Chapter III — On the Truly Monarchical Form of the Kingdom of God

The third reason is that in this place alone is found the perfect form of ruling. For the difference between a kingdom and a republic, whether an aristocratic or a popular republic, is that in a kingdom supreme power is found in one man, while in a republic it is found in many. In the kingdoms of men, however, supreme power never resides in one truly and properly: for a king may perhaps, without the counsel or consent of others, command that something be done, but he cannot carry it out unless his subjects are willing. And often he cannot even give the command — or at least will not dare to — if the multitude of his subjects intimidates him. For how many great kings or emperors have there been, whom their army deserted or even put to death? The histories are full of such examples. Empty, therefore, is the supreme power of mortal kings, who can never accomplish anything unless their subjects are willing. But the power of God, who is truly called and truly is the great King, depends on no one but His own will; and since that will is omnipotent, no one can resist it, nor does He need soldiers or arms or anything outside Himself. And if He employs angels or men as ministers, or even things without sensation and inanimate, He does so because He wills it, not because He cannot do all that He wills without them; for He who, without any companion or minister, created heaven and earth and all that is in them by His word alone, and preserves them by His will alone, could surely also govern all things by His command alone. Nor does God reign in the truest sense only because supreme power resides in Him, but also because the supreme art of governing is His alone; nor does God need any senate or any counselors. "Who," says St. Paul, "has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?" (Rom. 11:34) And before him the prophet Isaiah: "Who," he says, "has aided the Spirit of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor, and shown Him? With whom has He taken counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of prudence?" (Isa. 40:13-14) And so monarchy, which is the best form of government, is not only found in God, but in Him alone is it found true and perfect. For He is not only "terrible above all the kings of the earth" (Ps. 75:13), as is said in the Psalms, but He is also "a great King above all gods" (Ps. 94:3), as is said in another Psalm. For others are false gods, who should rather be called devils, according to that saying of the Prophet: "All the gods of the Gentiles are devils." (Ps. 95:5) Others are gods by participation, such as the kings of the earth and the angels of heaven, according to that saying: "I have said: you are gods, and all of you sons of the Most High." (Ps. 81:6) But all these gods, that God who reigns in the heavens holds subject to His rule; hence He alone is the true and great King. This Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, acknowledged and confessed in these words, after he had paid most heavy penalties for his pride: "Therefore at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified Him who lives forever; for His power is an everlasting power, and His kingdom endures for generation after generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before Him; for He acts according to His will both with the powers of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and there is none who can resist His hand and say to Him: Why have You done it? Now therefore I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and magnify and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true, and His ways are judgments, and those who walk in pride He can humble." Thus he spoke — and he can be an example to all, that they should humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, as St. Peter admonishes, and take more delight in serving the King of kings, so as to merit His bounty, than in resisting His will with a proud heart and so being forced to feel His most heavy hand. (1 Pet. 5:6)