Who Was Machiavel? by J. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1874

Who Was Machiavel?

By J. S.

CROLEY, in his Apocalypse, speaks of the ten kingdoms formed from the Roman power. His authority for the number and names of these kingdoms is Machiavel’s History of Florence, liber 1. Other commentators on the Scriptures also claim that the Roman power was divided into ten parts, or kingdoms. While the former may be charged as sectarian or of making the interpretation to suit their case, no one can say this in the narration as set forth by Machiavel? What Machiavel asserts is a strong link in the chain of Advent faith. It corroborates prophecy. Gibbon has given the general features of Rome’s fall, and Machiavel particularizes. Both together erect a beacon which gives a true signal to the voyager on the ocean of time. Their united testimony in favor of Bible truth forms a fortress like a Gibraltar. Says the Encyclopedia Americana:—

Machiavel was born in Florence, in 1469, of a noble family. On account of his distinguished talents he was early appointed chancellor of the Florentine Republic. He was afterward advanced to the post of Secretary of State. He was four times plenipotentiary at the French court, twice at that of the pope, and twice at that of the Emperor Maximilian. The writings of the immortal Florentine may be arranged under four heads,—history, politics, belles-lettres and military treatises. His eight books on the history of Florence, written at the command of Clement VII., begin with the year 1215 and end in the year 1492. His extensive knowledge of the Latin authors gave him the key to the treasures of Roman history. We find him so conversant with Livy, one of the ablest Latin historians, that he writes a treatise called: “Discourses on the ten books of Livy.” The eminent Rousseau and Montesquieu, French authors, have drawn freely from his works.

But we have other testimony: Macaulay, author of the History of England, says of Machiavel: He was through life a zealous republican. The same year that he composed his manual of Kingcraft, he suffered imprisonment and torture in the cause of public liberty. We are acquainted with few writings that exhibit so much elevation of sentiment, so pure and warm a zeal for the public good, or so just a view of the duties and rights of citizens, as Machiavel. There is no reason whatever to think that those among whom he lived saw anything shocking or incongruous in his writings. Abundant proofs remain of the high estimation both of his works and his person, and so they were held by the most respectable among his contemporaries. Clement VII. patronized the publication of the very books which the Council of Trent in the following generation pronounced as unfit for Christians. His public conduct was upright and honorable, and when his views of morality differed from those around him, it seemed to be for the better. The last great work of this illustrious man was the history of his native city.

Florence about four hundred years ago contained 175,000 inhabitants. Her 80 banks conducted the commercial operations not only of Florence, but of all Europe. The history of Florence was written by order of the pope, who at that time was its sovereign. In speaking of the merits of said history, Macaulay says: The relations of all its points are strictly true, but the numerous incidents which lighten the interest, the words, gestures, the looks, are evidently furnished by the imagination of the author. It is in style, ancient. Classical histories, says Macaulay, are romances founded on fact.

History classes our subject in company with such characters as Galileo and Michael Angelo.

The accuracy of Machiavel’s division of Rome into ten parts is made quite apparent by an examination of the seven trumpets of Revelation, and, notwithstanding the church of Rome has pronounced his works accursed things, although an English cardinal has assailed his character, and a French Protestant has written against him; yet will the evidence history furnishes, help dispel the insinuations of falsehood which the enemies of truth would array against prophecy. J. S.

Battle Creek, Mich.