the commonwealth of oceana-第58章
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on were directed and established by Moses； it was directed and established by the civil magistrate； or if Moses exercised this administration as a prophet； the same prophet did invest with the same administration the Sanhedrim； and not the priests； and so does our commonwealth the Senate； and not the clergy。 They who had the supreme administration or government of the national religion in Athens； were the first Archon； the rex sacrificulus； or high…priest； and a polemarch； which magistrates were ordained or elected by the holding up of hands in the church； congregation； or comitia of the people。 The religion of Lacedaemon was governed by the kings； who were also high…priests； and officiated at the sacrifice； these had power to substitute their pythii； ambassadors； or nuncios； by which； not without concurrence of the Senate； they held intelligence with the oracle of Apollo at Delphos。 And the ecclesiastical part of the Commonwealth of Rome was governed by the pontifex maximus； the rex sacrificulus； and the Flamens； all ordained or elected by the people； the pontifex by the tribes； the King by the centuries； and the Flamens by the parishes。 〃I do not mind you of these things； as if； for the matter； there were any parallel to be drawn out of their superstitions to our religion； but to show that for the manner； ancient prudence is as well a rule in divine as human things； nay； and such a one as the apostles themselves； ordaining elders by the holding up of hands in every congregation； have exactly followed； for some of the congregations where they thus ordained elders were those of Antioch； Iconium； Lystra； Derbe； the countries of Lycaona； Pisidia； Pamphilia； Perga； with Attalia。 Now that these cities and countries； when the Romans propagated their empire into Asia； were found most of them commonwealths； and that many of the rest were endued with like power； so that the people living under the protection of the Roman emperors continued to elect their own magistrates； is so known a thing； that I wonder whence it is that men； quite contrary to the universal proof of these examples； will have ecclesiastical government to be necessarily distinct from civil power； when the right of the elders ordained by the holding up of hands in every congregation to teach the people； was plainly derived from the same civil power by which they ordained the rest of their magistrates。 And it is not otherwise in our commonwealth； where the parochial congregation elects or ordains its pastor。 To object the Commonwealth of Venice in this place； were to show us that it has been no otherwise but where the civil power has lost the liberty of her conscience by embracing popery； as also that to take away the liberty of conscience in this administration from the civil power； were a proceeding which has no other precedent than such as is popish。 〃Wherefore your religion is settled after the following manner： the universities are the seminaries of that part which is national； by which means others with all safety may be permitted to follow the liberty of their own consciences； in regard that； however they behave themselves； the ignorance of the unlearned in this case cannot lose your religion nor disturb your government； which otherwise it would most certainly do； and the universities with their emoluments； as also the benefices of the whole nation； are to be improved by such augmentations as may make a very decent and comfortable subsistence for the ministry； which is neither to be allowed synods nor assemblies； except upon the occasion shown in the universities； when they are consulted by the Council of State； and suffered to meddle with affairs of religion； nor to be capable of any other public preferment whatsoever； by which means the interest of the learned can never come to corrupt your religion； nor disturb your government； which otherwise it would most certainly do。 Venice； though she does not see； or cannot help the corruption of her religion； is yet so circumspect to avoid disturbance of her government in this kind； that her Council proceeds not to election of magistrates till it be proclaimed fora papalini； by which words such as have consanguinity with red hats； or relation to the Court of Rome； are warned to withdraw。 〃If a minister in Holland meddles with matter of state； the magistrate sends him a pair of shoes； whereupon； if he does not go； he is driven away from his charge。 I wonder why ministers； of all men； should be perpetually tampering with government； first because they； as well as others； have it in express charge to submit themselves to the ordinances of men； and secondly because these ordinances of men must go upon such political principles as they of all others； by anything that can be found in their writings or actions； least understand： whence you have the suffrage of all nations to this sense； that an ounce of wisdom is worth a pound of clergy。 Your greatest clerks are not your wisest men： and when some foul absurdity in state is committed； it is common with the French； and even the Italians； to call it 'pas de clerc；' or 'governo de prete。' They may bear with men that will be preaching without study； while they will be governing without prudence。 My lords； if you know not how to rule your clergy； you will most certainly； like a man that cannot rule his wife； have neither quiet at home nor honor abroad。 Their honest vocation is to teach your children at the schools and the universities； and the people in the parishes； and yours is concerned to see that they do not play the shrews； of which parts does consist the education of your commonwealth； so far as it regards religion。 〃To justice； or that part of it which is commonly executive； answers the education of the inns of court and chancery。 Upon which to philosophize； requires a public kind of learning that I have not。 But they who take upon them any profession proper to the educations mentioned that is； theology； physic； or law are not at leisure for the essays。 Wherefore the essays； being degrees whereby the youth commence for all magistracies； offices； and honors in the parish； hundred； tribe； Senate； or prerogative； divines； physicians； and lawyers not taking these degrees； exclude themselves from all such magistracies； offices； and honors。 And whereas lawyers are likest to exact further reason for this； they （growing up from the most gainful art at the bar to those magistracies upon the bench which are continually appropriated to themselves； and not only endowed with the greatest revenues； but also held for life） have the least reason of all the rest to pretend to any other； especially in an equal commonwealth； where accumulation of magistracy or to take a person engaged by his profit to the laws； as they stand； into the power； which is legislative； and which should keep them to what they were； or ought to he； were a solecism in prudence。 It is true that the legislative power may have need of advice and assistance from the executive magistracy； or such as are learned in the law； for which cause the judges are； as they have heretofore been； assistants in the Senate。 Nor； however it came about； can I see any reason why a judge； being but an assistant or lawyer； should be member of a legislative council。 〃I deny not that the Roman patricians were all patrons； and that the whole people were clients； some to one family and some to another； by which means they had their causes pleaded and defended in some appearance gratis； for the patron took no money； though if he had a daughter to marry； his clients were to pay her portion； nor was this so great a grievance。 But if the client accused his patron； gave testimony or suffrage against him； it was a crime of such a nature that any man might lawfully kill him as a traitor； and this； as being the nerve of the optimacy； was a great cause of ruin to that commonwealth； for when the people would carry anything that pleased not the Senate； the senators were ill provided if they could not intercede…that is； oppose it by their clients； with whom； to vote otherwise than they pleased； was the highest crime。 The observation of this bond till the time of the Gracchi that is to say； till it was too late； or to no purpose to break it was
