A92147:274
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.
Spalato. Let us grant (saith he) that a society shall refuse to have a Governor over them, shall they be for that free? in no sort: but1 there be many ways by which a people may be compelled to admit a governor; for then no man might rule over a Community against their will. But nature hath otherwise disposed, ut quod singuli nollent, universi vellent, that which every one will not have, a Community naturally desireth. And the P. Prelate saith, God is no less the author2 of Order, then he is the author of Being; for the Lord who createth all, conserveth all; and without government all humane societies should be dissolved and go to ruin: Then government must be natural, and not depend upon a voluntary & arbitrary constitution of men. In nature, the lifeless creatures inferior give a tacit consent & silent obedience to their superior, and the superior have a powerful influence on the inferior. In the subordination of creatures, we ascend from one superior to another, till at last we come to one supreme, which by the way pleadeth for the excellency of Monarchy. Amongst Angels there is an order: how can it then be supposed that God hath left it to the simple consent of man to establish a heraldry of sub & supra, of one above another, which neither nature nor the Gospel doth warrant? To leave it thus arbitrary, that upon this supposed principle, Mankind may be without government at all, is vain; which paradox cannot be maintained. In nature God hath ⟨p. 66⟩established a superiority inherent in superior creatures, which is no ways derived from the inferior by communication, in what proportion it will, and resumable upon such exigents as the inferior listeth: therefore neither hath God left to the multitude, the community, the collective, the representative or virtual body, to derive from it self, and communicate sovereignty, whether in one or few, or more, in that measure and proportion pleaseth them, which they resume at pleasure.
Spalato. Let us grant (saith he) that a societie shall refuse to have a Governour over them, shall they be for that free? in no sort: but1 there be many wayes by which a people may be compelled to admit a governour; for then no man might rule over a Communitie against their will. But nature hath otherwise disposed, ut quod singuli nollent, universi vellent, that which every one will not have, a Commnnitie naturally desireth. And the P. Prelate saith, God is no lesse the author