A92147:1025
A treatise of civil policy
A treatise of civil policy: being a resolution of forty three questions concerning prerogative, right and privilege, in reference to the supreme prince and the people. / By Samuel Rutherford professor of divinity of St Andrews in Scotland.A treatise of civil policy: being a resolution of forty three questions concerning prerogative, right and priviledge, in reference to the supream prince and the people. / By Samuel Rutherford professor of divintiy of St Andrews in Scotland.
London, : Printed and are to be sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St Pauls Church-yard near the West end., 1657 i.e. 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Answ. It is not much to other men what is spoken to any mans conscience by Phrase and customs; for by this no States where there be no Kings, but government by the best, or the people, as in Holland, or in other Nations, can have power of war, for what time of year shall Kings go to war who are not Kings? and because Christ saith, A certain householder delivered talents to his servants, will this infer to any conscience, that none but a householder may take usury? And when he saith, If the good man of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would watch; shall it follow, the son or servant may not watch the house, but only the good man?
Answ. It is not much to other men what is spoken to any mans conscience by Phrase and customes; for by this no States where there be no Kings, but government by the best, or the people, as in Holland, or in other Nations, can have power of war, for what time of yeare shall Kings goe to war who are not Kings? and because Christ saith, A certaine housholder delivered talents to his servants, will this infer to any conscience, that none but a housholder may take usurie? And when he saith, If the good man of the house knew at what houre the thiefe would come, he would watch; shall it follow, the sonne or servant may not watch the house, but onely the good man?
Obj. 2. Ferne, pag. 95. The natural Body cannot move, but upon natural Principles; and so neither can the Politic Body move in War, but upon Politic reasons from the Prince, which must direct by Law.
Obj. 2. Ferne, pag. 95. The naturall Bodie cannot move, but upon naturall Principles; and so neither can the Politique Bodie move in Warre, but upon Politique reasons from the Prince, which must direct by Law.
Answ. This may well be retorted, the Politic Head cannot then move, but upon politic reasons; and so the King cannot move to wars, but by the Law, and that is by consent of Parliament, and no Law can principle the head to destroy the members. 2. If an Army of cut-throats rise to destroy the Kingdom, because the King is in lacking, in his place, to do his duty, how can the other Judges, the States and Parliament, be accessory to murder committed by them, in not raising armies to suppress such robbers? Shall the inferior Judges be guilty of innocent blood, because the King will not do his duty? 3. The politic body ceaseth no more to renounce the principles of sinless nature, in self-defence, because it is a politic body, and subject to a King, then it can leave off to sleep, eat and drink; and there is more need of politic principles to the one, then the other. 4. The Parliaments and Estates of both Kingdoms move in these wars by the Kings Laws, and are a formal politic body in themselves.