A92147:784
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. I reduce the Prelates confused words to a few: for I speak not of his Popish term of Saint Steven, and others the like▪ because all that he hath said in a book of 149 pages, might have been said in three sheets of paper. But, I pray you, what is this Argument to the Question in hand, which is, Whether the King be so above all Laws, as People and Peers, in the case of Arbitrary power, may resume their power, and punish a Tyrant? The P. Prelate draweth in the Question of Resistance by the hair. Israels not rising in arms against K. Pharaoh, proveth nothing against the power of a Free Kingdom against a Tyrant.
Ans. I reduce the Prelates confused words to a few: for I speake not of his Popish tearme of Saint Steven, and others the like▪ because all that he hath said in a book of 149 pages, might have been said in three sheets of paper. But, I pray you, what is this Argument to the Question in hand, which is, Whether the King be so above all Lawes, as People and Peeres, in the case of Arbitrarie power, may resume their power, and punish a Tyrant? The P. Prelate draweth in the Question of Resistance by the haire. Israels not rising in armes against K. Pharaoh, proveth nothing against the power of a Free Kingdome against a Tyrant.
1. Moses, who wrought miracles destructive to Pharaoh, might pray a vengeance against Pharaoh, God having revealed to Moses, that Pharaoh was a Reprobate▪ But may Ministers and Nobles pray so against King Charles? God forbid.
2. Pharaoh had not his Crown from Israel.