or not otherwise we must not receive them we must refuse them not that we are at any time to reiect and refuse the holy things of God but that we are to reiect the abuse of them to take heed that in receiving of them we be not drawen to break Gods ordinances For when we cannot possesse the word and the sacraments without sinne we must not do evil that is break the Lawe of our God that good may come vnto vs thereof The word is taught in the tents of Corah circumcision is administred there it is not to be heard not to be received and why because they who administer the same are a company of conspirators against the God of Israel at the least they are in those tents wherof the Lord hath sayd Come not neare the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs least yee be partakers in all their sinnes The case is the same with the assemblies of this land the truth is taught ther the sacraments ar administred or rather profaned we wil in no wise communicate with them because these things are done within the Tents not of Corah but of the Officers members of the kingdome of Antichrist which say that Christ Iesus taketh too much vpon him if he will go about to appoint by what Offices his owne house and Church should be ruled They are under their iurisdictions and their Offices of whome the Lord hath said vnto vs Come out from among them and touch no vnclean thing for what communion hath the light of my word with the Tents of mine enemies the puritie of my Sacraments with those polluted caves and dennes So that from these things this Argument doth arise It is at the least as vnlawful if not much more for any to communicate in the word and sacraments or in any other action of religion within the tents of the Kingdome of Antichrist as within the tents of Corah Dathan and Abiram But to communicate in any of the Parish-assemblies of England is to communicate within the tents that is under the iurisdiction of the Kingdome of Antichrist And therfore as vnlawful or rather much more to communicate in the actions of Religion within these assemblies then it was within the tents of Corah Dathan and Abiram What wil be here called into question I know not if the first men think the tents of Corah were to be approched vnto the case would be shameful and the ignorance not to be heard seing the Lord hath plainly inhibited the same as hath bene set down And if this were once graunted then hath the Lord appointed his Ordinances and his Ministery in vaine and without cause seing men may of their owne heads appoint what Ministerie they think meet and continue vnder the same Neither let it be here said that the conspiracy of Corah prevailed not or that there were not many that agreed therevnto For first as touching the laâ—tâ—r point the whole congregation were so affected towards these factious rebels that the next day after the Lord had exercised his fearful iudgements vpon them the whole congregatioÌ„ I say accused Moses Aaron that they had slaine the Lords people meaning Corah and his company and fourteen thousand of the people were consumed for this their murmuring which sheweth what harts they bare vnto Corah how likely he was to prevail with the whole rebellious hoast had not the Lord by his iudgements from heaven staied the iniquitie His conspiracie continued not I graunt and yet a greater that is the conspiracie of Antichrist against Christ Iesus hath continued now for many yeares And the Lord hath set Corahs overthrowe for a signe vnto the rebellious childreÌ„ especially vnto the CoÌ„spirators that ar risen vp against Christ Iesus that their ruine and fal shal be in a moment when they little exspect the same It is not to be doubted but it would have prevailed and continued such was the working of Satan in the harts of that murmuring hoast had not the Lord stayed it by the present streame of his fierie indignation Neither is the conspiracie of Antichrist and his members to be thought more tollerable then that of Corahs because the Lord pleadeth not against the same with his visible iudgements from heaven as he did against the other but wee are rather to learne that what the Lord effected vnder the Law by his visible iudgements or other outward meanes being the rudiments of the world as the Apostle calleth the things of this nature the verie same doth the Lord accomplish vnder the Gospell against the sonne of Perdition and his body by the spirit of his mouth that is 2 Thess 2.8 by his mighty word and the operation thereof And therfore although he overthrew and dissolved that most fearfull conspiracie of Corah Dathan Abiram by the arme of his dreadfull iudgements in a moment yet farre be it that we should think the conspiracie of the members of Antichrist against the right heire of the house of David to be lesse displeasing in the sight of God because in some measure he doth and of a long time hath with held the hand of his outward iudgements from the same as having determined vtterlie to consume and abolish that Apostaticall body by no other speciall meanes then by the brightnes of his appearing and comming in the Ministerie of his Gospell And therefore the Proposition abideth firme and sure that if it was vnlawful for any to communicate in the Actions of religion within the tents of Corah it is much more vnlawfull for any to do so within and vnder the tents of Antichrist the great and high enemy of Iesus Christ For may we not have any communion with them and their Tabernacles who say Moses and Aaron you take too much vpon you may we have fellowship with that campe who hath pitched a field against Iesus Christ and beare both Prince and people in hand that he taketh too much vpon him in appointing who shall approch to minister in his presence vnder the civil authoritie of a Christian Prince Could