Question 83

THE ARGVMENT.

Of the keyes, and their nomber, to wit, of the vse and authoritie of the key of the Gospell, and of discipline, in opening and shutting the kingdome of God.

What are the keyes of the kingdome of Heauen?

The preaching of the Gospell, and Ecclesiastical discipline, whereby heauen is opened to them that beleeue, and shut against vnbeleeuers.^a

The vse

The vse of the doctrine of the keyes is double: for we are first put in mind by them, of our misery, before the Lord cal vs by his Gospel, namely, that we are banished from the kingdome of God, and consequently excluded from righteousnes and saluation. Last of all, that we are fast bound as it were, with the bonds and fetters of Sathan. Secondly, howe great good God dooth bestowe vpon vs, and offer vnto vs, when he bleseth vs with the preaching of the Gospell, putting vs in hope: that if we beleeue in Christ, he wil deliuer vs from the power of darknes, and translate vs into the kingdome of his beloued Son: whereto belongeth that of the Apostle, that life and immortallitie were brought to light by the Gospell. For Christ is the doore and gate of saluation,^b and euen the onlie way which we must enter into, to come vnto the kingdome of heauen. Whereby it appeareth, that they are deceiued, whoe thinke that every one, whether he be Turke or Iewe, may be saued in his own superstition, so he keep some outward shadow and shewe of Iustice: for God hath ordained the preaching of the Gospell to be the key, whereby he wil haue the kingdome of heauen to be opened, and the faithfull to be let into it, and whome in Christ his Sonne hee hath chosen vnto saluation.^c