A92147:270
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. Then this super-intending power in people, may call a King to account, and punish him for any misdemeanour, or act of injustice. Why might not the people of Israels Peers, or Sanhedrin have convented David before them, judged and punished him for his▪ Adultery with Bathsheba, and his murder of Uriah; but it is holden by all, that Tyranny should be an intended universal, total, manifest destruction of the whole Common-wealth, which cannot fall in the thoughts of any but a mad man. What is recorded in the Story of Nero his wish in this kind, may be rather judged the expression of transported passion, then a fixed resolution.
P. Prelate. Then this super-intending power in people, may call a King to accompt, and punish him for any misdemeanour, or act of injustice. Why might not the people of Israels Peeres, or Sanedrin have convented David before them, judged and punished him for his▪ Adultery with Bathsheba, and his murther of Uriah; but it is holden by all, that Tyranny should be an intended universall, totall, manifest destruction of the whole Common-wealth, which cannot fall in the thoughts of any but a mad man. What is recorded in the Story of Nero his wish in this kind, may be rather judged the expression of transported passion, then a fixed resolution.
Ans. The P. Prelate contrary to the scope of his book, which is ⟨p. 64⟩all for the subject and seat of Sovereign power, against all order hath plunged himself in the deep of Defensive arms, and yet hath no new thing. 1. Our law of Scotland will warrant any subject, if the King take from him his heritage, or invade his possession against Law, to resist the invaders, and to summon the Kings intruders before the Lords of Session for that act of injustice: Is this against Gods Word, or Conscience? 2. The Sanhedrim did not punish David; Ergo, it is not lawful to challenge a King for any one act of injustice: from the practice of the Sanhedrin, to conclude a thing lawful or unlawful, is logic; we may resist. 3. By the P. Prelates doctrine, the law might not put Bathsheba to death, nor yet Joab the nearest agent of the murdering