A92147:664
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.
The Prelate borroweth an answer to this, (for he hath none of 1his own) from D. Ferne. The safety of the Subjects is the prime end of the constitution of Government: but it is not the sole and adequate end of government in Monarchy; for that is the safety of both King and People. And it beseemeth the King to proportion his laws for their good; and it becometh the People to proportion all their obedience, actions and endeavours, for the safety, honour, and happiness of the King. It's impossible the people can have safety, when Sovereignty is weakened.
The Prelate borroweth an answer to this, (for he hath none of 1his own) from D. Ferne. The safetie of the Subjects is the prime end of the constitution of Government: but it is not the sole and adequate end of government in Monarchie; for that is the safetie of both King and People. And it beseemeth the King to proportion his lawes for their good; and it becommeth the People to proportion all their obedience, actions and endeavours, for the safetie, honour, and happinesse of the King. It's impossible the people can have safetie, when Soveraigntie is weakened.
- 1Sac. sane. Maj. c. 16. 159. Dr. Ferne, Conscience not satisfied, Sec. • ▪ p. 28.
Ans. The Prelate would have the other half of the end, why a King is set over a People, to be the safety and happiness of the King, as well as the safety of the People. This is new Logic indeed,1 that one and the same thing should be the mean, and the end. The question is, For what end is a King made so happy, as to be exalted King? The Prelate answereth; He is made happy, that he may be happy; and made a King, that he may be made a King. Now is the King, as King, to intend this half end? that is, Whether or no accepteth he the burden of setting his head and shoulders under the Crown, for this end, that he may not only make the people happy, but also that he may make himself rich and honourable above his brethren, and enrich himself? I believe not: but that he feed the people of God. For if he intend himself, and his own honour, it is the intention of the man who is King, and intentio operantis; but it is not the intention of the King, as the King, or intentio operis. The King, as a King, is formally and essentially the Minister of God for our good,