- And the key:
- As the robe and the baldric, mentioned in the preceding verse, were the ensigns of power and authority; so likewise was the key the mark of office, either sacred or civil. To comprehend how the key could be borne on the shoulder, it will be sufficient to observe, that the ancient keys were of considerable magnitude, and much bent. "Andª I say²° alsoª¹ unto thee,ª Thatª thouª artª° Peter,ª andª uponª thisª rockª I will buildª° myª church;ª andª the gatesª of hellª shall²° notª prevail againstª° it.ª ... Andª I will giveª° unto theeª the¹ keysª of the¹ kingdomª of heaven:ª andª whatsoeverªª thou shalt bindª° onª earthª shall¹ be²° boundª° inª heaven:ª andª whatsoeverªª thou shalt looseª° onª earthª shall beª° loosedª° inª heaven.ª" {Mtt 16:18-19} + "ª I [am] he that liveth,ª° andª wasª° dead;ª and,ª behold,ª° I amª° aliveª° for² evermore,ª¹ Amen;ª andª haveª° the¹ keysª of hellª andª of death.ª" {Rev 1:18}
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