190 PAPAL AGGRESSION CONDEMNED. It is fit that every prince should in all things govern all his sub- jects, and none should be exempted from subordination to his autho- rity: as philosophers and physicians of thebody, so priests and physi- cians of the soul ;* not in exercising their function, but in taking care that they exercise it duly, for the honour of God, and in consistence withpublic good, otherwisemanygrievous inconveniences must ensue. It is of perilous consequence, that foreigners should have authori- tative influence upon the subjects of any prince, or have power to intermeddle in affairs. Princes have a natural right to determine with whom their sub- jects shall have intercourse; which is inconsistent with a right of foreigners to govern a° judge them in any case without their leave. Every prince is obliged to employ the power intrusted to him to the furtheranceof God's service and encouragement of all good works, as a supreme power, without being liable to obstruction from any other power. Itwould irritate(- his powerif anothershould be beyondhis coercion. It is observable that the pope, by intermeddling in the affairs of kingdoms, did so wind himself into them as to get a pretence to be master of each, princes being his vassals and feudatories.' 11. Such an authority is needless and useless, it not serving the ends which it pretends, and they being better compassed without it. It pretends to maintain truth; but, indeed, it is more apt to op- press it. Truth is rather, as St Cyprian wisely observes, preserved by the multitude of bishops, whereof some will be ready to relieve it when assaulted by others. Truth cannot, be supported merely by human authority; especially that authority is to be suspected which pretends dominion over our minds. What controversy, being doubtful in itself, will not after his decision continue doubtful? His sentence may be eluded by inter- pretation, as well as other testimonies or authorities. * That is, priests, who are the physiciansof the soul, shouldnot be exempted from the jurisdiction of the prince, any more than philosophers or physiciansof the body. En. f Irritate, that is, render null and void; an obsolete use of the word, derived from the Latin, irritum reddere. En. Vid. Bod. de Rep. i. 9, p. 195. Car les princes Chrétiens avoient presque tous opinion, que le papeétoit absolument seigneur souverain de tous les royaumes de la Chrétienté. [" ForChristian princes had almost all the opinion, that the popewas then absolutely sovereign lord of all the kingdoms of Christendom. "] Bod., ibid. p. 196. Tort. Tort., p. 216, &c.; Greg. VII, Ep. i., vii., ii., xiii.; Alex. II., Ep. viii. `H T,,uíTn $raruvía zai fcáxn ev ix'v),vwa yiveTar, Éhvví -bi fvìv TO; Ku íßv ñf<a"v I. X. araav- xaiíaç &Qre,afcévov, aoyrcpv ìÇ a6 Tivccç xai öyouç iaíouç éwarxoëwros i aii,rríaç, xai fcäx .,, apxery &,r' [vavTíaç evi Ku¡iov, é äpcvAar úa.ó TO; Kv»íov ß, X,,uévev. Bas. d3 Jud. Dei. tom. ii. p. 259. " So great a dissonance and jarring there is among men in thechurch, while every one swerves from the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, and asserts cer- tain conceits and rules of his own by his own authority, and had rather rule contrary to the Lord thanbe ruled by the Lord."
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