A92147:298
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.
It is objected: That parents may bind their after Generations, to choose one of such a line; But by this Argument, their natural birthright of a free choice, to elect the best and fittest, is abridged and clipped, and so the posterity shall not be tied to a King of the Royal Line, to which the Ancestors did swear. See for this, the learned Author, 1of Scripture, and Reasons, pleaded for defensive Arms.
It is objected: That parents may binde their after Generations, to choose one of such a line; But by this Argument, their naturall birthright of a free choice, to elect the best and fittest, is abridged and clipped, and so the posterity shall not be tyed to a King of the Royall Line, to which the Ancestors did swear. See for this, the learned Author, 1of Scripture, and Reasons, pleaded for defensive Arms.
- 1Sect. 4. p. 39.
Answ. Frequent elections of a King, at the death of every Prince1 may have, by accident, and through the corruption of our nature, bloody, and tragical sequels, and to eschew these, people may tie and oblige their children to chose one of the first born, Male or Female, as in Scotland and England, of such a line; but I have spoken of the excellency of the title by election, above that of birth, as comparing things according to their own nature together; but give me leave to say, That the posterity are tied to that Line, 1. Conditionally: So the first born, ceteris paribus, be qualified, and have an head to sit at the helm. 2. Elections of Governors would be performed, as in the sight of God; and in my weak apprehension, the person coming nearest to Gods judge, Fearing God, hating covetousness, and to Moses his King,