A92147:1049
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.
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.
10. As we are to bear one another's burdens, and to help our enemies, to compassionate strangers; so far more these, who make one body of Christ with us.
10. As we are to beare one anothers burthens, and to help our enemies, to compassionate strangers; so far more these, who make one body of Christ with us.