A92147:1036
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.
3. Some say it is lawful, but not always expedient, in which opinion there is this much truth, that if the neighbour nation have an evil cause, neque licet, neque expedit, it is neither lawful, nor expedient. ⟨p. 379⟩But what is lawful in the case of necessity so extreme, as is the loss1 of a brothers life or of a nation, must be expedient, because necessity of non-sinning maketh any lawful thing expedient. As to help my brother in fire or water, requiring my present and speedy help though to the loss of my goods must be as expedient, as a negative commandment (Thou shalt not murder.)
3. Some say it is lawfull, but not alwayes expedient, in which opinion there is this much truth, that if the neighbor nation have an evil cause, neque licet, neque expedit, it is neither lawfull, nor expedient. ⟨p. 379⟩But what is lawful in the case of necessity so extreame, as is the losse1 of a brothers life or of a nation, must be expedient, because necessity of non-sinning maketh any lawfull thing expedient. As to help my brother in fire or water, requiring my present and speedy help though to the losse of my goods must be as expedient, as a negative commandement (Thou shalt not murther.)
- 1Cases •n which we are to help our brethren according to divers opinions.
4. Others think it lawful in the case that my brother seek my help only, other ways I have no calling thereunto: to which opinion, I cannot universally subscribe, it is holden both by reason, and the soundest divines, that to rebuke my brother of sin is (actus misericordiae, & charitatis,) an act of mercy and charity to his soul,