Mr. Brown, Rector of Sandridge in Kent, who tranflated Father Paul's Letters, fays, in his Preface, that King James had a refpect for the Father, and would fain have had him over here, as he had Ifaac Cafaubon, and other eminent men. The reverend tranflator promifed the world alfo, many years ago, to give a new tranflation of the Father's life, and to compare it with Fulgentio's manufcript copy of it, which Sir Roger Twifden, by means of his Brother, who was very intimate with the faid frier, procured from Venice. But as neither Mr. Brown, nor any body elfe, has yet printed any other English tranflation of Fulgentio, befides that obfcure one we men tion'd in the Introduction, "tis hoped that ours will meet with a favourable reception; not only for its own fake, but alfo for the noble teftimonies we have added in favour of the Father's character, which will certainly be of much more weight than the malicious and fcurrilous afperfions caft upon Fa-. ther Paul by the Jefuit Maimbourg in his Hiftory of Lutheranifm, or by Cardinal Pallavicini in his Counterbiftory of the Council of Trent. THE RIGHTS O F SOVEREIGNS. F the many infirmities to which to be cured, than the diftempers of the mind. Phyfic abounds with fimples and remedies, either for correcting a peccant humor, or for renewing our whole conftitution; but the afflictions of the mind are not fo eafy to be remov'd; nay, not at all, but by the entire change of forrow into joy. External remedies fignify nothing to a troubled mind, and nothing is capable to expel the chagrin which frets it, but the voluntary furrender of the mind to comfort when 'tis offered. I myself, B moft moft illuftrious Noblemen, tho' convinced of the indivifibility of the foul, by that unity of actions I have always obferved in my own, which has hitherto profeffed the moft conftant refpect and ftricteft fubmiffion to your Government, do nevertheless feel the effects of that forrow, which I perceive in perfons who command, as well as those who obey; for I will be bold to fay it, I fee you all in fome fort of concern at the pretended Interdict which 'tis imagin'd you are now under. Indeed, upon fome occafions, you affect to feem wholly unconcern'd, and to carry it off with an air of courage; but is not this rather the language of your lips than of your hearts? Really, for my own part, when I confider the great piety of this republic, I am not furpriz'd to fee the whole body alarm'd, at the threats and curfings of those who pretend to be the fole judges, guardians, and defenders of the faith of Jefus Chrift, who induftriously give out that princes have nothing to do with fuch affairs, as at prefent concern us; and when told that David was both a King and Pfalmift at one time, think to ward off the objection, by faying, that was purely owing to the divine grace, which made him a man after God's own heart, and not in the least to nature. Be this as it will, I now propose to examin the matter to the bottom, to anatomize it, to ftrip it of its artful disguise, and expofe it naked to the whole world; for as Seneca faid very juftly, Take off but the mask of Death, and it lofes all its deformity. I therefore perfwade myfelf, that not only thofe who discover fo much fagacity and prudence at the helm of affairs, but even the common people will throw off all that filly fear, that panic fort of terror, and be convinced, that by depending on their own innocence, they will not fail both of comfort and encouragement, from the testimony of a good confcience. I must own, however, that as much as I defire to comfort all ranks alike, yet I don't think it proper to publish every thing that I have to fay on this head, because the prince and the fubject cannot help thinking differently on affairs of this kind. God has establish'd fuch a difference betwixt one foul and another, that tho' it be not effential to them, 'tis, neverthelefs, fo real, that it has been often a question, whether all men are of the fame fpecies. Knowledge, like wine, exhilarates great men, but intoxicates little ones, in proportion to the quantity they take of it. Nothing is fweeter and more tempting, than to excel others in knowledge, and nothing more difficult than to conceal or difguife fo noble a talent. For this reafon I could wish that these few advices might be fet apart, as the prince's private treafury, for their fervice only who are at the head of affairs; your lordships can make a proper ufe and improvement of them, in due time and place; but the com mon people, like a man who takes phyfic in a fit of the ague, would weaken their conftitution instead of mending it: If it be good for the commonalty to be kept in ignorance of ftate affairs, 'tis abfolutely neceffary they fhould be as ignorant of matters of faith; because hidden mysteries are always treated with more regard than things that are familiar. 'Tis enough for the people to be able to read their deftiny in the countenance of their prince; and as the happiness of the foul confifts in the beatific vifion, fo the vulgar may please themselves with obferving the ferenity of their Governors countenances, and note from thence that the affairs of state go well, because tribulatio & anguftia in omnem animam operantis malum; i. e. tribulation and anguish are upon every foul that worketh evil. A watch, tho' it contains feveral wheels, has its various motions from but one; I fhall therefore fucceed in my defign, if I restore the fovereign to himself, because at the fame time I fhall restore tranquility to my fellow fubjects, which is the greatest service I can poffibly do for my country. All chriftians are oblig'd to obey the Pope -States are nothing elfe but a mixture of a great number of chriftians- There is but one weight in' God's balance-The Church is only a body compos'd of as many members as there are perfons who have receiv'd baptism -A perfon excommunicated is a rotten member, |