Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

III. The third thing is, The Nature of this Dominion.

1. This Dominion is Independent. His Throne is in the Heavens; the Heavens depend not upon the Earth, nor God upon his Creatures. Since he is Independent in regard of his Essence, he is so in his dominion, which flows from the excellency and fullness of his Essence. As he receives his Essence from none, so he derives his dominion from none. All other dominion except paternal Authority is rooted originally in the wills of men.^* The first Title was the consent of the People, or the conquest of others by the help of those People that first consented. And in the exercise of it, Earthly dominion depends upon assistance of the Subjects, and the Members being joined with the head carry on the work of Government, and prevent Civil dissentions; in the support of it, it depends upon the Subjects Contributions, and Taxes. The Subjects in their strength are the Arms, and in their Purses the Sinews of Government. But God depends upon none in the foundation of his Government; he is not a Lord by the Votes of his Vassals. Nor is it successively handed to him by any Predecessor, nor constituted by the power of a Superior. Nor forced he his way by War, and conquest, nor precariously attained it by suit or flattery, or bribing promises. He holds not the right of his Empire from any other; he hath no Superior to hand him to his Throne, and settle him by Commission. He is therefore called King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, having none above him. A great King above all Gods, Psal. 95.3. Needing no Licence from any when to act, nor direction how to act, or assistance in his action: He owes not any of those to any person; he was not ordered by any other to Create, and therefore receives not orders from any other to rule over what he hath created. He received not his power and wisdom from another, and therefore is not Subject to any for the rule of his Government. He only made his own Subjects, and from himself hath the sole Authority; his own will was the cause of their beings, and his own will is the director of their actions. He is not determined by his Creatures, in any of his motions, but determines the Creatures in all. His actions are not regulated by any Law without him, but by a Law within him, the Law of his own Nature. 'Tis impossible he can have any rule without himself: because there is nothing Superior to himself.