A92147:340
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.
Asser. 1. There is an Oath betwixt the King and his people, laying on, by reciprocation of bands, mutual civill obligation upon the King to the people, and the people to the King, 2 Sam. 5. 3. So •ll the Elders of Israel came to the King to Hebron, and King David made a Covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David King over Israel, 1 Chron. 11. 3. And David made a covenant with them before the Lord, and they anointed David King over Israel, according to the Word of the Lord by Samuel, 2 Chron. 23. 2. And they went about in Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the Cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they c•me to Jerusalem. 3. And all the congregation made a covenant with the King Joash in the house of God, 2 King. 11. 17. and Jehoiada made a covenant betwixt the Lord and the King, and the people that they should be the Lords people, between the King also and his people, Eccles. 8. 2. I counsel thee to keep the Kings commandment, and that in regard of the Oath of God; then it is evident there was a covenant betwixt the King and the people. 2. That was not a covenant that did tie the King to God only, and not to the people, 1. because the covenant betwixt the King and the people is clearly differenced from the Kings covenant with the Lord, 2 King. 11. 17. 2. there were no necessity that this covenant should be made publicly before the people, if the King did not in the covenant tie and oblige himself to the people; nor needed it be made solemnly before the Lord is the House of God. 3. It is expressly a covenant, that was between Joash the King and his people, and David made a ⟨p. 97⟩covenant at his Coronation with the Princes and Elders of Israel; therefore the people give the Crown to David Covenant-wise, and upon condition that he should perform such and such duties to them; and this is clear by all Covenants in the Word of God, even the Covenant between God and man is so mutual; I will be your God, and ye shall be my people. The covenant is so mutual, that if the people break the covenant, God is loosed from his part of the covenant,