all the treasure that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the king's treasury, and brake down the pillars of the temple of the Lord, and all the plates of gold which he himself had fastened thereupon, and gave them unto the king of the Assyrians; yet was he not rebuked of the Lord for it, as he was for his other sins, as it appeareth in 2 Chron. xxxii. Forasmuch, then, as in time of necessity all things ought to be in common unto Christians, it followeth that the secular lords, in case of necessity, and in many other common cases, may lawfully take away the moveable goods from the clergy, when they do offend.
Fifth reason. Matthew.We also read in Matthew xii., that the disciples of Jesus, to slake their hunger, upon the Sabbath-day pulled the cars of corn, and did eat them, and the Pharisees rebuked them for it; unto whom Christ answered, "Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and those that were with him;David. how he entered into the house of the Lord, and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him, neither for them that were with him to eat, but only for the priests?" This story is written in 1 Sam. xxi., and the commandment in Deuteronomy xii.,[1] whereby it appeareth, that it is lawful, in Case of necessity.time of necessity to use any thing, be it ever so much consecrated. Otherwise, children by giving their moveables to the consecration of any temple, should not be bound to help their parents; which is contraiy and against the gospel of St. Matthew [chap, xvi.], where our Saviour sharply rebuked the Pharisees, that, for their own traditions, they did transgress the commandment of God.
Sixth reason. Titus and Vespasian.Item, Titus and Vespasian, secular princes, had power given them by God, twenty-four years after the Lord's ascension, to take away the temporalties from the priests who had offended against the Lord's Holy One, and thereby, also, bereft them of their lives: and it seemeth unto many, they did, and might, worthily do the same according to God's good will and pleasure. Then, forasmuch as our priests, in these days, may transgress and offend as much, and rather more, against the Lord's anointed, it followeth, that, by the pleasure of God, the secular lords may likewise punish them for their offence.
Seventh reason. The example of Christ paying tribute.
St. Ambrose's mind.Our Saviour, being King of kings, and high Bishop, with his disciples, did give tribute unto Cæsar, as it appeareth in Matthew xvii., and commanded the Scribes and Pharisees to give the like unto Cæsar [Matt, xxii.]; whereby he gave example unto all priests that should come after him to render tribute unto their kings. Hereupon blessed St. Ambrose, in his fourth book, upon these words in Luke v. 4., "Cast out your nets," writeth thus; "There is another kind of fishing amongst the apostles, after which manner the Lord commanded Peter only to fish, saying, 'Cast out thy hook, and that fish which cometh first up, take him.'" And then unto the purpose he saith; "It is truly a great and spiritual document, whereby all christian men are taught that they ought to be subject unto the higher powers, and that no man ought to think that the laws of a king here on earth are to be broken. For if the Son of God did pay tribute, art thou so great a man, that thou thinkest thou oughtest not to pay tribute? He payed tribute who had no possessions; and thou who daily seekest after the lucre of the world, why dost thou not acknowledge the obedience and duty of the world? Why dost thou, through the arrogancy of thy mind, exalt thyself above the world, whereas, through thine own miserable covetousness, thou art subject unto the world?" Thus writeth St. Ambrose, and it is put in the 11 quest. 1 par., "Magnum quidem." Christ commanded tribute to be paid unto the emperor.He also writeth upon these words in Luke xx. 24., "Show me a penny; whose image hath it?" "If Christ had not the image of Cæsar, why did he pay any tribute? He gave it not of his own, but rendered unto the world that which was the world's; and if thou wilt not be in danger of Cæsar, possess not those things which are the world's, for if thou hast riches thou art in danger of Cæsar."
Wherefore, if thou wilt owe nothing unto any earthly king, forsake all those things, and follow Christ. If, then, all ecclesiastical ministers having riches ought to be under the subjection of kings, and give unto them tribute; it followeth that kings may lawfully, by the authority which is given them, take away their temporalties from them.
