I think it would be as great a piece of Justice to punish those that are robb’d, as to chastise him that commits the Theft: For if so, the number of Thieves would diminish infinitely; since every body then would take as much care in preserving, as the Thief could use Art in stealing. Whereas now every one relying upon the surety of the Publick Laws, and the punishment that attends those that violate them, does as it were give an occasion of offending against them; and as the Proverb says, _The Occasion makes the Thief_; which is as much as to say, That they that are negligent in preserving their own, are the cause that others have a mind to it. If Princes following this Truth, did shut up their Treasures, and stop that Stream of Wealth which flows from their States to _Rome_, while they see that it is all ill us’d, and employed to the ruine of the Church and True Religion; certainly the _Pope’s_ Nephews would not commit so many Scandals: neither would the World have so much reason to murmur against them. But our Complaints are not like to cease, while Princes shall think it honourable and pious to oppress their Subjects, that they may supply the Court of _Rome_: And, on the other side, the _Nipotismo_ shall make no scruple of taking any thing from the Church and State, and alledge for their excuse, _That they take nothing but what is the superfluous part of the Churches Revenue_. What do so many Abbies, Pensions, and other Revenues, which Princes bestow upon Church-men, serve for; but to weaken so much their own States, and strengthen another Princes? to make that which is Sacred, Profane? turn Crosses into Swords, and Humility into Pride and Majesty? And when they have bestowed thus their Gifts and Presents upon those that do not need them, they are not only forsaken in their greatest distress by Church-men; but are set upon by them, and brought to their ruin, that the Church may have the Soveraignty over their People, in the Place of the lawful Princes. All the disorders and scandals of the Church, State, and Church-men, take their rise from their Riches. When the Church was poor, Church-men were holy, having nothing to employ their minds about, but the Rules of a Good Life: but since once Riches came amongst them, farewell Holiness of Life; they have not the leisure; they are too much taken up with telling their Money, buying and selling Estates and Princedoms; they forget those spiritual Riches of the Soul, and mind only those that relate to the Pleasures of the Body. Riches came in by little and little upon the Church, and by the same degrees Sanctity and Holiness of Life went out. They that read the History of the Church, cannot chuse but have discerned all along the truth of what I say.