A92147:768
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.
Lex, Rex. › Question 26: QUEST. XXVI. Whether the King be above the Law or no?
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.
P. Prelate. Why might not the people of Israel, Peers or Sanhedrin1 have convened before them, judged, and punished David, for his Adultery and Murder? Romanists and new Statists acknowledge no case lawful, but Heresy, Apostasy, or Tyranny; and tyranny they say must be universal, 2. Manifest as the Sun. 3. And with obstinacy, and invincible by prayers; as is recorded of Nero, whose wish was rather a transported passion, then a fixed resolution, this cannot fall in the attempts of any but a Mad-man. Now this cannot be proved of our King; but though we grant in the foresaid case, that the community may resume their power, and rectify what is amiss, which we cannot grant, but this will follow by their doctrine in every case of male administration.
P. Prelate. Why might not the people of Israell, Peers or Sanedrim1 have convened before them, judged, and punished David, for his Adultery and Murther? Romanists and new Statists acknowledge no case lawfull, but Heresie, Apostacy, or Tyranny; and tyranny they say must be universall, 2. Manifest as the Sunne. 3. And with obstinacy, and invincible by prayers; as is recorded of Nero, whose wish was rather a transported passion, then a fixed resolution, this cannot fall in the attempts of any but a Mad-man. Now this cannot be proved of our King; but though we grant in the foresaid case, that the community may resume their power, and rectifie what is amisse, which we canno grant, but this will follow by their doctrine in every case of male administration.