176 THE INEVITABLETYRANNY OF THE POPEDOM. not withheld by continual miracle, throw the church into sad bond- age. All the world must become slaves to one city; its wealth must be derived thither, its quiet must depend on it: for it, not being restrained within anybounds of place or time, having no check upon it of equal or co-ordinate power, standing upon divine institutions, and therefore immutably settled, must of its own nature become absolute and unlimited.' Let it be, however, of right limited by divine laws or human ca- nons, yet will it be continually encroachingand stretching its power, until it grows enormous and boundless. It will not endure to be pinched by any restraint. It will draw to itself the collation of all preferments,' &c. It will assume all things to itself, trampling down all opposite claims of right and liberty; so that neither pastor nor people shall enjoy or do any thing otherwise than in dependence on it and at its pleasure. It will be always forging new prerogatives, and interpreting all things in favour of them, and enacting sanctions to establish them, which none must presume to contest.' It will draw to itselfthedisposal of all places, theexaction of goods. All princes must become his ministers, and executors of his decrees.' It will mount above all law and rule, not only challenging to be uncontrollable and unaccountable, but not enduring any reproof of its proceedings or contradiction of its dictates. A blind faith must be yielded to all its assertions, as infallibly true; and a blind obe- dience to all its decrees, as unquestionably holy. Whosoever shall anywise cross it, in word or deed, shall certainly be discountenanced, condemned, ejected from the church ;6 so that the most absolute tyranny that can be imaginedwill ensue. All the world has groaned and heavily complained of their exactions, particularly our poor na- tion; it would raise indignation in any man to read the complaints.6 1 Vid. Hist. Conc.,Trid., p. 61. Privilegie istius sedis perpetua sunt, divinitus radi- cata atquepiantata; impingi possunt, transferrinon possunt; trahi possunt, evelli non possunt.P. Nie I. adMich. Imp. " The privileges of this see are perpetual, rooted and founded upondivine authority; they may be dashed against, they cannot be trans- planted; they may be dragged at, they cannot be plucked up." 2 Vid. Conc. Bas., seas. xxxi. p. 87. 3 Licet apostolica preerogativa possimus de qualibet ecciesia clericum ordinare.P. Steph., spud Grat. Caw. ix. qu. iii. cap. 20. " Though by our apostolical prerogative we may ordain a clergyman ofany church." 4 Hist. Conc. Trid. p. 60. So they pretend. Conc. Later. iv., sub Innoc. III. 6 Sitquealienus a diviniset pontificalibus officiis, qui noluit præceptisapostolicis ob- temperare.Greg. IV., Dist. xix. cap. 5. "And let him have nothing atall to do with divine and pontifical offices who would not obey apostolical precepts." Oportet autem gladium esse sub gladio, et temporalemauthoritatem spirituali subjici potestati.Bonif. VIII., Extray. Com, i. 8, 1. But there must be a sword under a sword, and tem- poral authority subject to spiritual." Vide Mat. Paris.
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