AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL DICTIONARY, SELECTED AND ABRIDGED FROM THE GREAT WORK OF PETER BAYLE. WITH A LIFE OF BAYLE. IN FOUR VOLS.-VOL. III. LONDON, 1826: PRINTED FOR HUNT AND CLARKE, TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. & BAYLE'S DICTIONARY. PAPAL POWER. THE power which the popes have attained, is more admirable than the vast monarchy of ancient Rome; so that it may be said, this great city was to be in two different manners the spring of the most sublime qualities that are requisite for the foundation of a very great state. If this do not prove that the Romans equalled other nations in moral virtue, it shews at least that they had more courage and industry. It is an amazing thing that a church, which pretends to have no arms but the spiritual ones of the word of God, and which grounds her rights only upon the gospel, that teaches everywhere humility and poverty, should have been so bold as to aspire to an absolute dominion over all the kings of the earth. It is still more amazing that she should have been so successful in such a chimerical design. If ancient Rome, which pretended only to conquests and military virtue, subdued so many nations, it is a noble and glorious thing in the eyes of the world; but any one who reflects upon it will not wonder at it. It is much more surprising to see new Rome, pretending only to an apostolical ministry, arrive to so great a power, that the greatest monarchs have been forced to submit to it; for it may be said, that there is hardly any emperor who opposed the popes, but found himself |