A92147:1061
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.
de cond. lust. l. Nepos. procul 125. de verb. signif. l. 188.1 ubi. de jure Regni l. 85. d. tit.
- 1Monarchy in it self considered is the best government.Monarchy in it selfe considered is the best government.
Assert. 2. Monarchy in its latitude as heaven and earth and all the host therein are Citizens, is the best government absolutely, ⟨p. 387⟩because Gods immediate government must be best, but that other governments are good or best so far as they come near to this, must prove that there is a Monarchy in Angels, if there be a government, and a Monarchy amongst Fishes, Beasts, Birds, &c. and that, if Adam had never sinned there should be one Monarchy amongst all mankind. I profess I have no eye to see what Government could be in that State, but paternal, or marital; and by this reason there should be one Catholic Emperor over all the Kings of the earth; A position holden by some Papists, and Interpreters of the cannon Law, which maketh all the Princes of the earth to be usurpers, except these who acknowledge a Catholic dominion of the whole earth in the Emperor, to whom they submit themselves as Vassals. If Kings were Gods and could not sin, and just as Solomon in the beginning of his reign, and as David, I could say Monarchy so limited must be better then Aristocracy, or Democracy. 1. Because it is farthest from injustice, nearest to peace and godliness; m. l. 3. §. aparet. ff. de administrat. tutor. l. 2. §. novissime. ff. de Orig. jur. Aristot. pol. l. 8. c. 10. Bodin. de Rep. l. 6. c. 4. 2. Because God ordained this government in his people. 3. By experience it is known to be less obnoxious to change, except that some think the Venetian Common-wealth best; but with reverence, I see small difference between a King, and the Duke of Venice.
Assert. 2. Monarchy in its latitude as heaven and earth and all the hoast therein are Citizens, is the best government absolutely,