17. We have already declared which were the laws of God, as well sacred as secular, in his government by the way of nature only. Now because there is no man but may be deceived in reasoning, and that it so falls out that men are of different opinions concerning the most actions; it may be demanded further, whom God would have to be the _interpreter of right reason_, that is to say, of his laws. And as for the _secular_ laws, (I mean those which concern justice and the carriage of men towards men), by what hath been said before of the constitution of a city, we have demonstratively showed it agreeable to reason, that all _judicature_ belongs to the city; and that _judicature_ is nothing else but an _interpretation of the laws_; and by consequence, that every where cities, that is to say, those who have the sovereign power, are the _interpreters of the laws_. As for the _sacred_ laws, we must consider what hath been before demonstrated in chap. V. art. 13, that every subject hath transferred as much right as he could on him or them who had the supreme authority. But he could have transferred his right of judging the manner how God is to be honoured; and therefore also he hath done it. That he could, it appears hence; that the manner of honouring God before the constitution of a city, was to be fetched from every man’s _private reason_. But every man can subject his _private_ reason to the reason of _the whole city_. Moreover, if each man should follow his own reason in the _worshipping_ of God, in so great a diversity of worshippers one would be apt to judge another’s worship uncomely, or impious; neither would the one seem to the other to honour God. Even that therefore which were most consonant to reason, would not be a _worship_; because that the nature of _worship_ consists in this, that it be the _sign of inward honour_. But there is no sign, but whereby somewhat becomes known to others; and therefore is there no sign of honour, but what seems so to others. Again, that is a true sign, which by the consent of men becomes a sign; therefore also that is honourable, which by the consent of men, that is to say, by the command of the city, becomes a sign of honour. It is not therefore against the will of God, declared by the way of reason only, to give him such signs of honour as the city shall command. Wherefore subjects can transfer their right of judging the manner of God’s worship, on him or them who have the sovereign power. Nay, they must do it; for else all manner of absurd opinions concerning the nature of God, and all ridiculous ceremonies which have been used by any nations, will be seen at once in the same city. Whence it will fall out, that every man will believe that all the rest do offer God an affront; so that it cannot be truly said of any, that he worships God; for no man worships God, that is to say, honours him outwardly, but he who doth those things, whereby he appears to others for to honour him. It may therefore be