A92147:313
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.
The Prelate averreth confidently that a Title to a Kingdom1 by Conquest, without the consent of the people, is so just and evident by Scripture, that it cannot be denied; but the man bringeth no Scripture to prove it. Mr. Marshall saith, a conquered Kingdom 2is but c•ntinuata injuria, a continued robbery. A right of conquest is twofold; 1. When there is no just cause. 2. When there is just reason3 and ground of the war; in this latter case, if a Prince subdue a whole Land, which justly deserveth to dye, yet by his grace who is so mild a conqueror they may be all preserved alive. Now amongst those who have thus injured the conqueror as they deserve death, we are to difference the persons offending, and the wives, children especially not borne, and such as have not offended. The former sort may resign their personal liberty to the conqueror, that the sweet life may be saved; but he cannot be their King properly, but I conceive that they are obliged to consent that he be their King, upon this condition, that the conqueror put not upon them violent and tyrannical conditions that are harder then death: now in reason we cannot think that a tyrannous and unjust domineering can be Gods lawful mean of translating Kingdoms, and for the other part; the ⟨p. 83⟩conqueror cannot domineer as King over the innocent, and especially the children not yet borne.
THe Prelate averreth confidently that a Title to a Kingdome1 by Conquest, without the consent of the people, is so just and evident by Scripture, that it cannot be denyed; but the man bringeth no Scripture to prove it. Mr. Marshall saith, a conquered Kingdome 2is but c•ntinuata injuria, a continued robbery. A right of conquest is twofold; 1. When there is no just cause. 2. When there is just reason