226 CAUSES ACCOUNTING FOR THE GROWTH OF THE PAPACY. and enlarge itself grows; it gaining more wealth, more friends, more associates and dependants. None can resist or obstruct its growth without danger and mani- fold disadvantages; for as its adherents are deemed loyal and faith- ful, so its opposers are branded with the imputations of rebellion, contumacy, disloyalty, and, not succeeding in their resistance, they will be undone. None ever enterprises more than to stop its career ; so that it sel- dom loses by opposition, and it ever gains by composition. If it be checked at one time, or in one place, it will, like the sea, at another season, in another point, break in. If it is sometimes overthrown in a battle, it is seldom conquered in the war. It is always on its march forward, and gains ground; for one en- croachment countenances the next, and is alleged for a precedent to' authorize or justify it. It seldom moves backward, for every suc- cessor thinks he may justly enjoy what his predecessor gained, or what is transmitted into his possession; so that there hardly can ever be any restitution of ill-gotten power. Thus have manyabsolute kingdoms grown: The first chief was a leader of volunteers; from thence he grew to be a prince with stated privileges; after, he became a monarch invested with high preroga- tives; in fine, he creeps forward to be a grand seignior, usurping ab- solute dominion. So Augustus Caesar first only assumed the style of prince of the senate, demeaning himself modestly as such; but he soon drew to himselfthe administration of all things, and upon that foundation his successors very suddenly erected a boundless power. Ifyou trace the footsteps of most empires to the beginning, you may perceive the like. So the pope, when he had got a little power, continually swelled it. The puny pretence of the succeeding St Peter, and the name of the apostolical see; the precedence, by reason of the imperial city; the honorary privileges allowed him by councils; the authority de- ferred to him by one synod of revising the causes of bishops; the countenance given to him in repressing some heresies, he improved to constitute himselfSovereign Lord of the Church. 3. Spiritual power especially is of a growing nature, and more especially that which derives from divine institution; for it has a great awe upon the hearts and consciences of men, which engages them to a firm and constant adherence. It uses the most subtile arms, which it has always ready, which needs no time nor cost to fur- nish, which cannot be extorted from its hand; so that it can never be disarmed. And its weapons make strong impression, because it pro- poses the most effectual encouragements to its abettors, and dis- couragements to its adversaries; alluring the one with promises of
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