=Source.=--Somers, _Tracts_. Vol. iii., p. 260.
The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth; for kings
are not only God's lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God's
throne, but even by God himself they are called gods. There be three
principal similitudes that illustrate the state of monarchy: one
taken out of the word of God; and the two other out of the grounds
of policy and philosophy. In the scriptures, kings are called gods;
and so their power, after a certain relation, compared to the divine
power. Kings are also compared to fathers of families: for a king
is truly _parens patriæ_, the politique father of his people. And,
lastly, kings are compared to the head of this microcosm of the body
of man.
Kings are justly called gods; for that they exercise a manner or
resemblance of divine power upon earth. For, if you will consider
the attributes of God, you shall see how they agree in the person
of a king. God hath power to create or destroy, make or unmake, at
his pleasure; to give life or send death, to judge all, and not
to be judged nor accountable to none; to raise low things, and to
make high things low at his pleasure, and to God are both soul and
body due. And the like power have kings: they make and unmake their
subjects; they have power of raising and casting down; of life and
of death; judges over all their subjects, and in all causes, and
yet accountable to none but God only. They have power to exalt low
things, and abase high things and make of their subjects like men at
the chess; a pawn to take a bishop or a knight, and to cry up or down
any of their subjects, as they do their money. And to the king is due
both the affection of the soul and the service of the body of his
subjects.