Leviathan

in their own Right, though they call it Gods Right, is but Usurpation.



CHAPTER XLVII

OF THE BENEFIT THAT PROCEEDETH FROM SUCH DARKNESSE,
AND TO WHOM IT ACCREWETH


He That Receiveth Benefit By A Fact,
Is Presumed To Be The Author
Cicero maketh honorable mention of one of the Cassii, a severe Judge
amongst the Romans, for a custome he had, in Criminal causes,
(when the testimony of the witnesses was not sufficient,)
to ask the Accusers, Cui Bono; that is to say, what Profit, Honor,
or other Contentment, the accused obtained, or expected by the Fact.
For amongst Praesumptions, there is none that so evidently declareth
the Author, as doth the BENEFIT of the Action.  By the same rule
I intend in this place to examine, who they may be, that have
possessed the People so long in this part of Christendome,
with these Doctrines, contrary to the Peaceable Societies of Mankind.

That The Church Militant Is The Kingdome Of God,
Was First Taught By The Church Of Rome
And first, to this Error, That The Present Church Now Militant On Earth,
Is The Kingdome Of God, (that is, the Kingdome of Glory, or the Land
of Promise; not the Kingdome of Grace, which is but a Promise
of the Land,) are annexed these worldly Benefits, First, that the Pastors,
and Teachers of the Church, are entitled thereby, as Gods Publique
Ministers, to a Right of Governing the Church; and consequently
(because the Church, and Common-wealth are the same Persons)
to be Rectors, and Governours of the Common-wealth.  By this title it is,
that the Pope prevailed with the subjects of all Christian Princes,
to beleeve, that to disobey him, was to disobey Christ himselfe;
and in all differences between him and other Princes, (charmed with
the word Power Spirituall,) to abandon their lawfull Soveraigns;
which is in effect an universall Monarchy over all Christendome.
For though they were first invested in the right of being Supreme
Teachers of Christian Doctrine, by, and under Christian Emperors,
within the limits of the Romane Empire (as is acknowledged
by themselves) by the title of Pontifex Maximus, who was an Officer
subject to the Civill State; yet after the Empire was divided,
and dissolved, it was not hard to obtrude upon the people already
subject to them, another Title, namely, the Right of St. Peter;
not onely to save entire their pretended Power; but also to extend
the same over the same Christian Provinces, though no more united
in the Empire of Rome.  This Benefit of an Universall Monarchy,
(considering the desire of men to bear Rule) is a sufficient Presumption,
that the popes that pretended to it, and for a long time enjoyed it,
were the Authors of the Doctrine, by which it was obtained; namely,
that the Church now on Earth, is the Kingdome of Christ.
For that granted, it must be understood, that Christ hath some Lieutenant
amongst us, by whom we are to be told what are his Commandements.

After that certain Churches had renounced this universall Power
of the Pope, one would expect in reason, that the Civill Soveraigns
in all those Churches, should have recovered so much of it, as
(before they had unadvisedly let it goe) was their own Right,
and in their own hands.  And in England it was so in effect;
saving that they, by whom the Kings administred the Government
of Religion, by maintaining their imployment to be in Gods Right,
seemed to usurp, if not a Supremacy, yet an Independency on the
Civill Power: and they but seemed to usurp it, in as much as they
acknowledged a Right in the King, to deprive them of the Exercise
of their Functions at his pleasure.

And Maintained Also By The Presbytery
But in those places where the Presbytery took that Office,
though many other Doctrines of the Church of Rome were forbidden
to be taught; yet this Doctrine, that the Kingdome of Christ
is already come, and that it began at the Resurrection of our Saviour,
was still retained.  But Cui Bono? What Profit did they expect from it?
The same which the Popes expected: to have a Soveraign Power
over the People.  For what is it for men to excommunicate
their lawful King, but to keep him from all places of Gods
publique Service in his own Kingdom? and with force to resist him,
when he with force endeavoureth to correct them? Or what is it,
without Authority from the Civill Soveraign, to excommunicate any person,
but to take from him his Lawfull Liberty, that is, to usurpe an unlawfull
Power over their Brethren? The Authors therefore of this Darknesse
in Religion, are the Romane, and the Presbyterian Clergy.

Infallibility
To this head, I referre also all those Doctrines, that serve them
to keep the possession of this spirituall Soveraignty after it is gotten.
As first, that the Pope In His Publique Capacity Cannot Erre.
For who is there, that beleeving this to be true, will not readily
obey him in whatsoever he commands?

Subjection Of Bishops
Secondly, that all other Bishops, in what Common-wealth soever,
have not their Right, neither immediately from God, nor mediately
from their Civill Soveraigns, but from the Pope, is a Doctrine,
by which there comes to be in every Christian Common-wealth
many potent men, (for so are Bishops,) that have their dependance
on the Pope, and owe obedience to him, though he be a forraign Prince;
by which means he is able, (as he hath done many times) to raise
a Civill War against the State that submits not it self to be governed
according to his pleasure and Interest.