A92147:648
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.
Obj. 1. But if the Law be doubtsome, as all humane, all Civill, all municipal Laws may endure great dispute, the peremptory person exponing, the Law must be the supreme Judge. This cannot be the people, ergo, it must be the King.
Obj. 1. But if the Law be doubtsome, as all humane, all Civill, all municipall Lawes may endure great dispute, the peremptory person exponing, the Law must be the supreame Iudge. This cannot be the people, ergo, it must be the King.
Ans. 1. As the Scriptures in all fundamentals are clear, and1 expone themselves, and Actu primo condemn Heresies, so all Laws of men in their fundamentals, which are the Law of Nature, and of Nations are clear. And 2. Tyranny is more visible and intelligible then Heresy, and its soon discerned. If a King bring in upon his native subjects twenty thousand Turks armed, and the King ⟨p. 114⟩lead them. It is evident, they come not to make a friendly visit to salute the Kingdom, and depart in peace: the people have a natural throne of policy in their conscience to give warning, and materially sentence against the King, as a Tyrant, and so by nature are to defend themselves: Where Tyranny is more obscure, and the thread small, that it escape the eye of men, the King keepeth possession; but I deny that Tyranny can be obscure long.
Ans. 1. As the Scriptures in all fundamentalls are cleare, and1 expone themselves, and Actu primo condemne Hercsies, so all Lawes of men in their fundamentals, which are the Law of Nature, and of Nations are cleare. And 2. Tyranny is more visible and intelligible then Heresie, and its soone decerned. If a King bring in upon his native subjects twenty thousand Turks armed, and the King ⟨p. 114⟩