King James True Law Of Free Monarchies

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King James I’s “True Law of Free Monarchies” has been analyzed for centuries regarding the true meaning of the text. James I wrote the document to inform the people of his land regarding the “true grounds of the mutual duty and allegiance betwixt a free and absolute Monarchy and his people” (2). By using the True Law of Free Monarchies, James I informed the people about the meaning and duties of the King as well as the relationship between the king, his people and God. In this paper, I argue that in the True law of the Free Monarchies James the First illustrated that a king was a gift from God to the people of the nation, and therefore a king should be treated like God. It is also a king’s responsibility to teach and govern his people in …show more content…

According to the prophetical king David “Kings are called Gods because they sit upon God at his throne in the earth”(2). In other words James I believed that a king is a lieutenant that god placed on the earth, in his place, to guide and rule the people of the land. Because God chose the king as his earthly manifestation, the king has the power over the people and expected his subjects to respect, honor as well as obey him. Anyone that disobeyed the word of the king was symbolically and, thought as, literally disobeying the word of God. Thus, any action by the king is thought of as being justified, since the king is thought of as God on Earth. James I expected his people to “fear him as a judge, love him as a father, and pray for him as their protector. Being a representation of God, the king is given …show more content…

The role of “king” was created and specially chosen by God to watch over and govern the people of his nation. He had to “minister justice and judgment to the people” but at the same time expected unconditional loyalty (2). No matter what actions the king performs and how he governs his people, every individual is expected to obey and accept the acts whole heartily because the word of the king is the word of God. The king is “God on earth, and loving father” who should have “loving and obedient subjects” that are blessed to have him as a king

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