A92147:889
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.
Nor can we think that resistance to a King in holding his hands1 can be natural, if he be stronger, it is not a natural mean of self-preservation: Nature hath appointed innocent and offending violence, against unjust violence, as a means of self-preservation. Goliaths sword is no natural means to hold Sauls hands, for a sword hath no fingers; and if Saul, 1. suddenly, 2. without colour of Law or reason, 3. inevitably should make personal invasion on David to kill him; Dr. Ferne saith he may resist, but resisting is essentially ⟨p. 325⟩a reaction of violence; show us Scripture or reason for violent holding a Kings hands in an unjust personal invasion, without any other reaction of offence: Walter Torrils killed King W. Rufus, as he was shooting at a Deere; the Earle of Suffolk killed Henry the 8. at Tilting; there is no treasonable intention here, and so no homicide: Defensive wars are offensive, ex eventu & effectu, not ex causa, or ex intentione.
Nor can we think that resistance to a King in holding his hands1 can be naturall, if he be stronger, it is not a naturall meane of selfepreservation: Nature hath appoynted innocent and offending violence, against unjust violence, as a meanes of selfe-preservation. Goliahs sword is no naturall meanes to hold Sauls hands, for a sword hath no fingers; and if Saul, 1. suddainly, 2. without colour of Law or reason, 3. inevitably should make personall invasion on David to kill him; Dr. Ferne saith he may resist, but resisting is essentially ⟨p. 325⟩a reaction of violence; shew us Scripture or reason for violent holding a Kings hands in an unjust personall invasion, without any other reaction of offence: Walter Torrils killed King W. Rufus, as he was shooting at a Deere; the Earle of Suffolk killed Henrie the 8. at Tilting; there is no treasonable intention here, and so no homicide: Defensive wars are offensive, ex eventu & effectu, not ex causa, or ex intentione.
- 1There is •o holding of an aries hands, or warding of strokes, ut by offensive wars conjoined by accident with defensive wars.