A92147:1365
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.
I conceive that God made Josiah and Joash Kings typical, and in destination, for his promise sake to David, while they were Children, as well as he made them Kings; but not actu completo ratione officii, to be a rule to us now, to make a Child of six years of age, a King by office. I conceive, Children are to us, only Kings in destination and appointment: And for Idiots and Fools, I shall not believe, (let Royalists break their faith upon so rocky and stony a point, at their pleasure) that God hath made them Governors of others, by Royal office, who can scarce number their own fingers; Or that God tieth a people to acknowledge stupid blocks for Royal Governors of a Kingdom, who cannot govern themselves. But far be it from me to argue with Bellarmine; From1 Uzziah his bodily leprosy, to infer, that any Prince spiritually Leprous, and turned Heretical, is presently to be dethroned. Nothing can dethrone a King, but such Tyranny as is inconsistent with his Royal office. Nor durst I infer, that Kings, now adays, may be removed from actual Government, for one single transgression. It is true, 80 Priests, and the whole Kingdom so serving King Uzzah, (their motives, I know, were Divine) proveth well that the Subjects may punish the transgression of Gods express law, in the King, in some cases, even to remove him from the Throne: but as from Gods commanding to stone the man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day, we cannot infer, that Sabbath-breakers are now to be punished with death; yet we may well argue, Sabbath-breakers may be punished, and Sabbath-breakers are not unpunishable, and above all Law; So may we argue here: Uzzah, though a King, was punished; Ergo, Kings are punishable by Subjects.
I conceive that God made Josiah and Joash Kings typicall, and in destination, for his promise sake to David, while they were Children, as well as he made them Kings; but not actu completo ratione officii, to be a rule to us now, to make a Childe of sixe yeares of age, a King by office. I conceive, Children are to us, only Kings in destination and appointment: And for Idiots and Fooles, I shall not believe, (let Royalists breake their faith upon so rocky and stony a point, at their pleasure) that God hath made them Governors of others, by Royall office, who can scarce number their own fingers; Or that God tyeth a people to acknowledge stupid blocks for Royall Governours of a Kingdome, who cannot governe themselves. But far be it from me to argue with Bellarmine; From1