A92147:778
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.
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.
2. We shall quickly prove that the States may represse 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 murtherer, if he shall fall to, and murther me with my own sword, I may (if I have strength) take my sword from him.
Prelate. It is infidelity, to think that God cannot help us; and impatience, that we will not wait on God. When a King oppresseth us, it is against Gods wisdom, that he hath not provided another mean for our safety, than intrusion on Gods right. 2. It is against Gods power, 3. his Holiness, 4. Christian Religion, that we necessitate God to so weak a mean, to make use of sin: and we cast the aspersion of Treason on Religion, and debtor Kings to profess Reformed Catholic Religion. 5. We are not to jostle God out of his right.
Prelate. It is infidelitie, to thinke that God cannot helpe us; and impatience, that we will not wait on God. When a King oppresseth us, it is against Gods wisdome, that he hath not provided another meane for our safetie, than intrusion on Gods right. 2. It is against Gods power, 3. his Holinesse, 4. Christian Religion, that we necessitate God to so weake a meane, to make use of sinne: and we cast the aspersion of Treason on Religion, and deterre Kings to professe Reformed Catholike Religion. 5. We are not to justle God out of his right.