INCONVENIENCE AND INEXPEDIENCY OF ROMISH UNITY. 405 tain it; but did at first, and [still] may, subsist without any such means.' I do not say that an ecclesiastical society may not lawfully, for its support, use power, policy, wealth, in some measure, to uphold or defend itself; but that a constitution needing such things is not divine, or that, so far as it uses them, it is no more than human. Thus, in effect, we see that it has succeeded, from the pretence of this unity; which has indeed transformed the church into a mere worldly state, wherein the monarch beareth the garb of an emperor, in external splendour surpassing all worldly princes, crowned with a triple crown.' He assumes the most haughty titles of " Our most holy Lord," "The Vicar general of Christ," &c.; and he suffers men to call him " The Monarch of Kings," &c. He has respects paid him like to which no potentate assumes, having his feet kissed, riding upon the backs of men, letting princes hold his stirrup and lead his horse.' He has a court, and is attended with a train of courtiers surpass- ing in state and claiming precedence to the peers of any kingdom.` He is encompassed with armed guards,Switzers. He has a vast revenue, supplied by tributes and imposts sore and grievous, the exaction of which has made divers nations of Christen- dom to groan most lamentably. He has raised numberless wars and commotions for the promotion and advancement of his interests. He administers things with all depth of policy to advance his de- signs. He has enacted volumes of laws and decrees, to which obedience is exacted with rigour and forcible constraint.' He draws grist from all parts to his courts of judgment, wherein all formalities of suspense, all the tricks of squeezing money, &c., are practised, to the great trouble and charge of parties concerned. Briefly, it is plain that he exercises the proudest, mightiest, subtlest domination that ever was over Christians.' 8. The union of the whole church in one body, under one govern- ment or sovereign authority, would be inconvenient and hurtful, ' Omnis pulchritudo ß1iæ regis intrinsecus.Aug. Ep. ]xviii. 2 One crown doth serve an emperor, but he must have a triple: to kiss the hands of a king is a sufficient respect, but you cannot salute him without kissing "his blessed feet." 8 That which Seneca did take for apiece of enormous pride in Caligula. DeBenef. ii. 12. Carden. vid. Uss. p. 103. Sub mortali. He imposes rigorous oaths of fealty and obedience. e Exaltatio, ;et inflatio, et arrogans ac superba jactatio, non de Christi magisterio, qui humilitatem docet, sed de Antichristi spiritu nascitur.Cypr., Ep. lv. ad P. Cored.
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