CAUSES ACCOUNTING FOR THE GROWTH OF THE PAPACY. 231: The word authority often imports any kind of influence upon the opinions or actions of men, grounded upon eminence of place, worth, reputation, or any such advantage. Hence, because the pope of old sometimes was desired to interpose his authority, theywill under- stand him to have had right to command orjudge in such cases:' although authority is sometimes opposed to command ; as where Livy says, that " Evander held those places by authority rather than by command; "' and Tacitus of the German princes says, " They are heard rather according to their authority of persuading than power of commanding."' " The word judge," says Canus, " is frequently used to signify no more than, ` I think or conceive;' "4 whereby he excuses divers popes from having decreed a notable error: for Alex- ander III. says of them, " That they judged that after a matrimony contracted, not consummated, another may be valid, that being dissolved." Yet if the pope is said to have judged so or so in any case, it is alleged for a certain argument of proper jurisdic- tion. 11. There is a strange enchantment in words, which, being as- sumed, although with no great colour of reason, work on the fancies of men, especially of the weaker sort. Of these power always arro- gates to itself such as are most operative, by their force sustaining and extending itself. So divers prevalent factions assumed to themselves the name of Catholic; and the Roman church particularly has appropriated that word to itself, even so as to commit a bull, implying Rome and the universe to be the sameplace. And theperpetual cantingof this term has been one of its most effectual charms to weak people : " I am a Catholic," that is, a Universal; "therefore all I hold is true." This is their great argument. The words, successor of Peter, apostolic see, prima sedes, have been strongly urged for arguments of papal authority; which have, beyond their true force (for, indeed, they signify nothing), had a strange efficacy upon men of understanding and wisdom. 12. The pope's power was much amplified by the importunity of persons condemned or extruded from their places, whether upon just accounts, or wrongfully and by faction: for they, finding no other more hopeful place of refuge and redress, often applied to i Quia duobus episcopis, quorum ea tempestate summa authoritas erat non illuserat, 8/0.-824. Sev. ii. 63. " Because he had not deluded the two bishops who had the greatest authority in those times." Non mediocris authoritatis episcopus Carthag. Aug., Ep. claü. " The bishop of Carthage was of no mean authority." 2 Evander ... ea authoritate magis quam imperio retinebat loca. Liv. i. 3 - audiuntur authoritate suadendi potius quam jubendi potestate.Tac. de Mor. Ger., p. 640. + Verbum judico frequenter in ea significatione usurpatur, ut idem sit quod sentio suo opiner. Can., loc. vi. cap. 8 (Comp. Ib. vi. 1.)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=