A92147:1300
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.
6. He feareth the Parliament shall upon Church business; but 1. The Church is too weak already▪ if it had more power, the King ⟨p. 448⟩might have more, both obedience and service. 2. The Houses can be no competent Judges in point of Doctrine. 3. For the King, Clergy, and Convocation are Judges in all causes Ecclesiastical.
6. He feareth the Parliament sall upon Church businesse; but 1. The Church is too weake already▪ if it had more power, the King ⟨p. 448⟩might have more, both obedience and service. 2. The Houses can be no competent Iudges in point of Doctrine. 3. For the King, Clergy, and Convocation are Iudges in all causes Ecclesiasticall.
Ans. 1. This striketh at the root of all Parliamentary power, 1. The P. P. giveth them but a poor deliberative power in Subsides, and that is, to make the Kings Will a Law, in taking all the subjects goods from them, to foment war against the subjects. 2. He taketh all jurisdiction from them over Persons, though they were as black Traitors as breathe. 3. And spoileth them of all power in Church matters, to make all Judges, yea and the King himself yield blind obedience to the Pope and Prelate, and their illuminated Clergy. Sure I am, P. Maxwell imputeth this, but most unjustly, to Presbyteries. What essential and fundamental privileges are left to Parliaments? David, and the Parliament of Israel are impertinent Judges in the matter of bringing home the Ark of God. And for the Churches weakness, that is, the weakness of the damned Prelates, shall this be the Kings weakness? Yes, the P. P. must make it true, No Bishop, no King.
Ans. 1. This striketh at the root of all Parliamentary power, 1. The P. P. giveth them but a poore deliberative power in Subsides, and that is, to make the Kings Will a Law, in taking all the subjects goods from them, to foment warre against the subjects. 2. He taketh all jurisdiction from them over Persons, though they were as black Traitors as breathe. 3. And spoileth them of all power in Church matters, to make all Iudges, yea and the King himselfe yield blind obedience to the Pope and Prelate, and their illuminated Clergie. Sure I am, P. Maxwell imputeth this, but most unjustly, to Presbyteries. What essentiall and fundamentall priviledges are left to Parliaments? David, and the Parliament of Israel are impertinent Iudges in the matter of bringing home the Ark of God. And for the Churches weaknesse, that is, the weaknesse of the damned Prelates, shall this be the Kings weaknesse? Yes, the P. P. must make it true, No Bishop, no King.