ABSOLUTE MONARCHY                     849

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY  IN  FRANCE

Theory of Divine Right—Until the seventeenth cen-
tury authority had been founded upon hardly anything
more than upon custom and religion. It was said that
the inhabitants of a kingdom ought to respect the
king, and obey him, because his power came from
God, which was the meaning of the formula, "by
the grace of God," which all the Christian princes
added to their title. Under Louis XIV. the formula-
tion of the theory of the divine right of kings was com-
pleted. It is set forth in the "Art of ruling a State,
drawn from the Holy Scriptures/' which Bossuet, pre-
ceptor of the dauphin, wrote in order to make the
future king acquainted with his rights and his duties*
"God," said Bossuet, "is the true king. But He estab-
lishes kings to be his ministers, and through them
reigns over all peoples. Royal authority emanates
from God; therefore the person of the king is sacred."
Doubtless the princes have many duties; the, power
which they have from God should only be employed
for the good of the public, "for the prince is born for
the public"; they should make themselves loved, know
the laws, study affairs and even expose their lives
for the safety of their people. But all these duties do
not bind them to their subjects. "Royal authority is
absolute." The prince is not obliged to give an ac-
count to any one for any of his commands. Not that
the king always decides justly, but he is supposed to
do so. Therefore princes must be obeyed as if they
were justice itself. He who will not obey the prince