Thursday, September 8, 2022

day no. 16,026: one body or one by one?

"The whole people is above the king, and likewise taken in one entire body, are in authority before him, yet being considered one by one, they are all of them under the king." -- Junius Brutus, Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos

Kings serve the kingdom while reigning over the individuals. Kings receive authority from the kingdom. A people can exist without a king, but a king cannot exist without a people. Earthly kingdoms precede their kings. Kingdoms have their authority to declare one from among them as their king while kings have the authority to declare one a subject, but the kingdom does not answer to the king, the king answers to the kingdom. The king is free to appoint advisers to his cabinet, but he is forbidden from appointing elders to the community. They are equally accountable to their people. The people as one body are permitted to place a crown on their own head or rings upon their own fingers, but the king as one man is not permitted to cast off any of his citizens without cause.

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