A92147:994
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. Elijah did not only flee, but denounced wrath against the King, and Cavaliers, who joined with them in Idolatry, and when God gave opportunity, he showed himself, and stirred the people up to kill Baals Jesuits and seducing idolaters, when the Idolatrous King refused to do it, and Elijah with his own hand took them not, but all Israel being gathered together, 1 King. 18. 19. The Princes and Judges did apprehend them, ver. 40. which is a warrant, when the King refuseth to draw the sword of justice against armed Papists, that other judges are to do it. 2. For Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah from the Lord, expressly forbade to fight against him, show us the like for no defending our selves against bloody Papists and Irish cutthroats: for that example may as well prove (if it be a binding law to us) that our King should not raise his Subjects, to fight against a Spanish Armada, and a foreign Prince; for before ever Nebuchadnezzar subdued the Kingdom of Judah Jer. 27. 1. In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, ver. 12, 13, 14. chap. 36. chap. 37. the King of Judah is from the Lord commanded, not to draw a sword against the King of Babylon; I hope this will not tie us, and our King, not to fight against foreign Princes, or against the great Turk, if they shall unjustly invade us and our King, and this example ⟨p. 366⟩is against the Kings resisting of a foreign Prince unjustly invading him, as much, as against us, for Nebuchadnezzar was a Tyrannous invader, and the King of Judah the Lords Anointed. 3. The people also conspired with Manasseh, as with Ahab, Jer. 15. 4. 4. Of Emperors persecuting Christians we shall hear anon. 5. Deut. 13. None are excepted, by a synecdoche, the dearest are expressed, son, daughter, brother, the friend that is as thine own soul. Ergo, fathers also. And husbands are to love their lives. Ephes. 5. 25. Yet to execute judgement on them, without pity, Deut. 13. 8. 9. The father is to love the son, yet if the son prophecy falsely in the name of the Lord, to kill him.