A92147:839
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.
If it be said in these sinful acts of Tyranny, he is not Gods formal Vicegerent, but only in good and lawful acts of Government, yet he is not to be resisted in these acts, not because the acts are just and good, but because of the dignity of his Royal Person. Yet this must prove that these who resist the King in these acts of Tyranny, must resist no ordinance of God, but only that we resist him, who is the Lords Deputy, though not as the Lords Deputy; what absurd is there in that more then to disobey him, refusing active obedience to him who is the Lords Deputy, but not as the Lords Deputy, but as a man commanding, beside his Masters Warrant?
If it be said in these sinfull acts of Tyranny, he is not Gods formall Vicegerent, but only in good and lawfull acts of Government, yet he is not to be resisted in these acts, not because the acts are just and good, but because of the dignity of his Royall Person. Yet this must prove that these who resist the King in these acts of Tyranny, must resist no ordinance of God, but only that we resist him, who is the Lords Deputy, though not as the Lords Deputy; what absurd is there in that more then to disobey him, refusing active obedience to him who is the Lords Deputy, but not as the Lords Deputy, but as a man commanding, beside his Masters Warrant?
5. That which is inconsistent with the care and providence of1 God in giving a King to his Church, is not to be taught. Now Gods end in giving a King to his Church, is the feeding, safety, preservation, the peaceable and quiet life of his Church, 1 Tim. 2. 2. Esa. 49. 23. Psal. 79. 71. But God should cross his own end in the same act of giving a King, if he should provide a King, who, by office, were to suppress Robbers, Murderers, and all oppressors and wasters in his holy Mount: and yet should give an irresistible power to one crowned Lyon, a King, who may kill a thousand thousand Protestants for their Religion, in an ordinary Providence, and they are by an ordinary law of God to give their throats to his Emissaries and bloody executioners. If any say, The King will not be so cruel: I believe it; because, actu secundo, it is not possibly in his power to be so cruel.