A92147:1170
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.
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.
3. A Delegate is comptable for all he doth to those that put him in trust, whether he do ill or well. The King in acts of Justice is not comptable to any, for if his acts be not liable to high suspicions of Tyranny, no man may say to him What dost thou? only in acts of unjustice, and those so tyrannous, that they be inconsistent with the ⟨p. 418⟩habitual fiduciary repose and trust put on him, he is to render accounts to the Parliament, which representeth the people.
3. A Delegate is comptable for all he doth to those that put him in trust, whether he doe ill or well. The King in acts of Iustice is not comptable to any, for if his acts be not lyable to high suspitions of Tyranny, no man may say to him What dost thou? onely in acts of unjustice, and those so tyrannous, that they be inconsistent with the ⟨p. 418⟩habituall fiduciary repose and trust put on him, he is to render accounts to the Parliament, which representeth the people.