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 II. The hope of sharing the Riches, Honours, and Pleasures which belong to the Ec∣clesiastick state to be Pope, and to possess by Resignation ones Kinsfolks Benefices; these things do make a great and sub∣stantial Vocation for People to become Church-men.

EVery one knows how much the Ec∣clesiastick State is glorious to God, the Splendor and Glory of this State is due to the Carnal Felicity wherewith it is invested,* 1.1 se veramento vogliamo che la Regia spirituale sia frequentata da persone d'ingegno, di lettere, di valore, di nobilità, lasciando le patrie, sottoponendosi al celibato ed all altre gravezze le quali induce la vita Ecclesiastica, fà mestieri che possano sperare onori edentrate, for would there be found so many persons of Wit, of Learning, of Worthiness, of No∣ble Birth, that would betake themselves to a single Life, and other toilsomnesses which the Ecclesiastical Life obliges them to, if they had not hopes by that means to gain Honours and Temporal Revenues? Without doubt they ought to promise this to them∣selves, and be content with their condi∣tion, partly out of affection for Religion, and partly through joy to see themselves re∣verenced,

and had in veneration as Church∣men, especially amongst their Kindred,* 1.2 vi∣vano contenti, parte per affetto di religione, parte per godimento di quella reverenza che in ogni famiglia sì suol portare alla toga. Let a man consider what Glory it is for this Faith, to see so many Noblemens and Princes Sons enter into Orders, and conse∣crate themselves to the Service of God in quality of the Pope's Courtiers. Should this be seen if the Church were poor, and if the Piety of Christians had not afforded Means to the Pope to recompence magni∣ficently all this Gang?* 1.3 ciò senza dubio non seguirebbe la pietà de' Christiani non sommi∣nist••asse à lui la commodità di rimunerarli altamente.

For in fine, there is no private man that gives himself to serve the Pope and Court of Rome, but may hope to become one day a Cardinal; that is to say, above Bishops and all Princes, and an Equal for Kings, that may not even hope, himself or some of his to be one day Pope; without doubt, this thought cannot be but most pleasing to all people,* 1.4 era giocondo oggetto al cuore di ciascuno ... habbiamo una Republica,* 1.5 dove ogni plebeo puè divenir senatore, ogni suddito principe. The Court of Rome is a Court composed of persons of all Nations of the World, where there is none of them but may through his Learning and Deserving, be advanced to the most sublime Dignities, and arrive either at the Soveraignty, or to

a participation of the Government and Re∣venues of the Church,* 1.6 è una Corte composta di tutti i paesi Catolici nella quale ogn'uno con la dottrina e co'l merito può salire alle dignità più sublimi ed havere, ò la sovranità, ò la participazione del governo e del patrimonie Ecclesiastico.

But without flying so high, may not every Nephew easily hope for the Benefice of his Uncle, upon his Resignation? And is it not a great comfort that an Uncle may hope one day to leave his Benefice to his Nephew, or to some other of his Kin, or to his Friend? How many young men have been, and are daily educated virtuously, for the sake of this same carnal Expectance? molti giovani sono educati nella virtù con la speranza d'haver sì fatte risegne di qualche vecchio sacerdote di loro parentado.* 1.7

Even this same hope according to the Flesh, makes the Incumbents more willing and careful to repair or beautifie their Churches, out of the confidence they may be able to substitute in their places such persons as they bear a kindness to, i benefi∣ciati più s'affezionano al ristoro della Chiesa confidandosi di surrogarvi persona loro gradi∣ta.* 1.8 On the contrary, take away these Ex∣pectations and Hopes from the Roman Court, and leave her only the Spirit, eccetto l'aura dello Spirito Santo, it will be a great Pity, and no Contentment; she must have a bet∣ter kind of Suckle to suck, miglior sugo, that is to say, a Carnal Felicity; so that

there is none but may see, that all these Reasons be puissant, and yet mild means to make the Vocations either to this Faith, or to this Clergyship, efficacious, and which is no impediment to the perfection of that State or Order.

Notes

• * 1.1

  l. 1. c. 25.
• * 1.2

  l. 17. c. 5.
• * 1.3

  l. 1. c. 25.
• * 1.4

  l. 1. c. 8.
• * 1.5

  l. 3. c. 10.
• * 1.6

  l. 3. c. 10.
• * 1.7

  l. 23. c. 12.
• * 1.8

  Ibid.