A92147:1168
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.
Ans. The P. Prelate taketh on him to write he knoweth not what, this is not our opinion. The King is King, and hath the peoples power not as their Deputy.
1. Because the people is not principal Judge, and the King subordinate. The King in the executive power of Laws, is really a Sovereign above the people, a Deputy is not so.
1. Because the people is not principall Iudge, and the King subordinate. The King in the executive power of Lawes, is really a Soveraigne above the people, a Deputy is not so.
2. The people have irrevocably made over to the King, their power of governing, defending, and protecting themselves, I except the power of self preservation, which people can no more make away, it being sinless natures birth-right then the liberty of eating, drinking, sleeping; and this the people cannot resume, except in case of the Kings Tyranny, there is no power by the King so irrevocably resigned to his Servant or Deputy, but he may use it himself.
2. The people have irrevocably made over to the King, their power of governing, defending, and protecting themselves, I except the power of selfe preservation, which people can no more make away, it being sinlesse natures birth-right then the liberty of eating, drinking, sleeping; and this the people cannot resume, except in case of the Kings Tyranny, there is no power by the King so irrevocably resigned to his Servant or Deputy, but he may use it himselfe.