A92147:1157
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.
The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, hath no more by Divine right, (what he may have by positive Ecclesiastical right, is not pertinent for us now to examine and discuss) no higher privilege (except it be in extent) then the meanest Bishop of the world in his Diocese. And amongst all proofs, he passing by Scriptures, which should prove, or improve a Divine right, he will content himself with one proof of Cyprian, de unitat. Eccles. And endeth with these words: Would God, both sides, in this, and other controversies, would submit to the judgement of the holy Fathers.
The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, hath no more by Divine right, (what he may have by positive Ecclesiasticall right, is not pertinent for us now to examine and discusse) no higher priviledge (except it be in extent) then the meanest Bishop of the world in his Diocesse. And amongst all proofes, he passing by Scriptures, which should prove, or improve a Divine right, he will content himselfe with one proofe of Cyprian, de unitat. Eccles. And endeth with these words: Would God, both sides, in this, and other controversies, would submit to the judgement of the holy Fathers.
Hence the P. Prelate, in his 4. Article, (the other two I shall touch anon) maketh Puritans grosser then Jesuits, in dethroning Kings; because, if the King be deficient, the People may resume their power, and govern for him, and so dethrone the King. But Bellarmine, l. 3. q. de laic. holdeth, the people cannot dethrone the King, 1but, in certis casibus, in some cases, that is, (as Suarez saith) si Rex sua potestate ju manifestam (Civitatis ceu Regni) perniciem abutatur. But I will demonstrate, that if Papists hold that the Pope may dethrone Kings, this Prelate is of their mind: for, 1. the words I cited, make good that he is for the Popes Supremacy; (now it is a joint or lith of his supremacy, to King and un-King Princes.) 2. They make good that he is a Papist: for, 1. It is presumption in the Pope to challenge to himself, that he is Christs Universal Vicar on 2