A92147:330
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.
my answer is, That the subjection of the misery of man by nature, because of sin, is more then the subjection of beasts, comparing species and kind of beasts and birds with mankind, but comparing individuals of the same kind amongst themselves, a Lyon with Lyon, Eagle with Eagle, and so Man with Man; in which respect, because he who is supposed to be the man borne free from subjection politic, even the King borne a King, is under the same state of sin, and so by reason of sin, of which he hath a share equally with all other men by nature, he must be, by nature, borne under as great subjection penal for sin (except the King be borne void of sin) as other men; Ergo, he is not borne freer by nature then other men, except he1 come out of the womb with a Kings crown on his head. 4. To be a King, is a free gift of God, which God bestoweth on some men above others, as is evident, 2 Sam. 12. 7, 8. Psal. 75. 6. Dan. 4. 32. and ⟨p. 93⟩therefore all must be borne Kings, if any one man be by nature a King borne, and another a borne subject. But if some be by Gods grace made Kings above others, they are not so by nature; for things which agree to man by nature, agree to all men equally; but all men equally are not borne Kings, as is evident; and all men are not equally borne by nature under politic subjection to Kings, as the Adversaries grant; because those who are by nature Kings, cannot be also by nature subjects. 5. If men be not by nature free from2 politic subjection, then must some, by the law of relation, by nature be Kings; But none are by nature Kings, because none have by nature these things which essentially constitute Kings, for they have neither by nature the calling of God, nor gifts for the throne; nor the free election of the people, nor conquest: and if there be none a King by nature, there can be none a Subject by nature. And the Law faith, Omnes sumus naturâ liberi, nullius ditioni subjecti. l. Manu•iss. F. de just. & jur. S. jus autem gentium, Jus. de jur. nat. We are all by nature free. and D. L. ex hc jure cum simil. 6. Politicians