A92147:229
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.
P. P. They who execute the judgement of God, must needs have the power to judge from God. But Kings are Deputies in the exercises of the Judgements of God, ergo, the proposition is proved. How is it imaginable that God reconcileth the world by Ministers, and saveth man by them, 1 •or. 5. 1 Tim. 4. 16. except they receive a power so to do from God? the assumption is, Deut. 1. 17. 1 Chro. 19. 6. Let none say Moses and Jehoshaphat speak of inferior Judges, for that which the King doth to others, he doth by himself; also 5. The execution of the Kingly power is from God, for the King is the Servant, Angel, Legate, Minister of God, Rom. 13. 6, 7. God properly and primarily is King, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 1. Tim. 6. 15. Rev. 1. 5. 21. 27. 29. 20. all Kings related to him, are Kings equivocally, and in resemblance, and he the only King. Ans. That which is in question is never concluded; to wit, that the King is both immediately constituted and designed King, by God only, and not by the mediation of the people▪ for when God reconcileth and saveth men by Pastors, he saveth them by the intervening action of men, so he scourgeth his people by men, as by his sword, Psal. 17. 14. and hand, staff, and rod, Isaiah 10▪ 5. his hammer. Doth it follow that God only doth immediately ⟨p. 40⟩scourge his people, and that wicked men have no more hand and action in scourging his people, then the Prelate saith the people have an hand in making a King? and that is no hand at all, by the Prelates way.
P. P. They who execute the judgement of God, must needs have the power to judge from God. But Kings are Deputies in the exercises of the Iudgements of God, ergo, the proposition is proved. How is it imaginable that God reconcileth the world by Ministers, and saveth man by them, 1 or. 5.