146 SILENCE OF CLEMENT AND OF ST CYPRIAN. divers eminent persons in the church, wherein the former do not as sume nor the latter ascribe any such power : the popes donot ex- press themselves like sovereigns, nor the bishops address themselves like subjects; but they treat one another in a familiar way, like brethren and equals: This is so true that it is a good mark of a spurious epistle (of which we have good store, devised by colloguing [flattering] knaves, and fathered on the first popes), when any of them talks in an imperious strain, or arrogates such a power to himself. 20. Clement, bishop of Rome in the apostolical times, when the church of Corinth was engaged in discords and factions, wherein the clergy were much affronted (divers presbyters, who had well and worthily behaved themselves, having been ejected from their office in a seditious manner), wrote a very large epistle [to them]; wherein like a good bishop, and charitable Christian brother, he earnestly, by manifold inducements, persuades them to charity and peace;1 but nowhere does he speak imperiously, like their prince. In such acase, one would think, if ever, for quashing such disorders, and quelling so " perverse folks, ' who spurned the clergy, it had beendecent, it had been expedient, to employ his authority, and to speak likehimself, challenging obedience, upon duty to him, and at their peril. How would a modern pope have ranted in such a case ! how thundering a bull would he have despatched against such outrageous contemners of the ecclesiastical order! how often would he have spoken of the apostolic see and its authority ! We should infallibly have heard him swagger in his wonted style, " Whoever shall presume to cross our will, let him know that he shall incur the indignation of Almighty God, and his blessed apostles Peter and Paul."' But our popes, it seems, have more wit or better mettle than Pope Clement; that good pope did not know his own strength, or had not the heart to use it. 21. Among the epistles of St Cyprian there are divers epistles of his to several popes (to Cornelius, to Lucius, to Stephamis4) ; inwhich, although written with great kindness and respect, yet no impartial eye can discern any special regard to them, as to his superiors in power, or pastors in doctrine, or judges of practice. He reports mat- ters to them; he confers about points with all freedom; he speaks `Ormp ev yáp L-, ivíau; Zps7s pefimnyáyóm6 waa,o -iç 7rol17[u0eeévouç sx ,r;;.; elAcevrmac al raiç vs.ntAnemn,; ).umovpylag.Clem. ad Corinth., Ep. i. p. 58, Jun. "For we see that you have removed some, who behaved themselves well in their office, out of their ministry, blamelessly discharged by them." Bmaoigely orpòs mows orpsoßvm'spays. a rlpóvaxa orpoovremñ xal abAdn P. 2. $ Si quis voluntati nostræ contraire prmsumpserit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei, ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostoli se noverit incursurum. In such terms usually the pope's bulls end. 4 Cypr., Ep. 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 49, 54, 55, 57, 58, 67, 72.
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