178 THE INEVITABLETYRANNY OF THE POPEDOM. can there be, than that all God's people, that " free people," who are " called to freedom," should be subject to so intolerable a yoke and miserable a slavery? Gal. v. 1, 13; 1 Pet. ii. 16. That tyranny soon had crept into the Roman church Socrates tells us.' They have rendered true that definition of Scioppius: " The church is a stall, or herd, or multitude ofbeasts or asses."' "They bridle us, theyharness us, they spur us, they lay yokes and laws upon us."3 The greatest tyranny that ever was invented in the world is the pretenceof infallibility: for Dionysius and Phalaris left the mind free, pretending only to dispose of body and goods according to their will; but the pope, not content to make us do and say what he pleases, will have us also to think so, denouncing his imprecations and spiritual menaces if we do not. 3. Such an authoritywill inevitably producea depravation ofChris- tian doctrine, by distorting it in accommodation ofit to the promot- ing its designsand interests. Itwill blend Christianity withworldly notions and policies. It certainly will introduce new doctrines, and interpret the old ones so as may serve to the advancement of the power, reputation, pomp, wealth, and pleasure of those who manage it, and of their de- pendants. That which is called xavr,insús,v ròv XGyov ro "u (NO, [to corrupt the word of God,] 2 Cor. ii. 17, to make a trade of religion, will be the great work of the teachers of the church. It will turn all divines into mercenary, slavish, designing flatterers.' This we see come to pass, Christianity, by the papal influence, be- ing from its original simplicity transformed into quite another thing than it was; from a divine philosophy, designed to improve the rea- son, to moderate the passions, to correct the manners of men, to pre- pare men for conversation with God and angels, modelled to a system of politic devices, of notions, of precepts, of rites, serving to exalt and enrich the pope, with his court and adherents, clients and vassals. What doctrine of Christian theology, as it is interpreted by their schools, has not a direct aspect, or does not squint that way? espe- ' Papa occupavit omniajura inferiorum eeclesiarum, ita quod inferiores prselati sunt pro nihilo. Card. Zab. de Sch. Innoc. VII., p. 560. "The pope has invaded all the rights of inferior churches, so that all inferior prelates are nothing set by." 2 Ecclesia est mandra sive grex aut multitudo jumentorum sive asinorum.Eccf, cap. xlvii. 3 Illi nos franant, nos lore alligant, nos stimulant, nobis jugum et onus imponunt. Ibid. 4 1 Tim. it 5, No¡.446Yrwv vrapicrpáv 1Ì,a, Pry, EÚ'ífu,,v. "Supposing that gain is godli- ness." 'E, mpopies, al.so,st as, 1 Thess. ii. 5. A cloak of covetousness." xu6s;a, Eph. iv. 14. " The sleight of men."
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