A92147:209
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. VI. Whether the King be so from God only both in regard of his Sovereignty, and of the designation of his person to the Crown, as that he is no ways from the people, but by mere approbation?
QUEST. VI. Whether the King be so from God onely both in regard of his Soveraignty, and of the designation of his person to the Crown, as that he is no waies from the people, but by meere approbation?
Dr. Ferne, a man much for Monarchy saith, Though Monarchy hath its excellency, being first set up of God, in Moses, yet neither1 Monarchy, Aristocracy, nor any other form, is jure divino, but we say (saith he) the power it self, or that sufficiency of authority to govern, that is in a Monarchy, or Aristocracy, abstractly considered from the qualification of other forms, is a flux and constitution subordinate to that providence; an ordinance of that Dixi, or silent word by which the world was made, and shall be governed under God. This is a2 great debasing of the Lords anointed, for so sovereignty hath no warrant in Gods Word formally as it is such a government, but is in the world by providence, as sin is, and as the falling of a Sparrow to the ground; whereas Gods Word hath not only commanded that government should be, but that fathers and mothers should be. 2. and not only that politic Rulers should be, but also Kings by name, and other Judges Aristocratical should be, Rom. 13. 3. Deut. 17. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Prov. 24. 21. Prov. 15. 16. 3. If the power of Monarchy and Aristocracy abstracted from the forms be from God, then it is no more lawful to resist Aristocratical Government, and our Lords of Parliament, or Judges, then it is lawful to resist Kings.