A92147:1231
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.
P. Prelate. Though the King may not preach, &c. yet the exercise1 of these things freely within his Kingdom, what concerneth the decent and orderly doing of all, and the external man, in the external government of the Church, in appointing things arbitrary and indifferent, and what else is of this strain, are so due to the prerogative of the Crown, as that the Priests without highest Rebellion may not usurp upon him; a King in the State and Church is a mixed person, not simply civill, but sacred too. They are not only professors of truth, that they have in the capacity of Christians, but they are defenders of the faith as Kings, they are not sons only, but Nurse-fathers, they serve God, as Augustine saith, as men, and as Kings also.
P. Prelate. Though the King may not preach, &c. yet the exercise1 of these things freely within his Kingdome, what concerneth the decent and orderly doing of all, and the externall man, in the externall government of the Church, in appointing things arbitrary and indifferent, and what else is of this straine, are so due to the prerogative of the Crown, as that the Priests without highest Rebellion may not usurpe upon him; a King in the State and Church is a mixed person, not simply civill, but sacred too. They are not only professors of truth, that they have in the capacity of Christians, but they are defenders of the faith as Kings, they are not sonnes only, but Nurse-fathers, they serve God, as Augustine saith, as men, and as Kings also.
- 1Page 65.
Ans. If ye give the King power of the exercises of Word and1 Sacraments in his Kingdom, this is deprivation of Ministers in his Kingdom (for sure he cannot hinder them in another Kingdom) you may make him to give a Ministerial calling, if he may take it away. By what word of God can the King close the mouth of the man of God, whom Christ hath commanded to speak in his name? 2. If the King may externally govern the Church, why may he not excommunicate, for this is one of the special acts of Church Government, especially seeing he is a mixed person, that is half a Church-man, and if he may prescribe Arbitrary teaching Ceremonies, Surplice to instruct men in the duties of holiness required of Pastors, I see not, but he may teach the Word. 3. Dr. Ferne and other