A92147:1274
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.
1. That to resist the King or Parliament, is to resist them, while as they are doing the thing that appertaineth to their charge, and while they vigilantly travel in the execution of their office. But while King and Parliament do acts of Tyranny against Gods Law, and all good Laws of men, they do not the things that appertain to their charge and the execution of their Office; ergo by our confession, to resist them in Tyrannical acts is, not to resist the ordinance of God.
1. That to resist the King or Parliament, is to resist them, while as they are doing the thing that appertaineth to their charge, and while they vigilantly travell in the execution of their office. But while King and Parliament doe acts of Tyranny against Gods Law, and all good Lawes of men, they doe not the things that appertaine to their charge and the execution of their Office; ergo by our confession, to resist them in Tyrannicall acts is, not to resist the ordinance of God.
2. To resist Princes and Rulers, and so inferiors Judges, and to deny them counsel and comfort, is to deny help, counsel, and comfort to God. Let then Cavaliers, and such as refuse to help the Princes of the Land against Papists, Prelates, and Malignants know, that they resist Gods ordinance, which rebellion they unjustly impute to us.
2. To resist Princes and Rulers, and so inferious Iudges, and to deny them counsell and comfort, is to deny helpe, counsell, and comfort to God. Let then Cavaliers, and such as refuse to helpe the Princes of the Land against Papists, Prelates, and Malignants know, that they resist Gods ordinance, which rebellion they unjustly impute to us.
3. Whereas it is added in our Confession, that God by the presence of his Lieutenant craveth support and counsel of the people. It is not so to be taken, as if then only we are to aid and help inferior Judges and Parliaments, when the King personally requireth it, and not other ways.