A92147:815
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.
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.
6. The King either is to expone the Law by the Law it self; or,1 by his Absolute power loosed from all Law, he expoundeth it; or according to the advise of his Great Senate. If the first be said, he is nothing more then other Judges. If the second be said, he must be omnipotent, and more. If the third be said, he is not absolute, if the Senate be only Advisers, and he yet the only Judicial expositor. The King often professeth his ignorance of the Laws; and he must then both be absolute above the Law, and ignorant of the Law, and 2. the sole and final Judicial exponer of the Law: And by this, all Parliaments, and their power of making Laws, and of judging, is cried down.
6. The King either is to expone the Law by the Law it selfe; or,1 by his Absolute power loosed from all Law, he exponeth it; or according to the advise of his Great Senate. If the first be said, he is nothing more then other Iudges. If the second be said, he must be omnipotent, and more. If the third be said, he is not absolute, if the Senate be only Advisers, and he yet the only Iudiciall expositor. The King often professeth his ignorance of the Lawes; and he must then both be absolute above the Law, and ignorant of the Law, and 2. the sole and finall Iudiciall exponer of the Law: And by this, all Parliaments, and their power of making Lawes, and of judging, is cryed down.
- 1Arg. 6.
They object, Prov. 16. 10. A Divine sentence is in the lips of the King, His mouth transgresseth not in judgement, ergo, he only can expone the Law.