them yet still, and will haue them euer, & I resigne them to no man.
There is also the Key of knowledge, and the Key of the kingdome of heauen, whereof we intreate at this pre∣sent. The Key of knowledge is instruction, wherby a mans vnderstanding is opened, and his want of skill amended. And the Key of the kingdome of heauē is a plaine or light∣some declaration or laying forth of thinges, whereby men are taught, what way they may goe into heauen, or how they may be saued. I faine nothing of mine owne head in this behalfe, in these thinges I followe the Scripture, and for mine exposition I alledge the very worde of Christ say∣ing in the Gospell after S. Luke: Woe be to you Lawyers, whych haue taken away the key of knowledge: ye entred not in your selues, and them that came in, ye forbad. Which wordes of the Lord, Mathew vttereth in this wise: Woe be to you Scrybes and Pharyseys, for ye shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men: ye your selues goe not in, neyther suffer ye them that come, to enter in. Behold, looke what Luke called the ta∣king away of the key of knowledge, that doth Matthew call the shuttyng vp of the kingdome of heauen. And therefore what els I pray you is it to bring forth the keyes of the