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Of those incomparable riches the Blessed are not onely to be Lords but Kings, as appears in many pla∣ces of holy Scripture. Neither is the Celestial Treasure ••or this Kingdom of Heaven less or poorer by having so many Lords and Kings. It is not like the King∣doms on Earthy; which permit but one King at once,
and if divided become of less power and Majesty; but is of such condition, that it is wholly possessed by all in general, and by each one in particular, like the Sun which warms all and every one, and not one less, because it warms many. The effects of riches are much greater and more noble in Heaven, than they can be up∣on Earth. Wealth may serve us here to maintain our power, honours, and delights: but all the Gold in the world cannot free us from weakness, infamy, and pain. The power of a rich King can reach no further than to Command his Vassals; and those who disobey him he may either chastise with imprisonment or death, and is therefore fear'd and respected by them. But all this power is invalid without the assistance of his Subjects. For what will it avail a Prince to command such a City to be defended, if the Souldiers within have a minde to deliver it? And therefore a certain Jester of Philip the Second King of Spain demanded of him, If all should say No unto what your Majesty commands, what was to be done? giving him to understand that his power depends upon others. The power of a Mo∣narch depends not onely upon the will of his Subjects, but the Walls of his Fortresses, Arms, Instruments of Warre, and many other things; so as the people de∣pend onely upon one man, which is the Prince: but the Prince upon many men and matters, in so much as many rich Kings have been seen without power, as Craesus, Andronicus, and others, who were not able to de∣fend themselves with all their riches from their own Vassals. Witness Domitian, Commodus, Heliogabolus and Julius Caesar. But the power of the Blessed depends of no other power nor man;* 1.1 which, as St. Anselm sayes, shall be so great, as no force or resistance shall with∣stand it. It a Saint have a mind to remove a Moun∣tain from one place to another, he shall do it with as much ease, as we remove our eyes from one part unto another. Neither is this a wonder. For even the faith∣ful in this life according to the promise of Christ have
done it, as is written of St. Gregorius Thaumaturgus, and some others. And if Angels, nay Devils have this power, the Blessed shall not be denyed it. Concern∣ing honour, the richest Princes can onely make their Vassals to adore them upon the knee, and do them o∣ther outward reverence, but cannot hinder them from murmuring in their absence, or from observing their actions, and interpreting them as they please. They have many flatterers, which praise them with their tongues, and scorn them in their hearts; and for the most part they are farre fewer, who praise, than despise them; for there are but few, who discourse with them, but many who discourse of them; and therefore few who praise them in presence, and many who censure them in absence. Concerning pleasures, it is true that Princes are not content with ordinary delights, and therefore provide themselves of magnificent Shews, costly Recreations, exquisite Comedies, pleasant Gar∣dens, Woods for hunting, and are all cloathed splen∣didly. But none of those can make a Calenture not to afflict them, or that the pains of the head, stomack, or gout do not molest them, or that cares and fears do not break their sleep.
No gold or money can secure the goods of this World, or free them from imperfections. This onely is to be had in Heaven, where their power is so free from weakness, that one onely Angel without Army, Guns, Swords,* 1.2 or Lance could destroy at once 180000 men. with what speed and facility do Saints succour their devotes, who invoke them, without impediment either from the distance of place, or hinderance from the violence of Tyrants? How compleat then shall be the honor of the Blessed, since even the Devils shall reverence them? Nay even now many who despised them living, seeing the many miracles, which God hath wrought by their intercession, have honoured them after death. The pleasures also are pure and true, without mixture of pain or grief, as we shall see in the
proper places. Besides, it is to be considered that the great riches of the Saints are not like those of the Kings of the Earth, drawn from the tributes imposed upon their Vassals, which though just, yet are not free from this ill condition, that what enricheth the Prince impoverisheth the Subject. The riches in Heaven have no such blemishes; they are burthensome to none; and what is given to the Servants of Christ who raigns in Heaven, is not taken from any.
Ansel de Simil. c. 52.
4 Reg. 19.