not the children of God have any sanctified use of the Tents of Corah and may they have the same of the tabernacles of Antichrist which are invented and ordeyned to the overthrow of the prerogative of Iesus who is God over all blessed for evermore This were nothing but to account Moses to be the Lord that is to be esteemed reverenced and had in estimation and to reckon Christ Iesus execrable that is base contemptible and mean such as whose lawes and ordinances may be violated cast of troden vnder foot with lesse perill then Moses his might which no man speaking by the Spirit of God can hold and avouch As to the Assumption That the Parish assemblies of England are under the iurisdiction of the kingdome of Antichrist For the proof we are to set downe these groundes First that this manner of regiment by Archbishops Lordbishops Chancellors Archdeacons Commissaries is not
men of what estate and condition soever they be tremble feare before the God of Queen Elizabeth because he is the living God which remayneth for ever his kingdome shall not perish his Dominion shal be everlasting that whosoever shall wilfully and wittinglie speake any blasphemy much more if they shall presume to take armour against him as this gainesaying generation now doth shal be drawen in pieces and their houses be made a sinck Know my Lords that if you shall do otherwise these heathen Kinges will accuse you in the day of the Lord and take heed that none of your actes statutes be found written with the bloud of the Saintes For great Babylon her warriours Corah and his mainteiners shall come to remembrance the Lord wil reward them according unto their deedes And as in the former respectes I call your Honours to record with mee so also herein I beseech you to testifie the trueth on my behalfe that I make an utter separation betweene her Maiesties Civill Authoritie and the Ecclesiasticall jurisdictiō of these Corahs these Dathans these Abirams The which I set downe because wee can no sooner account the false Ministerie of the Romish Church to be Antichristian as it is but evill disposed uncōscionable men wil be readie to selander us that we account her MAIESTIES authoritie to be so too as though her Majesties power were ecclesiasticall and not civil or that this Romish band were Princes by their authoritie What kinges and Princes do establish is one thing their Authoritie power wherby they do this is another They may of oversight or otherwise set up the power of Satan by mainteyning false religion worship ordinances c. Yet their Power that is their Civill Authority whereby they do this is the Ordinance of God though herein they highlie abuse the same and shall answere for it without their repentance Her majestie this high Court of Parliament hath hitherto established this Ecclesiasticall regiment of the Kingdome of Antichrist this band of Conspiratours against the Majestie of Iesus Christ but this Conspiracie is one thing the authoritie whereby the same is established is another The Conspiracie the Offices ther of are wholy from Satan from the Dragon from the beast from the false prophet out of whole mouthes these frogges issued and so to be rejected The Civill authoritie of her MAIESTIE and the Parliament wherby this treacherie of oversight I trust is upheld is the holy ordinance of GOD notwithstanding it faileth herein and therefore to be embraced to be obeied and had in reverence yet are they betimes to redresse the abuse before the Lord breake forth upon us in his wrath And the Ordinances of Antichrist established by the lawful civill authoritie do yet continue Antichristian and unlawfull Because false religion and false ordinances Reteine their Nature by what power soever they be established The breach of Gods Law is the same by whom soever it be countenanced enacted commanded The statutes of Omry the maner of the house of Ahab the Damascene Altar are still Idolatrous monuments and constitutions by whomsoever they be enacted though by Ezekiah Iosiah or by any other the Godly Princes of Iudah And therefore the pretence which some alledge contrary I feare me to the light of their owne knowledge to cover their submission unto the forenamed Antichristian ordinances that Archbishops and Bishops Chancellors Commissaries c. which her Majesties Lawes do allowe are become civill constitutions and not ecclesiasticall is altogither vaine and frivolous For first no part of Poperie was ever imposed upon us to be received of any the subjects of this Land but what her Majesties Predecessors the Kinges and Princes of this Land did by Law enact among their Subjectes Againe her Majestie doth establish this as an ecclesiasticall power and not as any civill Thirdly being an Antichristian Constitution in it selfe the power of man enacting the same cannot make it to be otherwise Breifely Masse or any their Heathen Ordinances being enacted by Civil authoritie may by this reason be frequented also as being a civil thing and not any Antichristian ordinance And therefore men cannot better themselves by this iugling This whol Antichristian band in the time of Poperie did not onely withstand Iesus Christ in the poinct of the outward offices being the extremitie of Corahs sinne but also denied him the preferment to lodge any wise in the heartes of any men within these Tentes Nay these Tentes in those daies were nothing else but a receptacle of all the inventions which Satan could devise for the dishonour of Iesus Christ In consideration whereof her Majestie and the state thought they had done well that they emptied those tentes of the greatest part of the fearfull ab hominations remayning in them overthrewe some of them as the Papacie the Cardinalship Monkery c. and planted the most of the vessels of the house of God that is the greatest