A92147:661
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.
2. Finaliter. This Supreme law must stand; for if all Law, Policy, Magistrates and Power be referred to the peoples good, as the end, Rom. 13. 4. and to their quiet and peaceable life in godliness and honesty: then must this Law stand, as of more worth then the King, as the end is of more worth then the means leading to the end; for the end is the measure and rule of the goodness of the mean▪ and, finis ultimus in influxu est potentissimus. The King is good, because he conduceth much for the safety of the People; Ergo, the safety of the people must be better.
2. Finaliter. This Supreme law must stand; for if all Law, Policie, Magistrates and Power be referred to the peoples good, as the end, Rom. 13. 4. and to their quiet and peaceable life in godlinesse and honestie: then must this Law stand, as of more worth then the King, as the end is of more worth then the meanes leading to the end; for the end is the measure and rule of the goodnesse of the meane▪ and, finis ultimus in influxu est potentissimus. The King is good, because he conduceth much for the safetie of the People; Ergo, the safetie of the people must be better.
3. By way of limitation: Because no Law, in its letter, hath force, where the safety of the Subject is in hazard: and if Law, or King be destructive to the people, they are to be abolished. This is clear in a Tyrant, or a wicked man.
3. By way of limitation: Because no Law, in its letter, hath force, where the safetie of the Subject is in hazard: and if Law, or King be destructive to the people, they are to be abolished. This is cleare in a Tyrant, or a wicked man.