This is clearly seen from the history of Livius, where he shows that, in calling out her army against the Gauls, and in the creation of Tribunes with consular powers, the Romans observed no religious ceremonies whatsoever. As an instance of the first, we have seen how necessary it was that Rome should be taken by the Gauls, as a means of her renovation or new birth so that, being thus born again, she might take new life and vigor, and might resume the proper observance of justice and religion, which were becoming corrupt. This return of a republic to its original principles is either the result of extrinsic accident or of intrinsic prudence.
Thus, the doctors of medicine say, in speaking of the human body, that “every day some ill humors gather which must be cured.” For, as all religious republics and monarchies must have within themselves some goodness, by means of which they obtain their first growth and reputation, and as in the process of time this goodness becomes corrupted, it will of necessity destroy the body unless something intervenes to bring it back to its normal condition. And it is a truth clearer than light that, without such renovation, these bodies cannot continue to exist and the means of renewing them is to bring them back to their original principles. And those are the best-constituted bodies, and have the longest existence, which possess the intrinsic means of frequently renewing themselves, or such as obtain this renovation in consequence of some extrinsic accidents. And as I speak here of mixed bodies, such as republics or religious sects, I say that those changes are beneficial that bring them back to their original principles.
There is nothing more true than that all the things of this world have a limit to their existence but those only run the entire course ordained for them by Heaven that do not allow their body to become disorganized, but keep it unchanged in the manner ordained, or if they change it, so do it that it shall be for their advantage, and not to their injury. To insure a long existence to religious sects or republics, it is necessary frequently to bring them back to their original principles. 1513 Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livius.
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