A92147:1075
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.
Object. 6. Monarchy is most perfect, because most opposite to Anarchy, 1and most agreeable to nature, as is evident in Plants, Birds, Bees.
- 1Symmons Loyal Subj. unbelief. §. 4. pag. 7.Symmons Loyall Subj. unbeliefe. §. 4. pag. 7.
Answ. Government of sinless nature void of reason, as in birds, bees, is weak to conclude politic civil government amongst men in sin, and especially absolute government, a King-Be is not absolute, nor a King-Eagle, if either destroy its fellows, by nature all rise and destroy their King. 2. A King-Be doth not act by counsel borrowed from fellow Bees as a King must do, and communication of counsels lesseneth absoluteness of a man. 2. I see not how a Monarchy is more opposite to Anarchy and confusion, then other governments, a Monarch as one, is more opposite to a multitude, as many; but there is no less order in Aristocracy then in Monarchy: for a government essentially includeth order of commanding and subjection. Now one is not, for absoluteness, more contrary to Anarchy then many, for that one now who can easily slip from a King ⟨p. 389⟩to a Tyrant, cannot have a negative voice in acts of justice, for then should he have a legal power to oppose justice, and so for his absoluteness he should be most contrary to order of justice, and a Monarch because absolute, should be a door-neighbour to disorder and confusion.
Answ. Government of sinlesse nature void of reason, as in birds, bees, is weak to conclude politique civil government amongst men in sin, and especially absolute government, a King-Bee is not absolute, nor a King-Eagle, if either destroy its fellowes, by nature all rise and destroy their King. 2. A King-Bee doth not act by counsell borrowed from fellow Bees as a King must do, and communication of counsels lesseneth absolutenesse of a man. 2. I see not how a Monarchy is more opposite to Anarchy and confusion, then other governments, a Monarch as one, is more opposite to a multitude, as many; but there is no lesse order in Aristocracy then in Monarchy: for a government essentially includeth order of commanding and subjection. Now one is not, for absolutenesse, more contrary to Anarchy then many, for that one now who can easily slip from a King