A92147:178
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.
3. Expressly Scripture saith, that the people made the King, though under God, Judg. 9. 6. The men of Shechem made Abimelech King, 1 Sam. 11. 15. And all the people went to Gilgall, and there they made Saul King before the Lord, 2 King. 10. 5. We will not make any King. This had been an irrational speech to Jehu, if both Jehu and the people held the Royalists Tenet, that the people had no power to make a King, nor any active or causative influence therein; but that God immediately made the King, 1 Chron. 12. 38. All these came with a perfect heart to make David King in Hebron; and all the rest were of one heart to make David King; on the words aLavater saith, the same way are Magistrates now to be chosen; now this day God by an immediate Oracle from Heaven appointeth the Office of a King; but I am sure he doth not immediately design the man, but doth only mark him out to the people, as one who hath the most royal endowments, and the due qualifications required in a lawful Magistrate, by the Word of God, Exod. 18. 21. Men of truth, hating covetousness, &c. Deut. 1. 16, 17. men who will judge causes betwixt their brethren righteously, without respect of persons, ⟨p. 13⟩1 Sam. 10. 21. Saul was chosen out of the Tribes according to the Law of God, Deut. 17. they might not choose a stranger, and Abulensis, Serrarius, Cornelius a lapide, Sancheiz, and other Popish Writers think that Saul was not only anointed with Oil, first privately by Samuel, 1 Sam. 10. 1, 2. but also at two other times before the people, once at Mizpeh, and another time at Gilgal by a Parliament, and a Convention of the States, and Samuel judged the voices of the people so essential to make a King, that Samuel doth not acknowledge him as formal King,