170 THE CHARGE OF THE WHOLE CHURCH IMPRACTICABLE. to weigh all the cases, to make all the resolutions and despatches requisite for such a charge? If the burden of one small kingdom be so great that wise and good princes groan under its weight, what must that be of all mankind? To such an extent of government there must be allowed a majesty and power correspondent; the which cannot be committed to one hand without its degeneration into ex- treme tyranny. The words of Zosimus to this purpose - are obser- vable, who says that the Romans, by admitting Augustus Csar to the government, did very perilously; for, " If he should choose to manage the government rightly and justly, he would not be capable of applying himself to all things as were fit, not being able to suc- cour those who lie at greater distance; nor could he find so many magistrates as would not be ashamed to defeat the opinion conceived of them; nor could he suit them to the differences of so many man- ners. Or if, transgressing the bounds of royalty, he should warp to tyranny, disturbing the magistracies, overlooking misdemeanours, bartering right for money, holding the subjects for slaves, such as most emperors, or rather near all, have been, few excepted: then it is quite certain that the brutish authority of the prince would be a public calamity; for then flatterers, being by him dignified with gifts and honours, invade the greatest commands; and those whoare modest and quiet, not affecting the same life with them, are conse- quently displeased, not enjoying the same advantages, so that from hence cities are filled with seditions and troubles; and the civil and militaryemployments being delivered up to avaricious persons, both render a peaceable life sad and grievous to men of better disposition and enfeeble the resolution of soldiers in war." t Hence St Augustine was of opinion that " it were happy for mankind if all kingdoms were small, enjoying a peaceful neighbour- hood."' It is commonly observed by historians, that " Rome growing in bigness, laboured therewith,"a and was not able to support itself, manydistempers and disorders springing up in sovast a body, which Eims yap ópAñg, &c. Zos. Hist. i. p. 4, Steph. 9 Felicioribus sic rebus humanis, omnia regna parva essent, concordi vicinitate lætan- tia.Aug. de Civ. D. iv. 15. "Eam1 Tr zai vri sor pEyihu; ¡<i7pov, róoors, zai 7mv IíXgrov vrávmruv, t:)" OtTäv, ó¡yávwv' zai yap To1%Tedv ïzaoTov o/TS Ala» pixpóv, Dims zacá /eiysAoç vorspßáx,xov 7.i;s1 7414 ah,'I Sú»ai..a». Arist. Pol vii. 4. " There is a certain measure of greatness fit for cities and commonwealths, as well as for all other things, living crea- tures, plants, instruments; for every one of these has its proper virtue and faculty, when it is neither very little nor yet exceeds in bigness." TI, yap omparey1e (amar 'oü aiav úvrspßá). Ao4ros vrAí,Aovç, li 7/ç zñrul » /s (77sv7ópsroç ;- -Ibid. "For who would be a cap- tainof an excessive huge multitude?" &c. s Suis et ipsa Roma viribus ruit. Hor., Ep. avi. qum ab exiguis initiis cre- verit, ut jammagnitudine Taboret sua. Ctiv. i. Ac nescio an satius fuerit populo Ro- mano Sicilia et Africa contentos fuisse, aut his etiam ipsis carere dominanti in Italia sua, quam eo magnitudinis crescere, ut viribus suis conficeretur. Flor. iii. 12.
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