Lex, Rex. › Question 37: QUEST. XXXVII. Whether or no it be lawful that the Estates of Scotland help their oppr…, Lex, Rex by Samuel Rutherford (1644) | AskReformation

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:1023p. 382¶9

9. Every man is a keeper of his brothers life, there is a voluntary homicide, when a man refuseth food or physic necessary for his own life, and refuseth food to his dying brother; and men are not borne for themselves. And when the King defendeth not subjects against their enemies, all fellow-subjects, by the law of Nature, of Nations, the Civill, and cannon Law, have a natural privilege to defend one another, and are mutual Magistrates to one another, when there be no other Magistrates. If an Army of Turks or Pagans would come upon Britain, if the King were dead, as he is civilly dead in this juncture of time, when he refuseth to help his subjects, one part of Britain would help another: As Jehoshaphat King of Judah did right in helping Ahab and Israel, so the Lord had approved of the war. If the left hand be wounded, and the left eye put out, nature teacheth that the whole burden of natural acts is devolved on the other hand and eye, and so are they obliged to help one another.

9. Every man is a keeper of his brothers life, there is a voluntary homicide, when a man refuseth food or physick necessary for his owne life, and refuseth food to his dying brother; and men are not borne for themselves. And when the King defendeth not subjects against their enemies, all fellow-subjects, by the law of Nature, of Nations, the Civill, and cannon Law, have a naturall priviledge to defend one another, and are mutuall Magistrates to one another, when there be no other Magistrates. If an Army of Turks or Pagans would come upon Britaine, if the King were dead, as he is civilly dead in this juncture of time, when he refuseth to helpe his subjects, one part of Britaine would help another: As Iehoshaphat King of Iudah did right in helping Ahab and Israel, so the Lord had approved of the warre. If the left hand be wounded, and the left eye put out, nature teacheth that the whole burden of naturall acts is devolved on the other hand and eye, and so are they obliged to helpe one another.

:1029p. 383–384

Answ. Hell and the Devil cannot say, that a thought was in any heart, against the Kings person: He slept in Scotland safe, and at Westminster in his own Palace, when the Estates of both Kingdoms, would not so much as take the water-pot from his bed-side, and his Spear; and Satan instilled this traitorous lye, first in Prelates, then in Papists. 2. The King professeth his maintenance of the true Protestant Religion, in his Declarations, since he took Arms; but if Saul had put Arms in the hands of Baals Priests, and in an Army of Sidonians, Philistines, Ammonites, professing their quarrel against Israel was not to defend the King, but their Dagon and false gods; clear it were, Sauls Army should not stand in relation of helpers of the Kings, but of advancers of their own Religion. Now Irish Papists and English in Arms, press the King to cancel all Laws against Popery, and make Laws for the ⟨p. 384⟩free liberty of Mass, and the full power of Papists, then the King must use Papists as Papists in these wars.

Answ. Hell and the Devill cannot say, that a thought was in any heart, against the Kings person: He sleeped in Scotland safe, and at Westminster in his owne Palace, when the Estates of both Kingdomes, would not so much as take the water-pot from his bed-side, and his Speare; and Satan instilled this traiterous lye, first in Prelates, then in Papists. 2. The King professeth his maintenance of the true Protestant Religion, in his Declarations, since he tooke Armes; but if Saul had put Armes in the hands of Baals Priests, and in an Armie of Sidonians, Philistims, Ammonites, professing their quarrell against Israel was not to defend the King, but their Dagon and false gods; cleere it were, Sauls Armie should not stand in relation of helpers of the Kings, but of advancers of their owne Religion. Now Irish Papists and English in Armes, presse the King to cancell all Lawes against Popery, and make Laws for the ⟨p. 384⟩free liberty of Masse, and the full power of Papists, then the King must use Papists as Papists in these warres.