The new politick lights of modern Romes church-government: or The new Gospel according to Cardinal Palavicini revealed by him in his history of the Council of Trent. Englished out of French.

ARTICLE V. For to know well the Common Good which Jesus Christ had in view, a man should judge thereof by the Doctrine of Aristotle, and other wise Heathens. Luther's Heresie had never happened but through his slighting of Aristotle.

IF Jesus Christ had taken for the End of his Policy, only the common Good after the Spirit, and not according to the Flesh, and temporal Convenience, with∣out doubt it would not have been safe to consult Aristotle and the wise Heathens, to know the Nature of that common Good which Jesus Christ had in view, and the Qualities thereof; but Jesus Christ having it in view to fit up the Government of his Church on humane Felicity, whereof it is capable in the judgment of the world∣ly wise, 'tis not possible that he should teach contrary to the Teachings of Aristo∣tle and the Heathen Sages,* 1.1 come si la chiesa di Christo predicasse ch' e contrario non dico à l'insegnamenti d'Aristotele mà d'ogni tolerabil'republica de' gentili. Jesus Christ was the Wisdom Incarnate, the Source of all true Wisdom, be it never so Paganish; so then he did establish the Government of the Church the best that could be, in the

judgment of the worldly wise, though Pa∣gans. He never prescribed her a Govern∣ment to be changed for a better; for can any body be perswaded that Jesus Christ did form a Government that was not the best of all?* 1.2 dovremo noi persuadere che la sapienza incarnata istituisse la sua chiesa con un governo il qual non fosse de' megliori? To judge then what's the Government that Je∣sus Christ established, one needs only to judge what is the best of all Governments according to those that be Sages of this World; for one Wisdom never opposes another Wisdom; the Fountain is no ene∣my to its own Streams. The Philosophers were Sages according to Sense, according to Flesh, according to humane Reason; thereafter they knew the common humane Good, and what was best for Common-wealths; it is not possible then that Jesus Christ having the same Good in view, should lesson us contrary to the Teachings of the Philosophers.

And in effect, there is no doubt but if Plato and Aristotle lived in our dayes, they would experience that there was never Com∣monwealth more civil, more politick, bet∣ter improved, more noble, and more virtu∣ous than the Catholick;* 1.3 se Platone ò Aristo∣tele vivessero à nostri giorni esperimentassero che nessuna Republiqua è ò fù maì più culta, più nobile, più virtuosa, che la ••atolica.

It follows then, that the common Good of the Church considered according to the

Flesh, hath nothing that is contrary, and which is not extreamly conform to the Pub∣lick Good, such as the Philosophers set it forth. All the Difficulty that they had in their times, was to find out means to esta∣blish that publick Good, and to make it practicable; and this is that which Jesus Christ hath done in a manner, which the Philosopher would have been very capable of, and very much satisfied with.

It chanced that Luther, not being willing in his Doctrine and Practice, to follow the Maxims of Aristotle, slighting that Philoso∣pher, through that slight, his Heresie gain∣ed ground; which, as it was contrary to the Principles of Aristotle, so did Luther en∣deavour to destroy the reputation of that Prince of Philosophers;* 1.4 mà perche sì fatta doctrina appariva contraria à principii della retta filosofia insegnatasi da Aristotele, procu∣rò d'estinguer la stima di questo filosofo come d'huomo che scrivesse molti errori contro alla fede.

Slighting of Aristotle, hath also caused, that Luther's Sect never had any Writers of a much elevated Genius,* 1.5 il disprezzo à' Aristotele fece che frà sui sequaci appena può annoverarsi scrittori di relevato intendimento: Those Hereticks laught at that Philosophers Arguments so full of Learning, reducing all they taught, to the understanding of the Greek and Hebrew Tongues,* 1.6 ridendosi degli argomenti scietifici, & diquanto insegnavo A∣ristotele

il tutto reducevano all'intendimento della lingua greca & dell'ebrea.

Carlstad cursed Aristotle, whose Doctrine, said he, corrupted Divinity,* 1.7 Carlostadio ma∣lediceva Aristotele, la cui dottrina havesse co∣rotta la Teologia, and as for Luther, he plot∣ted to ruine that Philosophers Reputation, machinava d'abattere Aristotele nella filosofia.* 1.8 Here was that then which destroyed them, they did not know how to piece the Policy of Jesus Christ and that of Aristotle toge∣ther; for at last, let them say what they will, it is certain that if Aristotle had not writ, and so taught the Church to distin∣guish well, she would have lacked at this day a many Articles of Faith, for which she is beholden to that Prince of Philosophers, di ciò sidovevain gran parte l'obligazione ad Aristotele,* 1.9 id quale sè non si fosse adoperato in distinguer accuratamente i generi delle ragioni, noi mancavamo di molti articoli di fede: Paul Soave thinks Aristotle to be jeered by this Discourse; but our Cardinal-Historian doth indeed approve of Aristotle, and not jeer him, and makes the Truths of Aristotle ad∣mirably to appear.

Notes

• * 1.1

  l. 7. c. 9.
• * 1.2

  l. 8. c. 7.
• * 1.3

  l. 12. c. 3.
• * 1.4

  l. 1. c. 8.
• * 1.5

  l. 1. c. 17.
• * 1.6

  l. 1. c. 23.
• * 1.7

  l. 3. c. 13.
• * 1.8

  l. 1. c. 3.
• * 1.9

  l. 8. c. 19.