author - "D. J. Medley"
ct dualism in theorganisation of society and, therefore, of the theoretical equalitybetween the ecclesiastical and the secular organs of government.According to this doctrine Sacerdotium and Imperium are independentspheres, each wielding the one of the two swords appropriate toitself, and thus the Emperor no less than the Pope is VicariusDei. It is this doctrine behind which the champions of the Empireentrench themselves in their contest with the Papacy. It was assertedby the Emperors themselves, notably by Frederick I and Frederick II,and it has been enshrined in the writings of Dante.
[Sidenote: Its weakness.]
The weak point of this theory was that it was rather a thesis foracademic debate than a rallying cry for the field of battle. Popularcontests are for victory, not for delimitation of territory. And itsweakness was apparent in this, that while the thorough-going partisansof the Church allowed to the Emperor practically no power except suchas he obtained by concession of or
nce to Paine's footnote (itself altered in some editions!), in which he says: "If this has happened within such a short space of time, notwithstanding the aid of printing, which prevents the alteration of copies individually; what may not have happened in a much greater length of time, when there was no printing, and when any man who could write, could make a written copy, and call it an original, by Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
Nothing appears to me more striking, as an illustration of the far-reaching effects of traditional prejudice, than the errors into which some of our ablest contemporary scholars have fallen by reason of their not having studied Paine. Professor Huxley, for instance, speaking of the freethinkers of the eighteenth century, admires the acuteness, common sense, wit, and the broad humanity of the best of them, but says "there is rarely much to be said for their work as an example of the adequate treatment of a grave and difficult investigation," and that they shared with their adve
ct dualism in theorganisation of society and, therefore, of the theoretical equalitybetween the ecclesiastical and the secular organs of government.According to this doctrine Sacerdotium and Imperium are independentspheres, each wielding the one of the two swords appropriate toitself, and thus the Emperor no less than the Pope is VicariusDei. It is this doctrine behind which the champions of the Empireentrench themselves in their contest with the Papacy. It was assertedby the Emperors themselves, notably by Frederick I and Frederick II,and it has been enshrined in the writings of Dante.
[Sidenote: Its weakness.]
The weak point of this theory was that it was rather a thesis foracademic debate than a rallying cry for the field of battle. Popularcontests are for victory, not for delimitation of territory. And itsweakness was apparent in this, that while the thorough-going partisansof the Church allowed to the Emperor practically no power except suchas he obtained by concession of or
nce to Paine's footnote (itself altered in some editions!), in which he says: "If this has happened within such a short space of time, notwithstanding the aid of printing, which prevents the alteration of copies individually; what may not have happened in a much greater length of time, when there was no printing, and when any man who could write, could make a written copy, and call it an original, by Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
Nothing appears to me more striking, as an illustration of the far-reaching effects of traditional prejudice, than the errors into which some of our ablest contemporary scholars have fallen by reason of their not having studied Paine. Professor Huxley, for instance, speaking of the freethinkers of the eighteenth century, admires the acuteness, common sense, wit, and the broad humanity of the best of them, but says "there is rarely much to be said for their work as an example of the adequate treatment of a grave and difficult investigation," and that they shared with their adve