A92147:413
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.
Object. 3. Though Royal power were given to the people, it is not given to the people, as if it were the Royal power of the people, and not the Royal power of God, neither is it any other ways bestowed on the people but as on a beam, a channel, an instrument, by which it is derived ⟨p. 127⟩to others, and so the King is not the minister or servant of the people.
Object. 3. Though Royall power were given to the people, it is not given to the people, as if it were the Royal power of the people, and not the Royall power of God, neither is it any other waies bestowed on the people but as on a beame, a channell, an instrument, by which it is derived ⟨p. 127⟩to others, and so the King is not the minister or servant of the people.
Ans. It is not in the people as in the principal cause; Sure all Royal power that way is only in God; but it is in the people as in the instrument: and when the people maketh David their King at Hebron, in that same very act, God by the people using their free suffrages and consent, maketh David King at Hebron: so God only giveth rain, and none of the vanities and supposed gods of the Gentiles can give rain, Jer. 14. 22. and yet the Clouds also give rain, as nature, as an organ and vessel out of which God poureth down rain upon the dry earth, Amos 9. 5. and every instrument under God, that is properly an instrument▪ is a sort of Vicarious cause in Gods room, and so1 the people as in Gods room, applieth Royal power to David, not to any of Sauls sons, and appointeth David to be their Royal Servant to govern, and in that to serve God, and to do that, which a Community now in the state of sin cannot formally do themselves: and so I see not how it is a service to the people, not only objectively, because the Kings Royal service tendeth to the good, and peace, and safety of the people; but also subjectively, in regard he hath his power and Royal authority which he exerciseth as King, from the people under God, as Gods instruments: and therefore the King and Parliament give ou Laws and Statutes in the name of the whole people of the Land. And they are but flatterers, and belie the Holy Ghost, who teach that the people do not make the King; for Israel made Saul King at Mizpeh, and Israel made David King at Hebron.