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 IV. The Third Errour of the Zealous Igno∣rants; That Antiquity ought to serve for a Rule to guide the present Church; This Errour comes from the Instinct of the Devil; 'tis a folly to believe, that what is Ancient is best; the an∣cient Laws were in the Churches In∣fancy.

THe Reverend Father Diego Lainer, in that Famous Discourse which he made in the Council of Trent, touching the Reformation of the Church,* 1.1 voto famoso, speaking of re-establishing Elections accor∣ding to the ancient manner practised in the Church, says, That they which would re∣new those Usages, and other like ancient Customs,* 1.2 were moved thereunto by the instinct of the Devil, Coloro che volev••no rinovare tali usi antichi muoversi per l'instin∣to del diavolo. That the French were instant

to have that old Usage re-established, but he doubted the miseries of that Kingdom were a chastisement from God upon that Nation, for having in some sort separated them∣selves since the time of the Council of Basil, dubitar egli de Francesi come di tali che forsè erano gastigati da Dio ne' presenti infortunii per qualche loro separazione fin dal tempo di Concilio di Basilea. Their Reason,* 1.3 quoth he, is, that it was wont to be thus done in the first Ages of the Church, so that those Elections ought to be brought into use again,* 1.4 vsaronsi per gli antichi tempi adunque deonsi rimettere in usu: And I, replies that Father, say the contrary; it hath been wont to be so used, therefore one ought not to set it up again, più tosto seguirne il contrario. This is the reason of it; since it was wont to be so used, it had never been left off, if there had not been inconveniences obser∣ved; in that Custom such there were obser∣ved to be in it, and for that reason it was left off,* 1.5 and by the same reason it ought not to be revived, percioche s'erano speri∣mentati loro inconvenienti e pero elle dimesse.

For why would the Church have quitted her ancient Customs of discipline, if she had not perceived that Discipline followed with inconveniencies? Is the World at this day less wise than it was at the begin∣ning; it would be a great folly to be∣lieve it.

'Tis in effect a great one, quoth this our Cardinal, to imagine that all that is

old is best,* 1.6 è gran' folia il credere che tutto l'antico fosse megliore del moderno. The Church had its Infancy,* 1.7 infanzia per così dire della chiesa, in that time she was little, and the number of the Faithful was not great, as since the believing persons are become,* 1.8 quan∣do il numero de' fedeli non era ancora ben cre∣sciuto. Now, that which is thought, and that which is done in Childhood, hath not the advantages that Age is wont for to bring; so that that which is ancient now, is but that which was thought and done when the World was but young, and as one may say,* 1.9 a Child; l'antico era pensato e fatto del mondo ancora moderno: but that which is new, is done and thought in the World's ripe and full-grown Age,* 1.10 e per contrario il moderno, del mondo già divenuto antico: So that it is an Errour which would fain set up again the ancient Cu∣stoms of the Church, and of her Disci∣pline, such as were in the Apostles times, and in the first Ages: 'Tis, as one may say, to make the Church fall back again into Childhood, nell'infanzia della chiesa. Now is there any man grown up to years, that would fain be for the Teat again, to live as he did when he was a Child?* 1.11 nè il giovane potrebbe tornare al vitto che usò bam∣bino. Is it not ridiculous then to think the same may be done in a Body Politick, as that of the Church is?* 1.12 così parimente accade ne' corpi politici. So that the pre∣sent Policy of the Church ought to be re∣gulated,

not upon that which the ancient Popes did heretofore, but upon that which in likelihood may be brought to pass in the present state wherein she is,* 1.13 misuriamo quel che può riuscire secondo il presente stato del Christianesimo, non quel che i Pontefici hanno fatto altre volte.

Notes

• * 1.1

  l. 18 c. 15.
• * 1.2

  l. 21. c. 6.
• * 1.3

  l. 21. c. 6.
• * 1.4

  Ibid.
• * 1.5

  Ibid.
• * 1.6

  l. 23. c. 10.
• * 1.7

  l. 8. c. 17.
• * 1.8

  Ibid.
• * 1.9

  l. 23. c. 10.
• * 1.10

  Ibid.
• * 1.11

  l. 1. c. 25.
• * 1.12

  Ibid.
• * 1.13

  l. 1. c. 25.