A92147:1285
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.
The 37. Art. of the Church of Englands Confession, is so far from erecting an absolute power in the King, that they expressly bring down the Royal Prerogative from the high seat and transcendent superlative power above the Law; and expone the Prerogative to be nothing but mere Law-power. We only (say they) ascribe that Prerogative to the King, which the Scripture doth ascribe to all Godly Princes, that is, that they cause all committed to their trust, whether Ecclesiastical or Civill persons, do their duty; and punish with the Civill sword, all disobedient offenders. In syntag. Confess. And this they say in answer to some, who believed, the Church of England made the King the Head of the Church. The Prelates Convocation must be Jesuits to this P. P. also.
The 37. Art. of the Church of Englands Confession, is so far from erecting an absolute power in the King, that they expresly bring down the Royall Prerogative from the high seat and transcendent superlative power above the Law; and expone the Prerogative to be nothing but meere Law-power. We only (say they) ascribe that Prerogative to the King, which the Scripture doth ascribe to all Godly Princes, that is, that they cause all committed to their trust, whether Ecclesiasticall or Civill persons, doe their duty; and punish with the Civill sword, all disobedient offenders. In syntag. Confess. And this they say in answer to some, who beleeved, the Church of England made the King the Head of the Church. The Prelates Convocation must be Iesuites to this P. P. also.
So the 36. Article of the Belgic Confession, saith of all Magistrates, no less then of a King, (We know, for Tyranny of Soul and Body, they justly revolted from their King.) Idcirco Magistratus ipsos gladio armavit, ut malos quidem plectant paenis, probos vero tueantur. Horum porro est, non modo de Civili politia conservanda esse solioit•s, verum etiam dare operam ut sacrum Ministerium conservetur, omnis Idololatria & adulterinus Dei cultus è medio tollatur, regnum Antichristi diruatur, &c. Then all Magistrates, though inferior, must do their duty, that the Law of God hath laid on them, though the King forbid them. But by the Belgic Confession, and the Scripture, it is their duty to relieve the oppressed, to use the sword against murdering Papists, and Irish Rebels, and destroying Cavaliers. For, shall it be a good plea in the day of Christ, to say, Lord Jesus, we would have used thy sword against bloody Murderers, if thy Anointed, the King, had not commanded us to obey a mortal King rather than the King of ages; and to execute no judgement for the oppressed, because he judged them faithful Catholic subjects. Let all Oxford, and Cavalier Doctors in the three Kingdoms, satisfy the consciences of men in this, that inferior Judges are to obey a Divine Law, with a proviso, that the King command them so to do; and otherwise they are to obey Men rather then God. This is evidently holden forth in the Argentine Confession, exhibited by four Cities to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, An. M. D. XXX. in the same very cause of innocent Defence, that we are now in, in the three Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.