A92147:918
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.
QUEST. XXXII. Whether or no the lawfulness of defensive wars hath its warrant in Gods word, from the example of David, Elisha, the eighty Priests who resisted Uzziah, &c?
QUEST. XXXII. Whether or no the lawfulnesse of defensive warres hath its warrant in Gods word, from the example of David, Elisha, the eighty Priests who resisted Uzziah, &c?
David defended himself against King Saul, 1. by taking Goliaths 1sword with him, 2. by being Captain to six hundred men, yea, it is more then clear, 1 Chron. 12. that there came to David a host like the host of God, v. 22. to help against Saul, exceeding four thousand, v. 36. Now that this host came warrantably to help him against Saul, I prove, 1. because it is said, ver. 1. Now these are they that came to David to Ziglag, while he kept himself close, because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were amongst the mighty men, helpers of the war: and then so many mighty Captains are reckoned out, v. 16. There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold of David, v. 19. And there fell some of Manasseh to David. 20. As he went to Ziglag there fell to him of Manasseh; Ke••h, and Jozabad, Jedi•l and Michael, and Elihu, and Zilthai Captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh. 21. And they helped David against the band (of the rovers.) 22. At that time day by day there came to David, until it was a great host, like the host of God. Now the same expression that is ver. 1. where it is said, they came to help David against Saul, which ver. 1. is repeated, ver. 16. ver. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. 2. That they warrantably came, is evident; because, 1. the Spirit of God commendeth them for their valour and skill in war, ver. 2. ver. 8. ver. 15. ver. 21. which the Spirit of God doth not in unlawful wars. 2. Because Amasai, v. 18. The Spirit of the Lord coming on him, saith, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse; peace, peace unto thee, and peace to thy helpers, for thy God helpeth thee. The Spirit of God inspireth no man to pray peace, to those who are in an unlawful war. 3. That they came to Davids side only to be sufferers, and to flee with David, and not to pursue and offend, is ridiculous. 1. It is said, ver. 1. They came to David to Ziglag, while he kept himself close, because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were amongst the mighty men, helpers of the war. It is a scorn to say, that their might, and their helping in war, consisted in being mere patients with David, and such as fled from Saul: for they had been on Sauls side before; and to come with armour to flee, is a mocking of the word of God. 2.