A92147:315
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.
2. Assert. This title by conquest through the peoples after consent may be turned into a just title, as its like the case was with the Jews in Caesars time, for which cause our Saviour commanded to obey Caesar, and to pay tribute unto him; as Dr. Ferne confesseth.1 But two things are to be condemned in the Doctor: 1. That God manifesteth his Will to us in this work of providence, whereby he translateth Kingdoms. 2. That this is an over-awed consent; now to the former I reply, if the act of conquering be violent and2 unjust, it is no manifestation of Gods regulating and approving Will, and can no more prove a just title to a Crown, because it is an act of Divine providence, then Pilate and Herod their crucifying of the Lord of Glory, which was an act of Divine providence, flowing from the Will and Decree of Divine providence, Act. 2. 23. Act. 4. 28. is a manifestation that it was Gods approving Will, that they should kill Jesus Christ. 2. Though the consent be some way over-awed, yet is it a sort of Contract and Covenant of loyal subjection made to the conqueror, and therefore sufficient to make the title just; otherwise if the people never give their consent, the conqueror domineering over them by violence hath no just title to the Crown.
2. Assert. This title by conquest through the peoples after consent may be turned into a just title, as its like the case was with the Iewes in Caesars time, for which cause our Saviour commanded to obey Caesar, and to pay tribute unto him; as Dr. Ferne confesseth.1 But two things are to be condemned in the Doctor: 1. That God manifesteth his Will to us in this worke of providence, whereby he translateth Kingdomes. 2. That this is an over-awed consent; now to the former I reply, if the act of conquering be violent and2 unjust, it is no manifestation of Gods regulating and approving Will, and can no more prove a just title to a Crowne, because it is an act of Divine providence, then Pilate and Herod their crucifying of the Lord of Glory, which was an act of Divine providence, flowing from the Will and Decree of Divine providence,