A92147:1245
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 King doth not execute with blind obedience, with us,1 what the Pope commandeth, and the Prelates; but with light of knowledge what Synods discerns: and he is no more made the servant of the Church by this, then the King of Judah, and Nebuchadnezzar are servants to Jeremiah and Daniel, because they are to obey the Word of the Lord in their mouth. Let them show a reason of ⟨p. 432⟩this, why they are servants in executing Gods will in Discipline, and in punishing what the Holy Ghost by his Apostles and Elders decree, when any contemn the Decree concerning the abstinence from blood, things strangled, &c. Act. 15. rather then when they punish murder, idolatry, blasphemy, which are condemned in the Word preached by Pastors of Christ: and farther, this objection would have some more colour (reality it hath not) if Kings were only to execute what the Church ministerially in Christs name, commandeth to be done in Synods: but Kings may, and do command Synods to convene, and do their duty, and command many duties never Synodically decreed; as they are to cast out of their Court apostate Prelates, sleeping many years in the Devils arms, and are to command Trencher-Divines, neglecting their flock, and lying at Court, attending the falling of a dead Bishop, as Ravens do an old dying horse; To go and attend the flock, and not the Court, as this P. P. did.
2. The King doth not execute with blind obedience, with us,1 what the Pope commandeth, and the Prelates; but with light of knowledge what Synods discernes: and he is no more made the servant of the Church by this, then the King of Iudah, and Nebuchadnezzar are servants to Ieremiah and Daniel, because they are to obey the Word of the Lord in their mouth. Let them shew a reason of ⟨p. 432⟩this, why they are servants in executing Gods will in Discipline, and in punishing what the Holy Ghost by his Apostles and Elders decree, when any contemne the Decree concerning the abstinence from blood, things strangled, &c.