EXCERPT FROM PART I OF POLITICAL SCIENCE DRAWN FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES BY BISHOP BOSSUET: MAN IS MADE TO LIVE IN SOCIETY
“A brother, that is helped by his brother, is like strong city.”—Remark how strength is multiplied by society, and by mutual assistance. “It is better therefore, that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: If one fall, he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth he has none to lift him up. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? And if man prevail against one, two shall withstand him three-fold cord is not easily broken.”
They console, they assist, they fortify each other. God having willed to establish society, has established that each one should find in it his well-being, and remain attached to it through that interest. For which reason, he has given to men different talents. One proper for one thing, and another for another, to the end that they may act together as the members of one body, and that their union be cemented by mutual wants. And having gifts different, according to the grace that is given us.”
“For the body also is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, because am not the hand, am not of the body: is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, because am not the eye, am not of the body: is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were the eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God hath set the members, every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they all were one member, where would be the body? But now there are many members indeed, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand: need not thy help: nor again the head to the feet: have no need of you. Yea much more those that seem to be the more feeble members of the body, are more necessary: And such as we think to be the less honourable members of the body, upon these we bestow more abundant honour: and those that are our uncomely parts, have more abundant comeliness. But our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the together, giving more abundant honor to that which wanted it. That there might be no schism on the body, but the members might be mutually careful one for another."
Thus, by different talents, the strong have need of the weak, the great of the little, each one of him who appears the most remote from him; because mutual wants attract all, and render all necessary.
Jesus Christ, in forming his Church, established unity on this foundation, and shews us what are the principles of human society.
The world subsists by this law. “All these things live, and remain forever, and for every use all things obey him. All things are double, one against another, and he hath made nothing defective.”
Behold then, human society supported upon these irreversible foundations; one same God, one same object, one same end, one common origin, one same blood, one same interest, one mutual want, alike for the affairs, as for the enjoyments of life.
EXCERPT FROM PART II THE SOCIETY OF MANKIND GIVES BIRTH TO CIVIL SOCIETY, THAT IS TO SAY, TO STATES, PEOPLES, AND NATIONS
God is the bond of Human Society. The first man having separated himself from God, by just punishment division was cast in his family, and Cain killed his brother Abel.
The whole of the human race were divided.—The Children of Seth were called, the children of God; and the children of Cain were called, the children of men.
These two races, by their alliances, only augmented corruption. The giants were the offspring of their union, men known in scripture, and in all the traditions of the human race, by their injustice, and their violence.
All the thoughts of men turned at all times to evil, and God repented having made them. Noah alone found grace before him, so general was the corruption.
It is easy to comprehend that this perversity renders men unsociable. Man governed by his passions, thinks only of satisfying them without considering others. I am, said the proud man in Isaiah, and there is none else besides me upon earth.
The language of Cain resounds everywhere, am my brother's keeper? that is to say, have nothing to do with him, nor do I trouble myself about him.
All the passions are insatiable. The cruel man is not appeased by blood; the avaricious man is not satisfied with money.
Thus each one desires all for himself. You join, said Isaiah, house to house, and lay field to field. Shall you alone dwell in the midst of the earth?
Jealousy, so universal among men, exposes the profound malignity of their hearts. Our brother does us no injury, he takes nothing from us; nevertheless, he becomes to us an object of hatred, only because we see him more happy, or more industrious, or more virtuous than ourselves. Abel pleased God by innocent means, and Cain could not bear it. “The Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings. But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect, and Cain was exceeding angry, and his countenance fell. Thence arise treasons and murder. “And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad; and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother and slew him.”
A similar passion exposed Joseph to the fury of his brethren, when, far from hurting them, he went in search of them for their father, who was uneasy about them. “His brethren see ing he was beloved by his father, more than all his sons, hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.” Their rage made them resolve upon killing him; and there was no other means of dissuading them from that tragical design, but in the proposal to sell him.
From so many insensate passions, and so many jarring interests arising from them, results that there is no faith to be reposed, or safety to be found among men. “Believe not friend, and trust not in prince: keep the doors of thy mouth from her, that sleepeth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, and the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in law against her mother-in-law: and man's enemies are they of his own household.”
From thence arise those cruelties so frequent in mankind. There is nothing so brutal or so sanguinary as man. “All lie in wait for blood; every one hunteth his brother to death.”
“Cursing, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery have overflowed, and blood hath touched blood,” that is to say, that one murder draws on another.
Thus Human Society, established by so many sacred bonds, is violated by the passions, and as said St. Augustine: “There is nothing more sociable than man by nature, or more unsociable than man by corruption.”
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