42 THE KING'S MIRROR 



psi.t. npnn earth: consequently, whejLOjnLehpJlPls^Lking, 

 it is as if he honors God himself, because .oltheJitle-that. 

 he has from God.* 



The author evidently realizes that statements of this 

 sort will not be accepted without further argument, and 

 he naturally proceeds to gn've his doctrine a basis in 

 history. The reverence due kingship is fully 



( 





illustrated with episodes in the career of David. So long 

 as God permitted King Saul to live, David would do 

 nothing to deprive him of his office; for Saul was also 



\ the Lord's anointed. He took swift revenge upon the 



) man who came to his camp pretending that he had slain 

 Saul; for he had sinned against God in bearing arms 

 against His anointed. He also calls attention to Saint 

 Peter's injunction: " Fear God and honor your king;" 

 and adds that it is " almost as if he had literally said 



\ that he who does not show perfect honor to the king 



\ioesnotfear God." | 



To emphasize his contention that kingship is of divine 

 origin, the author cites the^example of Christ. The mir- 

 acle of the fish in whose mouth the tribute money was 

 found is referred to in the Address as well as in the King's 

 Mirror. Peter was to examine the first fish, not the 

 second or the third. In the same way, and here the argu- 

 ment is characteristically medievall"^ every man should 

 in all things first honor the king and the royal dignity; 

 for God Himself calls the king His anointed. "%\ 

 [But, objects the son,yhoa^cQuld Christ who is him- 

 self the lard nf he^Vfin and fiaTth bf willing tr> gnV>rnit t^. 

 An....fifl.rt.h1y_.AiitIinrit^Lp To this the father replies that 



* C. xliii. f C. xliv. J Ibid. 



