A92147:176
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.
2 Conclus. The power of creating a man a King, is from the people, 1. Because those who may create this man a King, rather then ⟨p. 11⟩this man, they have power to appoint a King. For a comparative action doth positively infer an action, if a man have a power to marry this woman, not that woman; we may strongly conclude, ergo he hath power to marry, now, 1 King. 16. The people made Omri King, and not Zimri; and his son Ahab, rather then Tibni the son of Sinath. Nor can it be replied this was no lawful power that the people used, for that cannot elude the argument, for, 1 King. 1. the people made Solomon King, and not Adonijah, though Adonijah was the elder brother; they say, God did extraordinarily both make the Office, and •es•gne Solomon to be King, the people had no hand in it, but approved Gods fact. Answer. This is that we say, God by the people, by Nathan the Prophet, and the servants of David, and the states crying, (God save King Solomon) made Solomon King; and here is a real action of the people. God is the first Agent in all acts of the Creature, where a people maketh choice of a man to be their King, the States do no other thing under God but create this man, rather then another; and we cannot here find two actions, one of God, another of the people; but in one, and the same action; God by the peoples free suffrages & voices createth such a man King, passing by many thousands, and the people are not patients in the action, because by the authoritative choice of the States, the man is made of a private man, and no King, a public person, and a crowned King, 2 Sam. 16. 18▪ Hushai said to Absalom, nay but whom the Lord and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide, Judg. 8. 22. The men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule thou over us, Judg. 9. 6. The men of Shechem made Abimeleth King,