vice-god
[vice-.]
One who (on earth) takes the place, or exercises the power, of God.
Freq. in the 17th cent. as a hostile designation of the Pope.
| 1600 Darrell Detect. Harsnet 204 Our Vice Godes which are here on earth in Gods steade will take vengeance of those traitors. 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Gagg 63 There is an headship which will not reach that illimited power giuen to the Pope, Our Lord, Vice-God vpon earth. 1664 Owen Vind. Animad. Fiat Lux xvi. Wks. 1855 XIV. 392 The consequences so startled the wise state of Venice that you know they disputed it to the utmost with your vice-god Paul V. 1712 M. Henry Popery Spir. Tyranny Wks. 1853 II. 342 To call them Anti-gods, and Anti-christs, how⁓ever they pretend to be Vice-christs and Vice-gods. 1724 R. Welton Chr. Faith & Pract. 434 Man is a vice God in the world. 1830 Bentham Constit. Code Wks. 1843 IX. 38 On neither side has any vice-god been seen or fancied. 1873 L. Stephen Freethinking ix. 347 Man..is hopelessly ignorant, but set on a throne and properly manipulated he becomes an infallible vice-God. |
Hence vice-godhead.
| 1659 Baxter Key Cath. xx. 84 Not only the Romish Universal Monarchy and Vice-godhead, but even its Patriarchal Primacy was no Apostolical Tradition. |