Reformers Before the Reformation; John of Goch. John of Wesel Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ...himself was very far from using coercive measures to convert the Jews and Gentiles. 1 Goldast Monarch. t. i. p. 559. lin. 60. 2 Ibid. p. 558. line 37. The second part of the treatise is of great weight,1 and contains especially the historical exposition of the subject. The primitive Church, says Heimburg, by sanctity of morals and doctrine, edified the Roman world, converted it to the faith, and inspired reverence for the priesthood, whereas the modern Church, instigated by unbridled ambition, exacts as a due the respect at first volunteered by the good-will of the Emperors, has converted the liberties conceded by their piety into a despotism, and has thus gradually usurped a power which owns no bounds. For 300 years, from St Peter to St Sylvester, nothing of the kind was ever heard of. The vocation of the Popes was then not secular dominion, but martyrdom. Their glory consisted not in purple raiment, snow-white horses, wealth, splendour and power, but in conformity to the saying of the Apostles: " Lord we have left all things to follow thee." From the days of St Sylvester the Church began to mingle with the world and lost her purity.2 Thenceforward, till the reign of Otho I., the Emperor treated the Popes with great respect. They waited upon them, either personally or by ambassadors, supplicated their blessing, and recommended themselves to their intercession. Some even received coronation at their hands. This inflated the Popes with presumption, and the consequence was that the Emperors deposed several of them. It was also enacted that no one was to be elected Pope, except with the Emperor's assent. In the days of the Othos, the imperial power was strong, and kept the usurpations of the ecclesiastical within bounds. The Emperors were chosen by...