Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Preface and acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations and references
- Introduction
- 1 Moderate (religious) liberty in the theology of John Calvin: The original Genevan experiment
- 2 The duties of conscience and the free exercise of Christian liberty: Theodore Beza and the rise of Calvinist rights and resistance theory
- 3 Natural rights, popular sovereignty, and covenant politics: Johannes Althusius and the Dutch Revolt and Republic
- 4 Prophets, priests, and kings of liberty: John Milton and the rights and liberties of Englishmen
- 5 How to govern a city on a hill: Covenant liberty in Puritan New England
- 6 Concluding reflections: The biography and biology of liberty in early modern Calvinism
- Bibliography
- Index to biblical sources
- Index
3 - Natural rights, popular sovereignty, and covenant politics: Johannes Althusius and the Dutch Revolt and Republic
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2015
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Preface and acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations and references
- Introduction
- 1 Moderate (religious) liberty in the theology of John Calvin: The original Genevan experiment
- 2 The duties of conscience and the free exercise of Christian liberty: Theodore Beza and the rise of Calvinist rights and resistance theory
- 3 Natural rights, popular sovereignty, and covenant politics: Johannes Althusius and the Dutch Revolt and Republic
- 4 Prophets, priests, and kings of liberty: John Milton and the rights and liberties of Englishmen
- 5 How to govern a city on a hill: Covenant liberty in Puritan New England
- 6 Concluding reflections: The biography and biology of liberty in early modern Calvinism
- Bibliography
- Index to biblical sources
- Index
Summary
[I]n accordance with the law of nature and in order to preserve and defend ourselves and our fellow-countrymen, our rights, the privileges and ancient customs and the freedom of our fatherland, and the life and honor of our wives, children, and posterity, so that we may not become the Spaniard's slaves, and forsaking the King of Spain with good right, we have been compelled to devise and practice other means which seem to provide better for the greater safety and preservation of our aforesaid rights, privileges, and liberties.
Dutch Act of Abjuration (1581)THE DUTCH REVOLT
With these words, the Estates General of the Netherlands declared to the world that Philip II, King of Spain, Duke of Burgundy, and Lord of the Netherlands, was a tyrant whom they could no longer obey. The Act of Abjuration recited the familiar Calvinist resistance arguments. “The prince of a country is established by God as his subjects' sovereign in order to defend and protect them against all injury, force, and violence, just as a shepherd's duty is to keep his sheep safe.” He is established “for his subjects' sake,” and must “govern them by law and reason and to protect and love them as a father does his children.” The Dutch provinces and people have always accepted “their princes and lords under [these] set conditions.”
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Reformation of RightsLaw, Religion and Human Rights in Early Modern Calvinism, pp. 143 - 208Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008