A92147:592
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.
Answ. The King hath his right from God: What then, not from the people? I read in Scripture, The people made the King; Never: That the King made the people. 2. All these are inseparably in the Crown, but he stealeth in Prerogative Royal in the clause which is now in question? Render to Caesar all Caesars: And therefore1 saith he, Render to him a Prerogative, that is an absolute power to pardon and sell the blood of thousands. Is power of blood, either the Kings; or inherent inseparably in his Crown? Alas, I fear Prelates have made blood an inseparable accident of his Throne. 3. When Kings by that public power given to them, at their Coronation, maketh inferior Judges, they give them power to judge for the Lord, not for men, Deut. 1. 17. 2 Chron. 19. 6. Now they cannot both make away a power, and keep it also; for the inferior Judges conscience hangeth not at the Kings girdle, he hath no less power to judge in his sphere, then the King hath in his sphere, though the Orb and circle of Motion be larger in compass in the one, then in the other; and if the King cannot give himself Royal Power, but God and the people must do it, how can he communicate any part of that power to inferior Judges, except by trust? Yea, he hath not that power that other men have in many respects.
Answ. The King hath his right from God: What then, not from the people? I read in Scripture, The people made the King; Never: That the King made the people. 2. All these are inseparably in the Crown, but he stealeth in Prerogative Royall in the clause which is now in question? Render to Caesar all Caesars: And therefore1 saith he, Render to him a Prerogative, that is an absolute power to pardon and sell the blood of thousands. Is power of blood, either the Kings; or inherent inseparably in his Crown? Alas, I fear Prelates have made blood an inseparable accident of his Throne. 3. When Kings by that publike power given to them, at their Coronation, maketh inferiour Iudges, they give them power to judge for the Lord, not for men, Deut. 1. 17.