The Keys of Knowledg much abused by those that keep them. [ 1469]
IT is feigned of Pope Sixtus Quintus, That after his death he went to Hell, but by good luck the Porter would not let him in,* 1.1 though he had ••ighly de∣served it, but sent him to a place under his own command, Purgatory; this he long sought, but could never find: At last he took heart, and went to Heaven, fearfully knocking at the gate. S. Peter asked him, Why he knocked, consi∣dering he had the Keys? He answered, Because the Wards were altered, and they could not now unlock the door. It were to be wished, that the Morall of this fiction were not too true: How are the Keys of Knowledg abused by many that have the keeping of them? The Pontificians have so bruised the keys with break∣ing Mens heads,* 1.2 and so furr'd them with the bloud of Innocents, that they are not able to open the gates of Heaven; Some let them rust in their hands for want of use, Teachers that do not teach, that can neither open the doors of Heaven for others, nor for themselves; Some alter the Wards by false and erro∣nious doctrine: Others, like Gallio, care not which end goes forward, let the Church-Keys hang in the Town-House, let who will preach, all's one to them; But some there are (God increase the number) that keep them bright with fair and continual usage, whom God blesseth in the way of their Ministery, with the letting in of many Souls to himself.