¶Of the wordes, power, and ministery, and so is the disputation of the keyes knit vp.
I Know well inough it offendeth many euen in this dis∣course, that I vse the terme power so seldome, and the worde ministerie or ministration so often, when not∣withstanding the Scripture doth openly geue power to the ministers, and it is commonly called the power of the keyes. But how small a thing is that I beséech you, if it be compared with the fulnesse of power which these men cha∣lenge to them selues openly? I graunt in déede that the ad∣ministration of the Church, or (if ye like it better) of the keyes, is called power. For the Lord sayth in the Gospell: Like as a man that at his going into a straunge countrey, left his house and gaue his seruauntes power. &c. But who know∣eth not that the power which is spoken of héere, is none o∣ther but to do seruice or to minister: specially seing that in an other Euangelist, it is more effectually opened what maner of power the same is, in these wordes: to geue his honsholde meate in due season, sayth the Lord. Which thing no man will wrest to the fulnesse of power, but he that is past all shame. For the Lorde speaketh manifestly of the preaching of the Gospell, whereby meate is set before the housholde, I meane before the Church of God. And when Paule to the Corinthians had termed the preaching of the Gospell the word of attonement: by and by expoūding him selfe he addeth, that the office or ministration of preaching the attonement was geuen vnto him: behold, héere he cal∣leth that thing a ministration, which he had euen now