Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos: A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants

"Seeing then that kings are only the lieutenants of God, established in the Throne of God by the Lord God himself, and the people are the people of God, and that the honor which is done to these lieutenants proceeds from the reverence which is born to those that sent them to this services, it follows of necessity that kings must be obeyed for God's cause, and not against God, and then, when they serve and obey God, and not otherwise… That sentence of God Almighty must always remain irrevoca...