Abstract: Bossuet and Louis Machon offer two major examples of the political uses of the Bible in 17th century texts – which this paper will explore through the notion of authority. The Bible is an “auctoritas” and it speaks of authority ; this bifold relation, which influences the way Bible is used, invites us to compare those two churchmen, whose views are so radically opposed. Furthermore, it allows us to reconsider the use of the Bible made by 17th century political literary texts.
