. The story of our Christianity; an account of the struggles, persecutions, wars, and victories of Christians of all times. more to his weak-nesses and meannesses than to thewisdom and courage of much bettersovereigns. For he was a tyrant atheart, and cherished notions whichwould have been the death of liberty,if he had been the man to enforcethem. In his time the surprisingtheory of Sir Robert Filmer was de-veloped and propagated, that Godgave to the patriarchs, and throughthem to all kings in lineal succession,an absolute authority, a divine right, which transcended all other rights,cording
. The story of our Christianity; an account of the struggles, persecutions, wars, and victories of Christians of all times. more to his weak-nesses and meannesses than to thewisdom and courage of much bettersovereigns. For he was a tyrant atheart, and cherished notions whichwould have been the death of liberty,if he had been the man to enforcethem. In his time the surprisingtheory of Sir Robert Filmer was de-veloped and propagated, that Godgave to the patriarchs, and throughthem to all kings in lineal succession,an absolute authority, a divine right, which transcended all other rights,cording to this, the monarch, though a fool and a knave in unbelieving eyes, wasa sacred person who could do no wrong, and whom nobody could call to account:his eldest son, and that sons descendants for any length of time, though excludedfrom the throne, retained their superior character and authority, and the popularwill and the general interest went for nothing. When a sovereign holds ideas like this, it is fortunate if he has no standingarmy, and if his personal traits are such as to inspire neither affection, admiration,. ELIZABETHS TOMB, WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 640 THE STORY OF OUR CHRISTIANITY. nor esteem. James, though, an incapable coward, was silly enough to keep hisParliament irritated by reminding them that they were merely his creatures,and had no more right to question his will or power than those of the Most ludicrous pretensions, combined with his utter lack of commanding oreven respectable qualities, rapidly undermined the loyal regard in which thenation had hitherto held the throne. The Tudors, who were forceful and mas-terful rulers, had never claimed so much. James, who was far more laughed atthan loved or feared, seemed but a poor representative of the Deity. Still the doctrine of Divine Right throve and spread. To the rational mindit is more obnoxious even than that of papal infallibility, for kings may possessabsolute power in temporal things, which popes ne
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