230 CAUSES ACCOUNTING FOR THE GROWTH OF THE PAPACY. " If," says he, t0 any of the saints in an epistle honour the pope, shall he take that as importing privileges ? "' 9. Good men commonly, out of charitable simplicity, meekness, modesty, andhumility, loveof peace, and averseness from contention, are apt to yield to the encroachments of those who any wise excel them; and when such men yield, others are ready to follow their example. Bad men have little interest to resist, and no heart to stand for public good; but rather strike in presently, taking advan- tage by their compliance to drive a good market for themselves. Hence so many of all sorts, in all times, complied with popes, or did not obstruct them, suffering them without great obstacle to raise their power. 10. If, in such cases, a few wise men apprehend the consequences of things, yet they can do little to prevent them. They seldom have the courage with sufficient zeal to bustle against encroachments, fearing to be overborne by its stream, to lose their labour, and vainly to suffer by it. If they offer at resistance, it is usually faint andmo- derate ; whereas power acts vigorously, and pushes itself forward with mighty violence, so that it is not only difficult to check it, but dangerous to oppose it. Ambiguity ofwords, as it causes many debates, so it yields much advantage to the foundation and amplification of power;' for what- ever is said of it will be interpreted in favour of it, and will afford colour to its pretences. Words innocently or carelessly used are, by interpretation, extended to signifygreat matters, or what you please. For instance: The word bishop may import any kind of superintendency or in- spection. Hence, St Petercame to be reckoned bishop of Rome, be- cause, in virtue of his apostolical office, he had inspection over that , church founded by him, and might exercise some episcopal acts. The word head signifies any kind of eminency;' the wordprince, any priority; the word to preside, any kind of superiority or pre- eminence. Hence, some fathers attributing those names to St Peter, they are interpreted to have thought him sovereign in power over the apostles. And because some gave like terms to the pope, they infer his superiority in power over all bishops, notwithstanding such fathers expressed a contrary judgment. The word successor may import any derivation of power. Hence, because St Peter is said to have founded the church of Rome, and to haveordained the first bishop there, thepope is called his successor. ' Mvíams, One), 4ÌÇ QGIv áyimv iv iaroroxfi Tgcä cáv 'loan, wai iveXclßn roúro dvrl apvo- fclon. Syn. Flor., sess. xxv. p. 848. 2 Ita de vocabulorum occasionibus plurimum quaestiones subornantur, sieut et de verborum in communionibus.Tertull. de Recur. Cam. liv. 3 Rai ñyaïoAai wipalñv.Can. _Apost. xxxiv.
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