A92147:1232
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. 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 other2 Royalists deny Arbitrary Government to the King in the State, and with reason, because it is Tyranny over the people, but Prelates are not ashamed of commanding a thing Arbitrary and indifferent in Gods Worship, shall not Arbitrary Government in the Church be tyranny over the conscience? But (say they,) Church-men teacheth the King what is decent and orderly in Gods Worship, and he commandeth it.
Ans. If yee give the King power of the exercises of Word and1 Sacraments in his Kingdome, this is deprivation of Ministers in his Kingdome (for sure he cannot hinder them in another Kingdome) you may make him to give a Ministeriall 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 speake in his name? 2. If the King may externally governe the Church, why may he not excommunicate, for this is one of the speciall acts of Church Government, especially seeing he is a mixed person, that is halfe a Church-man, and if he may prescribe Arbitrary teaching Ceremonies, Surplice to instruct men in the duties of holinesse required of Pastors, I see not, but he may teach the Word. 3. Dr. Ferne and other2 Royalists deny Arbitrary Government to the King in the State, and with reason, because it is Tyranny over the people, but Prelates are not ashamed of commanding a thing Arbitrary and indifferent in Gods Worship, shall not Arbitrary Government in the Church be tyranny over the conscience? But (say they,) Church-men teacheth the King what is decent and orderly in Gods Worship, and he commandeth it.