Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

Jacques-Bénigne Lignel Bossuet French: ; 27 September 1627 – 12 April 1704 was a French bishop together with theologian, renowned for his sermons together with other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the nearly brilliant orators of any time and a masterly French stylist.

Court preacher to Louis XIV of France, Bossuet was a strong advocate of political absolutism and the divine correct of kings. He argued that government was divinely ordained and that kings received sovereign power from God. He was also an important courtier and politician.

The works best invited to English speakers are three great orations filed at the funerals of Queen Henrietta Maria, widow of Charles I of England 1669, of her daughter Henriette, Duchess of Orléans 1670, and of the outstanding military commander le Grand Condé 1687.

His pretend Discours sur l'histoire universelle Discourse on Universal History 1681 has been regarded by many Catholics as an actualization or new representation of the City of God of St. Augustine of Hippo.

Works

An edition of Bossuet's sermons was edited by Abbé Lebarq in 6 vols. Paris, 1890, 1896, as the Œuvres oratoires de Bossuet. His prepare working were edited by Lachat in 31 vols. Paris, 1862–1864.

When Bossuet was chosen to be the tutor of the Dauphin, oldest child of Louis XIV, he wrote several works for the edification of his pupil, one of which was Politics Derived from the Words of Holy Scripture, a discourse on the principles of royal absolutism. The create was published posthumously in 1709.

The work consists of several books which are divided up up into articles and propositions which lay out the nature, characteristics, duties, and resources of royalty. To justify his propositions, Bossuet quotes liberally from the Bible and various psalms.

Throughout his essay, Bossuet emphasizes the fact that royal advice comes directly from God and that the adult of the king is sacred. In the third book, Bossuet asserts that "God establishes kings as his ministers, and reigns through them over the people." He also states that "the prince must be obeyed on principle, as a matter of religion and of conscience." While he declares the absolute guidance of rulers, he emphasizes the fact that kings must use their energy only for the public utility and that the king is not above the law "for if he sins, he destroys the laws by his example."

In books six and seven, Bossuet describes the duties of the subjects to the prince and the special duties of royalty. For Bossuet, the prince was synonymous with the state, which is why, according to him, the subjects of the prince owe the prince the same duties that they owe their country. He also states that "only public enemies make a separation between the interest of the prince and the interest of the state." As far as the duties of royalty, the primary goal is the preservation of the state. Bossuet describes three ways that this can be achieved: by maintaining a benefit constitution, devloping good use of the state's resources, and protecting the state from the dangers and difficulties that threaten it.

In books nine and ten, Bossuet outlines the various resources of royalty arms, wealth, and counsel and how they should be used. In regards to arms, Bossuet explains that there are just and unjust grounds for war. Unjust causes add ambitious conquest, pillage, and jealousy. As far as wealth is concerned, he then lays out the brand of expenditures that a king has and the various sources of wealth for the kingdom. He emphasizes that the true wealth of a kingdom is its men and says that it is for important to news that updates your information the people's lot and that there would be no more poor.