Old _Rome_ had much ado to preserve it self by an infinite number of severe Laws, and at last did make a shift betwixt good and bad times, to rub out some Ages, till new _Rome_ came and took its place. By old _Rome_ I mean that _Rome_ that was founded by _Romulus_, and ended at the time of our Saviour: and by new _Rome_ I understand _Rome_ that was born in Christ, and lives even now in him. Now if the ancient City of _Rome_ came to its ruine through ambition and covetousness, it will become us to consider what effects these very same things do produce in our new _Rome_. When we speak of _Rome_, we speak of a City that desires to be acknowledged by all Nations, as the head of Christendom. Now let us see the difference between the Pagan and the Christian _Rome_, the old and the new. In the time that our Saviour was born in _Bethlehem_, to destroy this old _Rome_ of the Heathens, and give the foundation of this new Christian City, _Augustus_ not only commanded, that all the Nations of the Roman Empire should be numbred, to shew, that with the coming of Christ there was a new Empire begun, but likewise he brought all the world into a calm peace and tranquility; so that our Saviour no sooner appeared, but peace was the joy and comfort of the whole Universe. Christ chose to be born in a time of peace, and not of war and misery, for two causes: First, to set a difference betwixt the new and old _Rome_; the old having been founded in blood and dissention, under the government of _Romulus_ a Pagan, it was more then just, that the new should begin with peace, under the dominion of the King of Kings, the holy One of _Israel_. Secondly, to the end that the Successors of the Apostles, who were to reside in _Rome_, might not one day excuse their faults, with alledging the beginnings of the Christian Religion for example; and therefore our Saviour took possession of _Rome_ in peace, and delivered it to those Popes, who were to govern _Rome_ and _Christendome_. To Christ succeeded Peter, to _Peter_ the Popes, as the Divines of _Rome_ teach, and do endeavour to prove, against the Protestants, as a principal point of Religion. The Popes then took possession of this new _Rome_, with the holiness of life; and when first they established this Ecclesiastical Senate, they chose out men so holy, and of so good a life, that the Citizens willingly submitted to prostrate themselves at the feet of such Governours. Ambition was then so far from the hearts of the Bishops, that not only many Prelates did renounce their Bishopricks, but also many retir’d from the _Vatican_, where they were adored, into deserts and solitudes, to serve God their Creator without trouble.