Lex, Rex

Name: Lex, Rex
Author: Samuel Rutherford

Lex, rex The law and the prince : a dispute for the just prerogative of king and people : containing the reasons and causes of the most necessary defensive wars of the kingdom of Scotland and of their expedition for the aid and help of their dear brethren of England : in which their innocency is asserted and a full answer is given to a seditious pamphlet entitled Sacro-sancta regum majestas, or, The sacred and royal prerogative of Christian kings, under the name of J. A. but penned by Jo. Maxwell the excommunicate P. Prelate. : with a scriptural confutation of the ruinous grounds of W. Barclay, H. Grotius, H. Arnisœus, Ant. de Domi P. Bishop of Spalata, and of other late anti-magistratical royalists, as the author of Ossorianum, D. Fern, E. Symmons, the doctors of Aberdeen, &c. : in XLIV questions.Lex, rex The law and the prince : a dispute for the just prerogative of king and people : containing the reasons and causes of the most necessary defensive wars of the kingdom of Scotland and of their expedition for the ayd and help of their dear brethren of England : in which their innocency is asserted and a full answer is given to a seditious pamphlet intituled Sacro-sancta regum majestas, or, The sacred and royall prerogative of Christian kings, under the name of J. A. but penned by Jo. Maxwell the excommunicate P. Prelat. : with a scripturall confutation of the ruinous grounds of W. Barclay, H. Grotius, H. Arnisœus, Ant. de Domi P. Bishop of Spalata, and of other late anti-magistratical royalists, as the author of Ossorianum, D. Fern, E. Symmons, the doctors of Aberdeen, &c. : in XLIV questions.

Samuel Rutherford 1600?–1661London: printed for John Field, 1644London: printed for Iohn Field, 1644

[40], 467 (i.e. 435) p. · 209k words · Wing R2386 · ESTC R12731

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Lex, Rex. › Question 29: QUEST. XXIX. Whether, in the case of Defensive war, the distinction of the person of…Lex, Rex. › Question 29: QUEST. XXIX. Whether, in the case of Defensive warre, the distinction of the person of…

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:836–851 of 1,351

:836p. 277

Symmons, p. 24. The King himself may use this distinction. As a Christian, he may forgive any that offendeth against his person: but as a Judge, he must punish, in regard of his office. Ans. Well then, Flatterers will grant the distinction, when the King doth good, and pardoneth the blood of Protestants, shed by bloody Rebels: But when the King doth acts of injustice, he is neither man, nor King, but some independent absolute God.

Symmons, p. 24. The King himselfe may use this distinction. As a Christian, he may forgive any that offendeth against his person: but as a Iudge, he must punish, in regard of his office. Ans. Well then, Flatterers will grant the distinction, when the King doth good, and pardoneth the blood of Protestants, shed by bloody Rebels: But when the King doth acts of injustice, he is neither man, nor King, but some independent absolute God.

:837p. 277–278

Symmons, p. 27. Gods Word tieth me to every one of his personal commandments, as well as his legal commandments: nor do I obey the Kings law, because it is established, or because of its known penalty; nor yet the King himself, because he ruleth according to Law. But I obey the Kings law, because I obey the King: and I obey the King, because I obey God: I obey the King, and his Law▪ because I obey God and his Law. Better obey the Command, for a reverent regard to the Prince, then for a penalty. Ans. It is hard to answer a sick man. It is blasphemy, to seek this distinction of Person and Office, in the King of Kings; because by (Person) in a mortal King, we understand a Man that can sin. 1. I am not obliged to obey his personal commandment, except I were his domestic: nor his unlawful personal commandments, because they are sinful. 2. It is false that you obey the Kings Law, because you obey the King: for then you say but this, I obey the King, because I obey the King. The truth is, ⟨p. 278⟩Obedience is not formally terminated on the person of the King; Obedience is relative to a precept: and it is Men-service, to obey a Law, not because it is good and just; but upon this formal motive, because it is the will of a mortal man to command it. And Reverence, Love, Fear, being acts of the Affection, are not terminated on a Law, but properly on the Person of the Judge: and they are modifications, or laudable qualifications of acts of obedience; not motives, not the formal reason why I obey, but the manner how I obey. And the Apostle maketh expressly,

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Lex, Rex

QUEST. XXX. Whether or no Passive Obedience be a mean to which we are subjected in conscience by virtue of a Divine Commandment, and what a mean Resistance is. That Flying is Resistance.

QUEST. XXX. Whether or no Passive Obedience be a meane to which we are subjected in conscience by vertue of a Divine Commandement, and what a meane Resistance is. That Flying is Resistance.

The author

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

QUEST. XXX. Whether or no Passive Obedience be a mean to which we are subjected in conscience by virtue of a Divine Commandment, and what a mean Resistance is. That Flying is Resistance.

QUEST. XXX. Whether or no Passive Obedience be a meane to which we are subjected in conscience by vertue of a Divine Commandement, and what a meane Resistance is. That Flying is Resistance.

The author

Transcription key