A92147:544
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.
Argum. 6. An absolute power is contrary to nature, and so unlawful;1 for it maketh the people give away the natural power of defending their life against illegal and cruel violence, and maketh a man who hath need to be ruled and lawed by nature, above all rule and law; and one who by nature can sin against his brethren,2 such a one as cannot sin against any, but God only, and maketh him a Lion and an unsocial man. What a man is Nero, whose life is ⟨p. 190⟩poesy & paintry, Domitian only an Archer. Valentinian only a Painter, Charles the 9th. of France only an Hunter, Alphonsus Dux Ferrariensis only an Astronomer, Philippe of Macedo only a Musician, and all because they are Kings? This our King denieth when he saith, Art. 13. There is power legally placed in the Parliament, more then sufficient to prevent and restrain the power of Tyranny. But if they had not power to play the Lions, it is not much that Kings are Musicians, Hunters, &c.
Argum. 6. An absolute power is contrary to nature, and so unlawfull;1 for it maketh the people give away the naturall power of defending their life against illegall and cruell violence, and maketh a man who hath need to be ruled and lawed by nature, above all rule and law; and one who by nature can sin against his brethren,2 such a one as cannot sin against any, but God onely, and maketh him a Lion and an unsociall man. What a man is Nero, whose life is ⟨p. 190⟩poesie & paintry, Domitian only an Archer. Valentinian only a Painter, Charles the 9th. of France only an Hunter, Alphonsus Dux Ferrariensis only an Astronomer, Philippe of Macedo only a Musitian, and all because they are Kings? This our King denyeth when he saith, Art. 13. There is power legally placed in the Parliament, more then sufficient to prevent and restraine the power of Tyranny. But if they had not power to play the Lions, it is not much that Kings are Musitians, Hunters, &c.