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the commonwealth of oceana-第66章

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 trophies against the purple hosts and golden standards of the Romish hierarchy than any nation; and therefore why we should relinquish this upon the presumption of some; that because there is a greater light which they have; I do not know。 There is a greater light than the sun; but it does not extinguish the sun; nor does any light of God's giving extinguish that of nature; but increase and sanctify it。 Wherefore; neither the honor bore by the Israelitish; Roman; or any other commonwealth that I have shown; to their ecclesiastics; consisted in being governed by them; but in consulting them in matters of religion; upon whose responses or oracles they did afterward as they thought fit。     〃Nor would I be here mistaken; as if; by affirming the universities to be; in order both to religion and government; of absolute necessity; I declared them or the ministry in any wise fit to be trusted; so far as to exercise any power not derived from the civil magistrate in the administration of either。 if the Jewish religion were directed and established by Moses; it was directed and established by the civil magistrate; or if Moses exercised this administration as a prophet; the same prophet did invest with the same administration the Sanhedrim; and not the priests; and so does our commonwealth the Senate; and not the clergy。 They who had the supreme administration or government of the national religion in Athens; were the first Archon; the rex sacrificulus; or high…priest; and a polemarch; which magistrates were ordained or elected by the holding up of hands in the church; congregation; or comitia of the people。 The religion of Lacedaemon was governed by the kings; who were also high…priests; and officiated at the sacrifice; these had power to substitute their pythii; ambassadors; or nuncios; by which; not without concurrence of the Senate; they held intelligence with the oracle of Apollo at Delphos。 And the ecclesiastical part of the Commonwealth of Rome was governed by the pontifex maximus; the rex sacrificulus; and the Flamens; all ordained or elected by the people; the pontifex by the tribes; the King by the centuries; and the Flamens by the parishes。     〃I do not mind you of these things; as if; for the matter; there were any parallel to be drawn out of their superstitions to our religion; but to show that for the manner; ancient prudence is as well a rule in divine as human things; nay; and such a one as the apostles themselves; ordaining elders by the holding up of hands in every congregation; have exactly followed; for some of the congregations where they thus ordained elders were those of Antioch; Iconium; Lystra; Derbe; the countries of Lycaona; Pisidia; Pamphilia; Perga; with Attalia。 Now that these cities and countries; when the Romans propagated their empire into Asia; were found most of them commonwealths; and that many of the rest were endued with like power; so that the people living under the protection of the Roman emperors continued to elect their own magistrates; is so known a thing; that I wonder whence it is that men; quite contrary to the universal proof of these examples; will have ecclesiastical government to be necessarily distinct from civil power; when the right of the elders ordained by the holding up of hands in every congregation to teach the people; was plainly derived from the same civil power by which they ordained the rest of their magistrates。 And it is not otherwise in our commonwealth; where the parochial congregation elects or ordains its pastor。 To object the Commonwealth of Venice in this place; were to show us that it has been no otherwise but where the civil power has lost the liberty of her conscience by embracing popery; as also that to take away the liberty of conscience in this administration from the civil power; were a proceeding which has no other precedent than such as is popish。     〃Wherefore your religion is settled after the following manner: the universities are the seminaries of that part which is national; by which means others with all safety may be permitted to follow the liberty of their own consciences; in regard that; however they behave themselves; the ignorance of the unlearned in this case cannot lose your religion nor disturb your government; which otherwise it would most certainly do; and the universities with their emoluments; as also the benefices of the whole nation; are to be improved by such augmentations as may make a very decent and comfortable subsistence for the ministry; which is neither to be allowed synods nor assemblies; except upon the occasion shown in the universities; when they are consulted by the Council of State; and suffered to meddle with affairs of religion; nor to be capable of any other public preferment whatsoever; by which means the interest of the learned can never come to corrupt your religion; nor disturb your government; which otherwise it would most certainly do。 Venice; though she does not see; or cannot help the corruption of her religion; is yet so circumspect to avoid disturbance of her government in this kind; that her Council proceeds not to election of magistrates till it be proclaimed fora papalini; by which words such as have consanguinity with red hats; or relation to the Court of Rome; are warned to withdraw。     〃If a minister in Holland meddles with matter of state; the magistrate sends him a pair of shoes; whereupon; if he does not go; he is driven away from his charge。 I wonder why ministers; of all men; should be perpetually tampering with government; first because they; as well as others; have it in express charge to submit themselves to the ordinances of men; and secondly because these ordinances of men must go upon such political principles as they of all others; by anything that can be found in their writings or actions; least understand: whence you have the suffrage of all nations to this sense; that an ounce of wisdom is worth a pound of clergy。 Your greatest clerks are not your wisest men: and when some foul absurdity in state is committed; it is common with the French; and even the Italians; to call it 'pas de clerc;' or 'governo de prete。' They may bear with men that will be preaching without study; while they will be governing without prudence。 My lords; if you know not how to rule your clergy; you will most certainly; like a man that cannot rule his wife; have neither quiet at home nor honor abroad。 Their honest vocation is to teach your children at the schools and the universities; and the people in the parishes; and yours is concerned to see that they do not play the shrews; of which parts does consist the education of your commonwealth; so far as it regards religion。     〃To justice; or that part of it which is commonly executive; answers the education of the inns of court and chancery。 Upon which to philosophize; requires a public kind of learning that I have not。 But they who take upon them any profession proper to the educations mentioned  that is; theology; physic; or law  are not at leisure for the essays。 Wherefore the essays; being degrees whereby the youth commence for all magistracies; offices; and honors in the parish; hundred; tribe; Senate; or prerogative; divines; physicians; and lawyers not taking the
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