Influence of God on Early Government

"Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture"
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries God was considered the highest power. If kings and monarchs were believed to be selected by God, then they should be the highest power on the earth. Kings merit absolute obedience because they "act as the ministers of God, and his lieutenants on earth" (p.21). Because God, the all powerful being, has established the king, kings are sacred and the ultimate sovereign on the earth. The king must be accepted, worshiped, and protected by the people in his kingdom, for the king has been appointed by God. By the people, God and the king should be viewed as one and they are obligated to "Fear God, Honor the King" (p.21). Being the ultimate sovereign, the king makes all decisions regarding the state and his judgments are final. If the king were to make a wrong judgment, only he would be allowed to correct or alter his previous decision. The king should be so powerful that "against his authority there can be no remedy except his authority" (p.22). Without this unquestionable authority, the king would be viewed as uncertain, thus he would be taken lightly and not entrusted with the faith of those in his kingdom.

Because the king answers to God and God only, he is solely responsible for all of his actions. God has entrusted the king to lead and govern the state in a professional manner. With this burden placed upon him, the king is obliged to put forth his finest effort in ruling and use their power with "fear and restraint" (p.21). While the kings are not required to be fair, they should use their power for the public good. Given this great distinction, the king should attempt to rule his kingdom as God would. The king should always consider the fact that God has divinely chosen him and can at any time relinquish the king's power and punish him. If the king were to make a mistake and realize he should not hesitate to correct in when "he knows that he has done badly" (p.22). Although the king may be the divine ruler of the state, his actions will always be held accountable for "God can judge their judgments" (p.22).