A92147:560
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.
But there is another dispensation that Royalists do plead for, and that is, a power in the King, ex mera gratia absolutae potestatis regalis; Out of mere grace of absolute Royal power, to pardon crimes, which Gods law saith, should be punished by death. Now this they call a power of Grace; but it is not a power of mere Grace.
But there is another dispensation that Royalists doe plead for, and that is, a power in the King, ex mera gratia absolutae potestatis regalis; Out of meere grace of absolute Royall power, to pardon crimes, which Gods law saith, should be punished by death. Now this they call a power of Grace; but it is not a power of meere Grace.
But, 1. Though Princes may do some things of Grace, yet not of mere Grace: because, what Kings do, as Kings, and by virtue ⟨p. 195⟩of their Royal office, that they do ex debito officii, by debt and right1 of their office; and that they cannot but do, it not being arbitrary to them to do the debtfull acts of their office: But what they do of mere grace, that they do as good men, and not as Kings: and that they may not do. As for example: Some Kings, out of their pretended prerogative, have given four pardons to one man, for four murders: Now this the King might have left undone without sin; But of mere grace he pardoned the murderer, who killed four men. But the truth is, the King killed the three last; because he hath no power in point of Conscience, to dispute with blood, Num. 35. 31. Gen. 9. 6. These pardons are acts of mere grace to one man; but acts of blood to the Community.
But, 1. Though Princes may doe some things of Grace, yet not of meere Grace: because, what Kings doe, as Kings, and by vertue ⟨p. 195⟩