A92147:1060
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.
Lex, Rex. › Question 38: QUEST. XXXVIII. Whether Monarchy be the best of governments?
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.
As if an unchained Lion were the best governor, because unchained, to all ⟨p. 386⟩the beasts, sheep and lambs and all others, which with his teeth and paws he may reach, and that by virtue of an ordinance of God. 3. What is on man under no restraint, but made a God on earth, and so drunk with the grander of a sinning-God, here under the Moon and Clouds? who may hear good counsel, from men of his own choosing, yet is under no restraint of Law to follow it, being the supreme power absolute, high, mighty, and an impeccable god on earth: Certainly this man may more easily err, and break out in violent acts of injustice, then a number of Rulers, grave, wise, under a Law. One being a sinful man, shall sooner sin and turn a Nero (when he may go to hell, and lead thousands to hell with him gratis) then a multitude of sinful men, who have less power to do against Law: and a tyrannous killing of innocents, and a subversion of Laws, Liberties and Religion, by one who may by office, and without resistance of mortal men, do all ill, is more dangerous and hurtful, then division and fraction incident to Aristocracy. 4. Caesar is great, but Law and reason is greater: by an absolute Monarchy all things are ruled by will and pleasure above Law; then this government cannot be so good, as Law and Reason in a government by the best, or by many. 5. Under absolute Monarchy a free people is, actu primo, and in themselves enslaved, because though the Monarch so absolute should kill all, he cannot be controlled; there is no more but flight, prayers and tears remaining, and what greater power hath a Tyrant? none at all, so may we say. An absolute Monarch is, actu primo, a sleeping Lion, and a Tyrant is a waking and a devouring Lion, and they differ in accidents only. 6. This is the Papists way, Bellarmine de Pontif. l. 1. c. 1. and Sanderus de visibili Monarchia, l. 3. c. 3. Turrere in sum. de Eccles. l. 2. c. 2. prove that the government of the Church is by an absolute Monarch and Pope, because that is the best government, which yet is in question. So Royalists prove Common-wealths must be best governed by absolute Monarchs, because that is the best government, but the Law saith, it is contrary to nature, even though people should paction to make a King absolute: Conventio procuratoria ad dilapidandum & dissipandum jury naturali contraria nulla est, l. filius 15.
As if an unchained Lion were the best governour, because unchained, to all ⟨p. 386⟩