There are no keys to the church; that, is just traditional nonsense; people do not build with keys; but Christ builds His church.
If people really heeded the word of God, and took simply from Scripture what Scripture states, such things would never be said.
Nor do I talk about private judgment on such things; between man and man that is all very well, reasonable enough, but do you think if God has spoken to me, I am to talk of private judgment on what He has said?
Why, it is blasphemy.
I can understand an unbeliever not knowing what is God's mind, and reasoning about what is written; but man by reasoning never got faith at all; and man's reason is perfectly incompetent to judge about God and His words.
If my mind could judge about God, then God is the subject matter, and my mind is the master of the subject matter.
It is a mistake altogether. You want a word from God to reach conscience, that is the first thing. I grant you man's mind is the measure of all the truth he can have, but the first thing I want is a hammer upon conscience.
Suppose I knock you down, does it not make an impression upon you? You are acted upon. This is what conscience needs. But people think it must be the activity of their own minds.
I do not take a candle out to see if the sun is shining! But if I do not see the sunshine, everybody who has eyes will say to me, " You are blind."