A92147:342
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 King is not a party contracting with the people, as if there were mutual obligations betwixt the King and the people, and a mutual coactive power▪ on either side. 2. That the care of Religion belongeth not to the people, for that hath no warrant in the Word (saith he) 2. We read not that the people was to command and compel the Priests and the King to reform Religion and abolish Idolatry, as it must follow, if the covenant be mutual. 3. Jehoiada, 2 King. 11. obligeth himself and the King, and the people, by a like law to serve God, and here be not two parts, but three; the high Priest, the King, the People, if this example prove any thing. 4. Both King and people shall find the revenging hand of God against them, if they fail in the breach of their Oath; but with this difference, and every one of the two, King and people by the Oath stand obliged to God, the King for himself, and the people for themselves, but with this difference, the King oweth to God proper and due obedience as any of the subjects, and also to govern the people according to Gods true religion, Deut. 17. 2 Chro. 29. and in this the Kings obligation differeth from the peoples obligation, the people, as they would be saved must serve God, and the King for the same cause, 1 Sam. 12. But besides this, the King is obliged to rule and govern the people, and keep them in obedience to God; but the people is not obliged to govern the King, and keep him in obedience to God, for then the people should have as great power of jurisdiction over the King, as the King hath over the people, which is against the Word of God, and the examples of the Kings of Judah; but this cometh not from any promise or covenant that the King hath made with the people, but from a peculiar obligation whereby he is obliged to God as a man, not as a King.
The King is not a party contracting with the people, as if there were mutuall obligations betwixt the King and the people, and a mutuall coactive power▪ on either side. 2. That the care of Religion belongeth not to the people, for that hath no warrant in the Word (saith he) 2. We read not that the people was to command and compell the Priests and the King to reforme Religion and abolish Idolatry, as it must follow, if the covenant be mutuall. 3. Iehoiada,