2. Treason. It is the honour of our Church of En∣gland, that it asserts the Rights of Princes so clearly and fully, without tricks and reservations; and all that mean honestly, love to speak plainly. But how many cases have they in the Church of Rome, wherein men are acquitted from their duty from their Princes? If a Toy comes into the Popes head, or upon some Pique or jealousie, he falls to the censures of the Church, & excommunicates a
A sermon preached November V, 1673, at St. Margarets Westminst by Edward Stillingfleet ...
About this Item
- Title
- A sermon preached November V, 1673, at St. Margarets Westminst by Edward Stillingfleet ...
- Author
- Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
- Publication
- London :: Printed by Robert White, for Henry Mortlock ...,
- 1674.
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- Subject terms
- Bible. -- N.T. -- Matthew VII, 15-16 -- Sermons.
- Sermons, English -- 17th century.
- Link to this Item
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61606.0001.001
- Cite this Item
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"A sermon preached November V, 1673, at St. Margarets Westminst by Edward Stillingfleet ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61606.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 22, 2025.
Pages
Page 40
Prince: what a case is this poor Prince in as to all those Subjects that think themselves bound to obey the Pope? They may lawfully in their own opinion rise against him, fight with him, assassinate and murder him. And which is very observable, all this while they are not bound to believe the Pope infallible in these censures; so that right or wrong, if a Prince chance to fall un∣der the Popes censures, we see what a liberty is left to all his creatures to ruine and destroy their Soveraign? The frequent attempts upon Q. Eliza∣beth, the murder of Henry the Third of France after their excommunications by Pius the Fifth, and Sixtus the Fifth, are sufficient evidences of the dan∣ger of Princes in these cases. By which last in∣stance, we see it is not only the case of Heresie, which renders them obnoxious to the Popes cen∣sures; but particular piques and quarrells; or if the Pope chance to think a man unfit to govern, as in the case of Chilperic of France; or if they detain Church-land, belonging to Monasteries, in which case Becanus saith expresly,* 1.1 Kings and Princes are to be excommunicated and deprived: and Pope Paul the Fourth was perfectly of his opinion; and de∣clared, They were in a state of damnation that held them But so far some of them, are kind to Princes to say,* 1.2 That they ought not to be deposed, till they are ex∣communicated; and yet Gregory the seventh before excommunication deprived the Emperour Henry
Page 41
the Fourth for the damnable Heresie, of defending his own Rights. But since they are lyable to these horrible censures upon so many causes, we may see how very ticklish and uncertain the doctrine of Obedience must be among them, and that mens being guilty of Treason depends upon the Popes pleasure. And methinks, herein the case of Princes deserves hugely to be pittyed, that when no man thinks it lawful to cut another mans throat, or put him out of his house and estate, because he is ex∣communicated; yet if a Prince falls under ex∣communication, he loses presently his right to the Crown, and his Subjects may take away Crown, liberty, and life from him.
Notes
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* 1.1
Becan. cont. Angl. p. 127.
-
* 1.2
History of the Council of Trent, l. 5. n. 392.