A92147:252
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.
Augustine in a case most considerable, thinketh one good, and potent man, may take the corrupt peoples power of giving Honours, and making Rulers from them, and give it to some good men, few, or many, or to one; then Augustine layeth done as a ground, that which Spalato and the Prelate denieth, That the people hath power to appoint their own Rulers; otherwayes, how could one good man take that power from them? And the Prelates fifth Argument, is but a Branch of the fourth Argument, and is answered already.
P. Prelate, Chap. 11. He would prove, That Kings of the peoples making, are not blessed of God. The first creature of the peoples making, was Abimelech, Judg. 9. 22. who reigned only three years, well near Anti-Christs time of endurance; he came to it by blood, and an evil spirit rose betwixt him, and the men of Shechem, and he made a miserable end. The next was Jeroboam, who had this Motto, He made Israel to sin, the people made him King, and he made the same ⟨p. 55⟩pretence of a glorious Reformation, that our Reformers now make, new Calves, new Altars, new Feasts are erected; they banish the Levites, and take in the scum and dross of the vulgar, &c. 3. Every action of Christ, is our instruction; Christ was truly a born King, notwithstanding, when the people would make him a King, he disclaimed it, he would not be an arbiter betwixt two brethren differing.
P. Prelate, Chap. 11. He would prove, That Kings of the peoples making, are not blessed of God. The first creature of the peoples making, was Abimelech, Iudg. 9. 22. who reigned onely three yeers, well neer Anti-Christs time of endurance; he came to it by blood, and an evil spirit rose betwixt him, and the men of Sechem, and he made a miserable end. The next was Ieroboam, who had this Motto, He made Israel to sin, the people made him King, and he made the same ⟨p. 55⟩