A92147:696
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 third is but a repetition. The Acts of Royalty (saith the Observator)1 are Acts of duty and obligation; Ergo, not acts of grace properly so called. Ergo, We may not thank the King for a courtesy. This is no consequence. What fathers do to children, are acts of natural duty, and of natural grace; and yet children owe gratitude to parents, and subjects to good Kings, in a legal sense. No, but in way of courtesy only. The Observator said, The King is not a father to the whole collective body, and its well said, he is son to them, and they his maker. Who made the King? Policy answereth, The State made him, and Divinity: God made him.
The third is but a repitition. The Acts of Royaltie (saith the Observator)1 are Acts of dutie and obligation; Ergo, not acts of grace properly so called. Ergo, We may not thank the King for a courtesie. This is no consequence. What fathers do to children, are acts of naturall dutie, and of naturall grace; and yet children owe gratitude to parents, and subjects to good Kings, in a legall sense. No, but in way of courtesie onely. The Observator said, The King is not a father to the whole collective body, and its well said, he is son to them, and they his maker. Who made the King? Policy answereth, The State made him, and Divinitie: God made him.
- 1The subjects may gratify the King for doing what he is obliged to do by his office.The subjects may gratifie the King for doing what he is obliged to doe by his office.
4. The Observator said well: The peoples weakness is not the1 Kings strength. The Prelate saith, Amen: He said, That that perisheth not to the King, which is granted to the people. The Prelate denieth. Because, What the King hath in trust from God, the King cannot make away to another, nor can any take it from him, without sacrilege.