友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
恐怖书库 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the greatness of cities-第8部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


hey should repair to Jerusalem to celebrate and make their sacrifice his people would soon unite themselves with the tribe of Judah and the House of David; casting religion off he set up straight idolatry。 For he caused to be made two calves of gold; and sending them to the uttermost parts of his kingdom; turning to his people he said unto them: Nolite ultra ascendere in Hierusalem; ecce dii tui Israel qui te eduxerunt de terra Aegypti。     Religion is of such force and might to amplify cities; to amplify dominions; and of such a virtue attractive that Jeroboam; to give no place to his Competitor in this part of allurement and entertainment of the company; impiously brought in idolatry in place of true religion。 And this man was the first that for desire to reign did openly tread down the law and all due worship unto God; and thereof gave a lewd example to posterity。 A notable note in truth; not so much of folly as of extreme impiety。     Some that arrogate too much wisdom to themselves in matters of state and government spare not to say and teach that to hold the subjects in due obedience to their prince man's wit and policy prevaileth more than divine or godly counsel: a speech and invention in very truth rather of a miscreant and caterpillar of a commonweal than of a lover and a favourer of the majesty of a state。 For such are the ruins of kings; the plague of kingdoms; the scandal of Christianity; the sworn enemies of the Church; nay rather of God; against whom; to the imitation of the ancient giants; they build up a new tower unto Babel which shall breed and bring unto them in the end confusion and utter ruin。 Qui habitat in coelis irridebit eos; et Dominus subsannabit eos。 Hear; ye princes; what the prophet Isaiah saith of the counsellors of King Pharaoh: Sapientes consiliarii Pharaonis dederunt consilium insipiens; deceperunt Aegyptum angulum populorum eius。 Dominus miscuit in medio eius spiritum vertiginis; et errare fecerunt Aegyptum in omni opere suo; sicut errat ebrius et vomens。     If this place would suffer it I could easily show that the greatest part of the loss of states and ruins of Christian princes have proceeded of this accursed variance in religion; through the which we are disarmed and deprived of the protection and favour of Almighty God; and have thrust into the hands of the Turks and Calvinists the weapons and the scourges of God's Divine justice against us。 But it sufficeth here to advise princes that tread down the laws of God by that preposterous and wicked kind of government that they learn of Jeroboam and fear the issue of him whose acts they imitate; that they may hereafter the better beware by other men's harms。 For in revenge of his impiety God raised up against Nadab his son the King Baasha; who slew him and all his race。 Non dimisit ne unam quidem animam de semine eius; donec deleret eam。 But let us return where we left。     Of what strength and power to make a place populous religion proves to be; and to have the opinion of some famous relic or notable argument of God's divine assistance; or some authority in the admiration; administration and government of ecclesiastical causes; Loreto in Italy; St。 Michel in France; Guadalupe and Compostela in Spain do all of them declare and manifest it plain; and many places more besides; though solitary and desert; though sharp and rocky; unto the which for no respect but for devotion's sake and piety people daily do resort infinitely in flocks from the farthest parts that are。     And no marvel if you look into it thoroughly。 For there is not anything in this world of more efficacy and force to allure and draw to it the hearts of men than God; which is the summum bonum。 He is carefully desired and sought for continually of all creatures whatsoever; with soul or without; for all regard Him as their last end。 Light things seek their summum bonum above; heavy things beneath; within the centre of this earth; the heavens; in their revolutions; the herbs in their flowers; the trees in their fruits; beasts in the preservation of their kind; and man; in seeking his tranquillity of mind and everlasting joy。     But forasmuch as God is of so high a nature as the sense of man cannot attain to it; so shining bright as the eye of man's understanding cannot conceive it; every man directly turns him to that place where he leaves some print of his power; or declares some sign of his assistance; which ordinary have been and are seen on the mountains or the deserts。     Is not then Rome indebted much for her magnificence and greatness to the blood of the martyrs; to the relics of saints; to the holy consecrated places; and to the supreme authority in beneficial and spiritual causes? Would she not become a very wilderness; if the opinion of the holiness of the places drew not the innumerable sight of people from the uttermost parts of the earth? Would she not become a desert if the apostolic seat and the power of the keys caused not an inestimable multitude of people daily to repair unto it for some business or other?     Milan; a most populous and famous city; shall ever be a witness what praise and glory; and how much increase it hath gotten by the singular piety and religious life of that great Cardinal Borromeo。 Princes resorted; even from the uttermost ends of the south; to visit him; bishops made access from all parts to consult with him for his opinion in any controversies that sprang amongst them; the clergy likewise harkened unto his counsels; and the religious people of all nations held Milan for their country and the house of that godly man for their port; his liberality for their refuge and his godly life for a most fair and clear glass of ecclesiastical discipline for all men to look into and to take example by。     I should haply be too long if I should declare unto you with what singular praise and commendation he celebrated every year his synods; and with what magnificency he visited every year his provinces; how many churches he either built new or; being old; set in good order; how many he adorned and beautified; how many monasteries of men and women he erected; how many well…ordered colleges of young men and seminaries of priests he instituted; how many sorts of academies he set up and founded to the inestimable good of the people; how many kinds of entertainments and promotions he bestowed upon arts and on artificers。 And I should never end if I should recount the matter and the means wherewith by amplifying God's service and advancing of religion he increased also the city; and doubled the concourse of people unto Milan。

 4。 Of schools and studies

    The commodity of learned schools is of no small moment to draw people; especially young men; to a city of whose greatness we are in speech。 For inasmuch as there be two means for men of wit and courage to rise to some degree of honour and reputation in the world; the one by arms; the other by book; the first is sought for in the field; with the spear and the sword; and the last in the academy; with pen and book。     And forasmuch as men long for honour or for profit; and of liberal arts and sciences some bring certain wealth to men and some promotions and preferments to honourable functions; it is a 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!