part of the doctrine of the truth in them but the Tents and the Conspiracie still remaine in as direct a sort against the glorie of God as that of Corah was Nay by all this clensing emptying although we unfeighnedly praise our God for the same and confesse it to have been a great worke they have not as yet brought them into that puritie and that soundnes of Religion that the Tents of Corah were in as it will easilie appeare unto any that will consider that Corah strove with Moses but touching the Office of the Priesthood onely whereas these men overthrowe the whole face of the Church of Christ persecute the Truth and maintayne publikly many horrible sinnes whereat Corah would have blushed as the Idoll-preisthood non-residencie the descending of Christ into Hell after he gave up the ghost upon the Crosse and had said All was finished But touching the Authoritie of the civill power and particularly of her right excellent Majesty I am in this place for the stopping of all sclaunderous mouthes who have or would report otherwise of me inforced to set downe what I hold and beleeve according to the word of God I do therefore here acknowledge her Mejesties Sovereigntie and regall Authoritie to be the Ordinance of the God of Heaven whereunto all persons without exceptiō within her Realmes and Dominions are to be subject to yeeld obedience in the Lord not only for feare of punishment but even for conscience sake because her forenamed authoritie power is derived from the King of Kings even the Lord Iesus who hath all power in heaven and earth in his owne handes I doe also avouch that no forreigne power Prince potentate or state hath or possiblie can have any authoritie within the Territories of her dominions over any person or in any cause save onely what by special graunt he deriveth from her and her Roiall Lawes Her foresaid authoritie I acknowledge to stretch it selfe not onely ever all persons within her Dominions but also over all causes as
THE HISTORIE of Corah Dathan and Abiram c. Numb 16. Chap. Applied to the Prelacy Ministerie and Church-assemblies of England By Mr Iohn Penry a Martyr of Iesus Christ. Numb 16.26 And Moses spake vnto the Congregation saying Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs least ye perish in all their sinnes Rev. 18.4 And I heard another voyce from heaven say Go out of Babylon my people that ye be not partakers in her sinnes and that ye receive not of her plagues Imprinted in the yeare 1609. The Publisher to the Reader THere comming to my hands Christian reader the copie of this treatise following wherof many copies have passed abroad in writing I thought good weying well the matter vndertaken the partie by whom it was written to publish the same to the further view of the world And chiefly for the good of my country which all true subiects are bound by all good meanes to seek and advance The subiect of this book or matter undertaken is A declaration of th' estate of the Church and Ministery of Engl. compared with Corah Dathan Abiram their Tents and conspiracie against Moses and Aaron Num. 16. chap. Which therefore all in whom the true fear of God is ought carefully to look vnto and examine For we should trie all things and keep that which is good And they who never examine the things charged to be evil and out of order in that Church must needs be ignorant whether their estate therin be good or evill But if they coÌ„sider that ignorance will not excuse them it behooveth all to take knowledge whom I hartely wish to lay aside all partialitie and with indifferent mindes to weigh things well trying them by the rule of Gods word that whatsoever therby is required of them they may resolve to do it although it turne to the losse of all worldly pleasures and preferments knowing that we have here but a short time and our God hath reserved for vs a more induring substance and richer inheritance in the kingdome of heaven if in obedience we submit vnto him and in faith and pacience do wayt vpon him Touching the authour Mr Iohn Penry by name he was a godly man learned zealous of a most ChristiaÌ„ cariage courage as he * In his Apologie saith of himself borne and bred in the mountaines of Wales And wel known it is that with all godly care labour he endeavoured to have the Gospell preached and planted among his poore countrymen whose case he greatly pittied had compassion of in that they wanted the meanes of salvation among them After all this God vsing him as a further instrument for the more clear manifestation of the truth he was hardly intreated imprisoned condemned and executed so suffred Martyrdome for the name of Christ. Being adiudged at the Kings bench by Sir Iohn Popham Knight Lord cheif Iustice of England and the rest of the Iudges there assembled the 25. of the 5. month called May and executed at Thomas a Waterings by London the 29. of the same month in the year of our Lord 1593. And here let the Reader observe that he was not executed the next day after the iudgement as it was expected nor the second nor third day after but when men least looked for the same then was he brought forth being at dynner as I have heard by a warrant vnder the hands of the * Iohn Whitgift Archbishop of CaÌ„terbury of Sir Iohn Puckering Knight Lord Keeper of the great seale and Sir Iohn Popham aforesaid being then Lord chief Iustice of England and the matter being caried after a close manner was sodeinly conveyed to the place of execution where he was as hastily bereaved of his life and not suffred though he desired it to make declaration of his faith towards God or of his allegiance to her Maiestie Which mâ—ner of dealing I thought good to note here by the way that it might be knowen and esteemed of all according as it deserveth Furthermore concerning this treatise whether