234 CAUSES ACCOUNTING FOR THE GROWTH OFTHE PAPACY. Such edicts, by crafty suggestions, being at opportune times from easy and unwary princes procured, held, not being easily reversed; and the power which the pope once had obtained by them he would never part with, fortifying it by higher pretences of divine immut- able right.' The Emperor Gratian, having got the world under him, ordered the churches to choose who would communicate with Pope Damasus.' This, and the like countenances, brought credit and authority to the Roman see. 15. It is, therefore, no wonder that popes, being seated in the metropolis of the western empire, the head of all the Roman state, should find interest sufficient to make themselves, by degrees, what they would be; for they not only surpassing the provincial bishops in wealth and repute, but having power in court, who dared to pull a feather with them, or to withstand their encroachments? What wise man would not rather bear much than contest upon such dis- advantages, and without probable grounds of success? 16. Princes who favoured themwith such concessions, and abetted their undertakings, did not foresee what such increase of power in time would arise to, or suspect the prejudice thence done to imperial authority. They little thought that, in virtue thereof, popes would check and mate princes, or would claim superiority over them; for the popes at that time behaved' and expressed themselves with modesty and respect to emperors. 17. Power once rooted finds seasons and favourable junctures for its growth, which it will be intent to embrace. The confusions of things, the irruptions of barbarians, the straits of emperors, the contentions of princes, &c., all turned to account for him; and in the confusion of things, he snatched what he could to himself. The declination and infirmity of the Roman empire gave him op- portunity to strengthen his interests, either by closing with it, so as to gain somewhat by its concession, or by opposing it, so as to head a faction against it. As he often had opportunity to promote the designs of emperors and princes, so those returned to him increase of authority; so they trucked and bartered together. For when princes were in straits, or needed assistance (from his reputation at home) to the furtherance of their designs, or support of their interest in Italy, they were content to honour him and grant what he desired; as in the case of Acacius, which had caused so longa breach, theemperor, to engage Pope Hormisdas, consented to his will. And at the Flo- rentine synod, the emperor bowed to the pope's terms, in hopes to get his assistance against the Turks. ' P. Nic. I.. Ep. xxxvi. 2 Theod. v. 2.
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