This work is a revised form of my doctoral dissertation at McGill University. While I have been interested in ecclesiology and political theology for many years, my Doktorvater, Professor Douglas Farrow, introduced me to another area of interest, the Via moderna. In particular, he demonstrated to me the incredible import of anti-realism and voluntarism on medieval and modern thought and culture. He also offered invaluable guidance and feedback on earlier drafts of this work. During my writing, I also greatly benefitted from the feedback of Professors Torrance Kirby and Thomas Izbicki, as well as conference participants from the Canadian Society of Church History, the Canadian Society for Renaissance Studies, and the Centre for Research on Religion at McGill. Finally, I thank Robert Bast, my editor with Brill, for his guidance, and the anonymous peer reviewer for his/her very helpful critiques.