A92147:386
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 objecteth out of Spalato, Arnisaeus, and Hug. Grotius,1 (for in his book there is not one line which is his own, except his railings) 1. All government and superiority in Rulers is not primly and only for the Subjects good: for some are by God and Nature appointed for the mutual and inseparable good of the superior and inferior, as in the government of husband and wife, or father and son; and in herili dominio, in the government of a Lord and his servant, the good and benefit of the servant is but secondary and consecutively intended, it is not the principal end, but the external and adventitious, as the gain that cometh to a Physician, is not the proper and internal end of his art, but followeth only from his practice of Medicine.
The Prelate objecteth out of Spalato, Arnisaeus, and Hug. Grotius,1 (for in his booke there is not one line which is his own, except his raylings) 1. All government and superioritie in Rulers is not primely and only for the Subjects good: for some are by God and Nature appointed for the mutuall and inseperable good of the superiour and inferiour, as in the government of husband and wife, or father and sonne; and in herili dominio, in the government of a Lord and his servant, the good and benefit of the servant is but secondary and consecutively intended, it is not the principall end, but the externall and advent•tious, as the gaine that commeth to a Physitian, is not the proper and internall end of his art, but followeth only from his practice of Medicine.
- 1Prelat•. Sacr. sanct. mas. c. 16. p. 15. Hugo Grotius hath the same de jur. bel. & pacis, l. 1. c. 3.
Ans. The Prelates logic tendeth to this; some government tendeth to the mutual good of the superior and inferior, but Royal Government is some government, ergo nothing followeth from a major proposition, Ex particulari affirmante, in prima figura. Or of two particular propositions. 2. If it be thus formed, every marital government, and every government of the Lord and servant is for the mutual good of the superior and inferior: But Royal Government is such, ergo &c. the assumption is false, and cannot be proved, as I shall anon clear.