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 VIII. The Council of Trent it self hath ac∣knowledged, That the way to govern the Church, is no longer that of Coun∣cils; and that the Laws which it made were submitted to a Superior Authority.

THe best one can say of the Council of Trent, is, That it had the Prudence to insert in its Decrees beginning and end∣ing, That it meant in all things, that the Authority of the Apostolick See should remain inviolate,* 1.1 salva in tutto l'autorità della Sede Apostolica. Wherefore, quoth our Cardinal, I will not quite blame the Fathers of that Council for Decreeing a∣gainst Plurality of Benefices, ne per tutto ciò si vogliono biasimare i padri Tridentini; for they had no intention by that Decree, to bind his Supremacies Hands, whom they had declared all along to be left at full liberty,* 1.2 per ciò che il decroto non intese d'annodar quelle mani supreme che il Concilio si

nel principio come nel fine delle sue leggi di∣chiarò di lasciar disciolte.

But as in all Policy Sacred or Profane, 'tis the approbation which the People give unto a Law by their usage thereof, that determines the force and the Merit of that Law, and when it is doubtful what success it may have, 'tis prudence to try first if the greatest number will be pleased there∣with,* 1.3 è prudenza il tentare ezandio con du∣bio dell'evento ciò che se riuscisse sarebbe gra∣to al commune: It follows that there must be a Superior Authority to derogate from the Laws of a Council, or to dispense with them, according as usage may require therein, or thereabout; and this the Council of Trent hath very well acknowledged, in declaring it meant not in any sort to tie up the Popes hands; insomuch that through an effect of a singular Policy, though there should not be so much as one Decree of the Council of Trent observed; yet if that were so by the Pope's Order, it would be found, That nevertheless the Decrees of that Council were kept, because he would be obeyed to whom the Council hath left absolute power, which reaches as far as to impower him to derogate from the Council's Orders. After this fashion is it, that our Cardinal, maintaining, That the Church ought not to be governed by way of Councils, and that, That of Trent hath upheld the Pope in an Authority over its own, doth defend the Judgment of the

whole Christian World Assembled in that Council; and thus he defends the whole Catholick Church, and this is the Ground he hath to call his Book Diffesa del Sacro Concilio di Trento.* 1.4

Notes

• * 1.1

  l. 23. c. 3, & 8.
• * 1.2

  l. 23. c. 11.
• * 1.3

  l. 8. c. 11.
• * 1.4

  Proem.