A92147:233
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. Prelate. Sovereignty is a ray of divine glory and majesty: but this cannot be found in people, whether you consider them jointly, or singly; if you consider them singly, it cannot be in every individual man; for Sectaries say, That all are born equal with a like freedom: and if it be not in the people singly, it cannot be in them jointly; for all the contribution in this compact and contract which they fancy to be humane composition, and voluntary constitution, is only, by a surrender of the native right that every one had in himself; from whence ⟨p. 42⟩then can this majesty and authority be derived? Again, where the obligation amongst equals is by contract and compact, violation of the faith, plighted in the contract, cannot in proper terms, be called disobedience, or contempt of authority▪ it is no more but a receding from, and a violation of that which was promised, as it may be in States or Counties confederate. Nature, reason, conscience, scripture, teach, That disobedience to Sovereign power is not only a violation of Truth, breach of Covenant, but also high disobedience and contempt, as is clear, 1 Sam. 10. 26. So when Saul, Chap. 11. sent a yoke of Oxen, hewed in pieces, to all the Tribes, the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent, 1 Sam. 11. 17. so Job 11. 18. He looseth the bonds of Kings, that is, he looseth their authority, and bringeth them in contempt; and he girdeth there loins with a girdle, that is, he strengtheneth their authority, and maketh the people to reverence them. Heathens observe, that there [Greek or Hebrew] some divine thing in Kings. Profane Histories say, that this was so eminent in Alexander the great, that it was a terror to his enemies, and a powerful Lodestone to draw men to compose the most seditious Counsels, and cause his most experienced Commanders, embrace, and obey his counsel, and command. Some stories write, that upon some great exigence, there was some resplendent majestic in the eyes of Scipio. This kept Pharaoh from lifting his hand against Moses, who charged him so boldly with his sins. When Moses did speak with God, face to face in the Mount, this resplendent glory of Majesty so awed the people, that they durst not behold his glory, Exod. 34