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THe Church is a Body, composed of all the Catholick Kingdoms and Re∣publicks of the World, which be the Mem∣bers thereof: And in every State or Republick, all the Dioceses with their Bi∣shops, are also Members of that Body.
And as in compounded natural Bodies, there be many particular Forms, because every Member hath its own Form; so eve∣ry Diocese, and every Kingdom, and Re∣publick hath its particular Form, that is to say, its Bishop, its King, or its Superior and Head, in whom resides the particular superior power. But as in the compounded Natural Body, 'tis impossible that diverse Forms, which have no order nor relation among themselves, can be able to govern, because they would separate Unity. So it is impossible that Church-Unity can subsist, unless all the particular Forms of her Mem∣bers have relative Order among themselves-and be subject to a Form Total and Superi∣or, to be as it were the Head and Soul of them, from whence the Particulars may fetch all their direction and force, non pos∣sono molte forme trà loro non ordinate domi∣nare in un composto.
If the Church had not such a Soul, viz. a Soveraign Power that gave her Form, and whereby she might be directed, she would not any longer deserve the name of Church, non meriterebbe più la Chiesa nome di Chiesa, cioè di congregazione, mentre fosse disgregata per tante membre senza haver l'unità da un anima che le informasse e le reggesse,
It would be but a Crowd of men without Order, not a Body Organick and Formed, unless it received the Unity of a Form to∣tal, proper to animate it and rule it, nu∣mero aggregato accidentale s'ella non riceve
l'unità con una forma che la indirizzi e la governi.
Now then, supposing that the Pope is the Head and Soul of that Body that stret∣cheth it self through the World, whereof all States and Dioceses of the Universe are Members, the union and submission of these Members to this their Head, who is the Soul of them, forms the perfect band of the Life Politick, una congiunzione di vita perfettamente politica.
The Pope's Authority is the Basis, the Band, and the moving Intelligence of this Body's Government, del qual governo, la base, il legame, e l'intelligenza motrice, è l'au∣rità del Pontifice.
So that what ought not a man to suffer rather than let himself be separated from this good Soul, from which one draws all his Being, his Unity, his Direction, his Motion and Intelligence, per non separarsi da quest' anima; for what can the hands and feet in man's Body do, if they do not re∣ceive all their direction and force from one sole Head? che potrebbono li mani ed i piedi se non ricevessero tutta la direzione e tutta la forza d'un solo capo?
l. 8. c. 17.
l. 1. c. 25.
Ibid.
l. 3. c. 10.
l. 1. c. 25.
l. 3. c. 10.