The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

—;104 FOUNDATION AND EXTENT OF THE SUPREMACY.all honour and dignity ; and who, for his sins, is cast awayby God, that he should not reign nor command ; and allwho are bound by oath of allegiance we absolve from suchoath for ever, firmly enjoining that none in future regard orobey him as emperor or king ; and decreeing, that whoeveryields him in these characters advice, assistance, or favours,shall immediately lie under the bond of excommunication."The following bull of Sixtus V. (1585) against the Kingof Navarre and the Prince of Conde,the two sons of lorath^—is conceived in the loftiest pontifical style. " The authoritygiven to St Peter and his successors by the immensepower of the Eternal King, excels all the power of earthlyprinces ; it passes uncontrollable sentence upon them alland if it find any of them resisting the ordinance of God, ittakes a more severe vengeance upon them, casting themdown from their throne, however powerful they may be, andtumbling them to the lowest parts of the earth, as theministers of aspiring Lucifer, We deprive them and theirposterity of their dominions for ever. By the authority ofthese presents, we absolve and free all persons from theiroath [of allegiance], and from all duty whatever relating todominion, fealty, and obedience ; and we charge and forbidall from presuming to obey them, or any of their admonitions,laws, or commands.*" '•But it were endless to bring forward all that might beadduced on the point. The history of the middle agesabounds with instances of the exercise of this tremendouspower, of the disgrace and disaster it entailed on monarchs,and the confusion and calamity it occasioned to nations.But instead of citing instances of these,—of which the historyof Europe,not excepting that of our own country, isfull,—we think it of more consequence here to observe,that the most high-handed of these acts grew directly outof the fundamental principle of the Papacy,—that the Popeis Chrisfs vicar.If this be granted, the pontiff is as really* Bulla Sexti V. contra Hen. Navarr. Rex. (Barrow).