A92147:693
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 cometh to refute the learned and worthy Observator.1 The safety of the people is the supreme Law, ergo the King is bound in duty to promote all and every one of his subjects to all happiness. The Observator hath no such inference, the King is bound to promote some of his subjects even as King, to a Gallows, especially Irish Rebels, and many bloody Malignants. But the Prelate will needs have God rigorous (hallowed be his name) if it be so, for it is unpossible to the tenderest-hearted father to do so: actual promotion of all is unpossible, that the King intend it of all his subjects, ⟨p. 225⟩as good subjects, by a Throne established on righteousness and judgement, is that which the worthy Observator meaneth; other things here are answered.
The Prelate commeth to refute the learned and worthy Observator.1 The safety of the people is the supreme Law, ergo the King is bound in duty to promote all and every one of his subjects to all happinesse. The Observator hath no such inference, the King is bound to promote some of his subjects even as King, to a Gallowes, especially Irish Rebells, and many bloudy Malignants. But the Prelate will needs have God rigorous (hallowed be his name) if it be so, for it is unpossible to the tenderest-hearted father to doe so: actuall promotion of all is unpossible, that the King intend it of all his subjects, ⟨p. 225⟩as good subjects, by a Throne established on righteousnesse and judgement, is that which the worthy Observator meaneth; other things here are answered.
- 1Sacr. san. Mai. pag. 165.
The sum of his second answer is, a repetition of what he hath said; I give my word in a Pamphlet of one hundred ninety and four pages, I never saw more idle repetitions, of one thing twenty times before said. But page one hundred sixty and eight, he saith, The safety of the King and his subjects in the Moral notion may be esteemed Morally the same, no less then the soul and the body make one personal subsistence.