A92147:836
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.
2. That power which is contrary to Law, and is evil and Tyrannical,1 can tie none to subjection, but is a mere Tyrannical power and unlawful; and if it tie not to subjection, it may lawfully be resisted. But the power of the King abused to the destruction of Laws, Religion, and subjects, is a power contrary to Law, evil and Tyrannical, and tieth no man to subjection; wickedness by no imaginable reason can oblige any man. Obligation to suffer of wicked men, falleth under no Commandment of God, except in our Saviour. A Passion, as such, is not formally commanded, I mean a Physical Passion, such as to be killed. God hath not said to me in any Moral Law, Be thou killed tortured, beheaded; but only, be thou patient, if God deliver thee to wicked mens hands, to suffer these things.
2. That power which is contrary to Law, and is evill and Tyrannicall,1 can tye none to subjection, but is a meere Tyrannicall power and unlawfull; and if it tye not to subjection, it may lawfully be resisted. But the power of the King abused to the destruction of Lawes, Religion, and subjects, is a power contrary to Law, evill and Tyrannicall, and tyeth no man to subjection; wickednesse by no imaginable reason can oblige any man. Obligation to suffer of wicked men, falleth under no Commandement of God, except in our Saviour. A Passion, as such, is not formally commanded, I meane a Physicall Passion, such as to be killed. God hath not said to me in any Morall Law, Be thou killed tortured, beheaded; but only, be thou patient, if God deliver thee to wicked mens hands, to suffer these things.
- 1Argum. 2.
3. There is not a stricter Obligation Moral betwixt King and1 people, then betwixt Parents and Children, Master and servant, Patron and Clients, Husband and Wife, the Lord and the Vassal; between the Pilot of a Ship and the Passengers, the Physician and the sick, the Doctor and the scholars: but the Law granteth l. Minime 35. De Relig. & sumpt. funner. If these betray their trust committed to them, they may be resisted; if the father turn distracted, and arise to kill his sons, his sons may violently apprehend him, and