A92147:777
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.
Ans. Mr. Bishop, what better is your Affirmanti incumbit, &c, then mine? for you are the affirmer. I can prove a power in the King, limited only to feed, govern, and save the people; and you affirm that God hath given to the King, not only a power official and Royal to save, but also to destroy and cut off, so as no man may say, Why doest thou this? Shall we take this upon the word of an excommunicated Prelate? Proffer tabulas, John P. P. I believe you not, Royal power is Deut. 17. 18. Rom. 3. 14. I am sure there is there a power given to the King to do good, and that ⟨p. 244⟩from God: Let John P. P. prove a power to do ill, given of God to the King.
Ans. Mr. Bishop, what better is your Affirmanti incumbit, &c, then mine? for you are the affirmer. I can prove a power in the King, limited onely to feed, governe, and save the people; and you affirme that God hath given to the King, not only a power officiall and Royall to save, but also to destroy and cut off, so as no man may say, Why doest thou this? Shall we take this upon the word of an excommunicated Prelate? Profer tabulas, Iohn P. P. I beleeve you not, Royall power is Deut. 17. 18. Rom. 3. 14. I am sure there is there a power given to the King to doe good, and that ⟨p. 244⟩from God: Let John P. P. prove a power to doe ill, given of God to the King.
2. We shall quickly prove that the States may repress this power, and punish the Tyrant, not the King: when he shall prove that a Tyrannous power is an Ordinance of God, and so may not be resisted. For the law of Nature teacheth, If I give my sword to my fellow to defend me from the murderer, if he shall fall to, and murder me with my own sword, I may (if I have strength) take my sword from him.