[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. Mountagu, 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, however 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.
