the wicked and wilful folk, and such as would not believe, nor return
into the right way, should be left still as fast locked, and shut up,
and, as St. Paul saith, "wax worse and worse." This take we to be the
meaning of the keys; and that after this sort men's consciences either be
opened or shut. We say, that the priest indeed is a judge in this case,
but yet hath no manner of right to challenge an authority, or power, as
saith Ambrose. And therefore our Saviour Jesu Christ, to reprove the
negligence of the Scribes and Pharisees in teaching, did with these words
rebuke them, saying: "Woe be unto you Scribes and Pharisees, which have
taken away the keys of knowledge, and have shut up the kingdom of heaven
before men." Seeing then the key whereby the way and entry to the
kingdom of God is opened unto us, is the word of the Gospel, and the
expounding of the law and Scriptures; we say plainly, where the same word
is not there is not the key. And seeing one manner of word is given to
all, and one only key belongeth to all, we say, that there is but one
only power of all ministers; as concerning opening and shutting. And as
touching the Bishop of Rome, for all his parasites flatteringly sing
these words in his ears, "To thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of
heaven" (as though those keys were fit for him alone, and for nobody
else), except he go so to work, as men's consciences may be made pliant,
and be subdued to the Word of God, we deny that he doth either open, or
shut, or hath the keys at all. And although he taught and instructed the
people (as would God he might once truly do, and persuade himself it were
at the least some piece of his duty), yet we think his key to be never a
whit better, or of greater force than other men's. For who hath severed
him from the rest? Who hath taught him more cunningly to open, or better
to absolve than his brethren?

We say that matrimony is holy and honourable in all sorts and states of
persons, in the patriarchs, in the Prophets, in the Apostles, in holy