THE SECOND PART, WHETHER THE PRINCE haue power ouer Ecclesiasticall goods.
The Papists.
THe goods of the Clergie both secular and Ecclesiasticall, are and ought to [error 99] be exempted from paying tribute to Princes; yet they haue not this libertie, say they, by the Lawe of God, but by the grant of Princes themselues, Rhemist. annot. Rom. 13. sect. 5. Bellarm. de Clericis. cap. 28.
Genes. 47.22. & 27. The lands of the Priests were exempted from paying tribute: Ergo, it seemeth that this custome is grounded vpon the law of nature, Bellarm.
Ans. First, the Hebrew word signifieth rather Presidents, such as were the Kings officers, not Priests, as Tremellius sheweth: who were maintained by the Kings prouision, being officers of his houshold: for Genes. 41.45. Ioseph is sayd to marrie the daughter of Potyphar prince, not priest of On. The same word Co∣hen is there vsed: for it is not like that Ioseph would match himselfe with an ido∣latrous priests daughter. Secondly, but be it granted, this was but a politike con∣stitution for that coūtrey: other Princes are not bound to Pharao his law. Third∣ly, they gaine nothing by this, but that it is an humane constitution.
The Protestants.
THat Princes haue authoritie to punish Ecclesiasticall persons offending in their goods; either by displacing them, or by conuerting the Church posses∣sions by them abused, to better vses, we haue shewed before, Contr. 5. quest. 6. part. 1. And that their goods ought to pay tribute, subsidie, taxe, vnto the prince, thus now it is proued.
1 Our Sauiour Christ paied poll money, Math. 17.25. Rom. 13. Euery soule Page 268 ought to be subiect to the higher powers, and there vers. 5. paying of tribute is made a part of subiection: the argument therefore thus followeth: Clergie men are subiect to Princes, therefore they ought to pay tribute.
2 Ex concessis, we reason thus from their owne confession: That which Prin∣ces gaue to the Church, vpon good cause they may take away: but this immuni∣tie, not to pay tribute, was first granted, as they confesse, to the Church, by Kings and Princes: Ergo, they haue the same right, hauing iust occasion, to take it from them againe. What Augustines iudgement is, we haue seene in the place be∣fore alleadged.
