Ye say, This Custom hath long sithence been discontinued: And in one age the Pope may acknowledge the Emperor, as the Lord of the Land, where he dwelleth: and in an other age he may be Lord thereof him self. That is to say, In one age the Pope may be subject to the Emperor: and in an other age the Emperor may be subject to the Pope. This is your whole, and only reason. Thus, we see, your obedience towards your Prince goeth not by God's Word, but only by Ages. Therefore we may say to you, as S. Hilary sometime said to y• Arian Heretiques, Fides temporum est,1 non Evangeliorum: Your Faith passeth by Ages, and not by Gospels. And yet it is written, Veritas Domini manet in Aeternum: The Truth of our Lord endureth (not for one age, or other, but) for Ever. It were a high point of Learning for an Astronomer skilfully to Prognosticate, between y• Emperor and the Pope, whether of them shoulde be Dominus Anni. How be it, here may I well and justly answer you with these words of S. Bernarde: Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit.2 Si omnis, & vestra. Quis vos excepit ab universitate? Si quis tentat Excipere, conatur Decipere. Noli illorum acquiescere consilijs: qui cùm sint Christiani, Christi tamen vel sequi facta, vel obsequi dictis probro ducunt. Ipsi sunt, qui vobis dicere solent, Seruate vestrae Sedis honorem, &c. Estis vos vestro Praedecessore impotentior? Si non crescit per vos, non decrescat per vos Hae illi. At Christus aliter jussit, & gessit. Reddite, inquit, quae sunt Caesaris, Caesari: & que sunt Dei, Deo: Let every soul be subject to y• Higher Powers. If every soul, then is your soul subject, as well as others. For (notwithstanding your Dignity) yet who hath excepted you from this generality? He that would except you from the Obedience of the Prince, seeketh to deceive you. Give no ear to their Counsels. For, notwithstanding they be Christians, yet they think it a shame, either to follow Christs deeds, or to obey Christs Words. They use to say unto you, ô sir, maintain the honour of your See, &c. Are not you so good, as your Predecessor? If your See be not advanced by you, yet let it not be abased by you. Thus say they. But Christ hath both taught, and wrought far otherwise. For he saith, Give to Caesar, that belongeth to Caesar: and give to God, that belongeth to God.
Ye saie, This Custome hath longe sithence benne discontinewed: And in one age the Pope maie acknowledge the Emperour, as the Lorde of the Land, where he dwelleth: and in an other age he maie be Lorde thereof him selfe. That is to saie, In one age the Pope maie be subiecte to the Emperoure: and in an other age the Emperoure maie be subiecte to the Pope. This is your whole, and onely reason. Thus, wée see, your obedience towardes your Prince goeth not by Goddes VVoorde, but onely by Ages. Therefore wée maie saie to you, as S. Hilarie sommetime saide to y• Arian Heretiques, Fides temporum est,1 non Euangeliorum: Your Faithe passeth by Ages, and not by Gospels. And yet it is written, Veritas Domini manet in Aeternum: The Truth of our Lorde endureth (not for one age, or other, but) for Euer. It were a highe pointe of Learning for an Astronomer skilfully to Prognosticate, betwéene y• Emperour and the Pope, whether of them shoulde be Dominus Anni. How be it, here maie I wel and iustly answeare you with these woordes of S. Bernarde: Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit.2 Si omnis, & vestra. Quis vos excepit ab vniuersitate? Si quis tentat Excipere, conatur Decipere. Noli illorum acquiescere consilijs: qui cùm sint Christiani, Christi tamen vel sequi facta, vel obsequi dictis probro ducunt. Ipsi sunt, qui vobis dicere solent, Seruate vestrae Sedis honorem, &c. Estis vos vestro Praedecessore impotentior? Si non crescit per vos, non decrescat per vos Hae illi. At Christus aliter iussit, & gessit. Reddite, inquit, quae sunt Caesaris, Caesari: & que sunt Dei, Deo: Let euery soule be subiecte to y• Higher Powers. If euery soule, then is your soule subiecte, as wel as others. For (notwithstanding your Dignitie) yet who hath excepted you from this generalitie? He that would excepte you from the Obedience of the Prince, seeketh to deceiue you. Geue no eare to theire Counselles. For, notwithstandinge they be Christians, yet they thinke it a shame, either to folow Christes deedes, or to obeie Christes Woordes. They vse to saie vnto you, ô sir, mainteine the honoure of your See, &c. Are not you so good, as youre Predecessoure? If your See be not auaunced by you, yet let it not be abased by you. Thus saie they. But Christe hath bothe taught, and wrought far otherwise. For he saithe, Geeue to Caesar, that belongeth to Caesar: and geeue to God, that belongeth to God.
- 1Hilarius ad Constantium Impera. Psal. 116.
- 2Bernar. Epist. 42. ad Archiepisco. Senonens.
