According to the text, what must the people do?
obey the king in all matters
hold the king accountable for his actions
resist God when ordered to do so
submit to God unless the king objects
Background information: This passage was written by
Jean Domat, a famed French judge who served during
the reign of Louis XIV.
Since government is necessary for the public good, and
God Himself has established it, it is consequently also
necessary for those who are subject to government, to be
submissive and obedient. For otherwise they would resist
God Himself, and government, which should be the bond
of peace and unity that brings about the public good,
would become an occasion for divisions and disturbances
that would cause its downfall. The first duty of obedience
to government is the duty to obey those who hold the first
place in it, monarchs or others who are the heads of the
body that makes up society, and to obey them as the
limbs of the human body obey the head to which they are
united.
-Jean Domat,
1697