A92147:774
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.
3. He will excuse Nero as of infirmity, wishing all Rome to have one neck, that he may cut it off. And is that charitable of Kings, that they will not be so mad as to destroy their own Kingdom? But when Stories teach us there have been more Tyrants then Kings, the Kings are more obliged to him for flattery, then for State-wit, except we say that all Kings who cate the people of God, as they do bread, owe him little, for making them all mad and frantic.
3. He will excuse Nero as of infirmity, wishing all Rome to have one necke, that he may cut it off. And is that charitable of Kings, that they will not be so mad as to destroy their owne Kingdome? But when Stories teach us there have been more Tyrants then Kings, the Kings are more obliged to him for flattery, then for State-wit, except we say that all Kings who cate the people of God, as they doe bread, owe him little, for making them all madde and franticke.
4. But let them be Nero's, and mad, and worse, there is no coercing of them, but all must give their necks to the sword, if the poor Prelate be heard; and yet Kings cannot be so mad as to destroy their subjects. Mary of England was that mad, the Romish Princes who have given, Revel. 17. 13. their power and strength to the beast, and do make war with the Lamb; and Kings inspired with the spirit of the beast, and drunk with the wine of the Cup of Babels fornications, are so mad, and the ten Emperors are so mad, who wasted their faithfullest subjects.
4. But let them be Nero's, and madde, and worse, there is no coercing of them, but all must give their neckes to the sword, if the poore Prelate be heard; and yet Kings cannot be so madde as to destroy their subjects. Mary of England was that madde, the Romish Princes who have given, Revel. 17. 13. their power and strength to the beast, and doe make warre with the Lambe; and Kings inspired with the spirit of the beast, and drunke with the wine of the Cup of Babells fornications, are so madde, and the ten Emperours are so madde, who wasted their faithfullest subjects.