A92147:1348
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.
Quest. 2. Whether is Royalty an immediate issue and spring of Nature?]1 Answ. No; For man, fallen in sin, knowing naturally he hath need of a Law and a Government, could have, by reason, devised Governors, one or moe; and the supervenient institution of God, coming upon this Ordinance, doth more fully assure us, that God, for mans good, hath appointed Governors: but if we consult with Nature, many Judges and Governors, to fallen Nature, seem nearer of blood, to Nature, then one only: for two, because of mans weakness, are better then one. Now Nature seemeth, to me, not to teach, that one only sinful man should be the sole and only Ruler ⟨p. 455⟩of a whole Kingdom. God, in his Word, ever joined with the Supreme2 Ruler, many Rulers, who, as touching the essence of a Judge, (which is, to rule for God) were all equally Judges: some reserved Acts, or a longer cubit of power, in regard of extent, being due to the King.
Quest. 2. Whether is Royaltie an immediate issue and spring of Nature?]1 Answ. No; For man, fallen in sinne, knowing naturally he hath need of a Law and a Government, could have, by reason, devised Governors, one or moe; and the supervenient institution of God, comming upon this Ordinance, doth more fully assure us, that God, for mans good, hath appointed Governours: but if we consult with Nature, many Iudges and Governors, to fallen Nature, seeme nearer of blood, to Nature, then one only: for two, because of mans weaknesse, are better then one. Now Nature seemeth, to me, not to teach, that one onely sinfull man should be the sole and onely Ruler ⟨p. 455⟩of a whole Kingdome. God, in his Word, ever joyned with the Supreme2 Ruler, many Rulers, who, as touching the essence of a Iudge, (which is, to rule for God) were all equally Iudges: some reserved Acts, or a longer cubite of power, in regard of extent, being due to the King.