he had finished the whol or was taken intercepted when he had thus far proceeded in it or what he would further have done about it I know not Wherfore if others have more of it they shall do wel to impart it to the world as I have done this which came to my hands In the mean time I wish all to make good vse of this part now printed they vnto whose hands it shal come to enterteyn it as a poore Orphane who is left as it were Fatherles by the authours vntimely death procured by the Prelates who as vncleane spirits like frogges croaking about Kings Courts do stir vp the Magistrates Rulers of the earth Rev. 16.13.14 to make warre against Gods Saintes Whereas these should rather hearken to that which God speaketh vnto them in his word saying Be wise now therefore ye Kings be learned ye Iudges of the earth Serve the Lord in feare and rejoyce in trembling Kisse the sonne least he be angry and ye perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burne Blessed are all they that trust in him Psal 2.10.11.12 THE HISTORIE OF CORAH c. Numb 16. chap. Applied to the Church-assemblies of England IT is certayne and apparant that this age cannot in any wise brook to have the truth manifested spoken in the same except it be by peece meales So that if ever it were said to the Seers See not to the prophets prophesie not unto us right things Isa 30.10 but speak flatteries prophesie errors depart out of the way go aside out of the path cause the holy one of Jsraell to ceasse fom vs the very same is now sayd and stood vnto in these miserable dayes nay those that would be reconed our leaders our eyes our guides are nowe become the men of Anathoth and say plainelie Jer. 11.21 prophesie not in the name of the Lord that thou dy not by our hands All estates and sorts of men high and low have reasons why to reiect the truth why to condemne it why to tread it vnder foot and to persecute the same It is not pleasant it is odious it is offensive it is hard knotty uncivil proud hauty and what not It is not pleasant because it draweth men into incouveniences it reproveth them to their faces discovereth their evil walking it in dangereth those that professe the same it carrieth but a mean trayn after it It is odious and offensive for the same causes It is vncivil proud and haughtie because it wil correct and reform all it wil alter states it regardeth not the years learning credite wisdome and estimation of those that stand against it but goeth about to bring all under foot and to make them all to stoop unto it or els threatneth to break theÌ„ like a potters vessel it wil not be silent at their commaundement but contrary wise enforceth them
to flee her presence and not to haue a word to speak that they dare stand unto while she is in place These and such like are the causes why the truth of God is so meanly attended upon and utterly cast off among men in our dayes for what reason is there as men usually conclude that those who in the estimation of the most are learned godly religious c. should have their practises reproved and themselves condemned as violaters of the Lords morall commandements seing they are especially deemed to urge the observatioÌ„ of them As an answer to all these frivolous cavils of fesh and blood I oppose once for all THE WORD OF GOD and the truth therof wherby I doubt not but to stop the mouth of proud flesh and to presse the same with the mace of Gods iudgements for evermore except they imbrace and obey the truth And therfore I do here in the presence of God his Angels charge theÌ„ whosoever they be into whose haÌ„ds this present treatise shal come that they presume not to suffer the former cavils to haue passage out of their lippes as being reasoÌ„s of any force why the truth of God should be beaten back smothered and kept in because men do account the same to be mean odious offensive sterne proud c. For why should not all the world lay their hand upon their mouthes when the GOD OF HEAVEN speaketh and labour to frame themselves and their affections meet to receive his truth and to be obedient to the same Shall proud men reiect it because it derogateth from their ruinous credite Shal they seek to keep it under because they will not come under the line and direction of the same Shall that be accounted odious which is most amiable most bewtifull to be desired above fine gold Job 28.19 yea of more valew then the Topaz of Aethiopia or the most pure wedge of the gold of Ophir and that onely because vaine men hate to be reformed by it Shall that be accounted proud offensive and haughty wherat none possiblie can stumble but proud scribes and pharisees or ignorant and worldly minded Disciples who wil not stick to say to the Lord himself that his sayings are hard and who can hear them Nay let vaine men labour to haue the eare of the learned that they may break in pieces their turning away to their shame confusion of face their hard intreaty of the truth and those that professe the same by revilings slanders imprisonments c. to their everlasting perdition without the Lords great mercy in turning them unto him which I earnestly wish them And as the whole truth oppugned in these dayes is in the eyes men of the nature and qualitie before mentioned so is this in particular for the clearing wherof I am to deal at this present The point is That it is unlawfull for any of what estate sex degree condition soever they be to communicate in any action of religion as in hearing trueth taught in receiving the Sacraments praying c. Within any of the publik meetings of the Land as now they stand by Law And therfore that this present Parliament c. The reasons of the first degree alleadged to prove the contrary wil be these namely that the assertion is traiterous seditious schismatical that it is Brownisme that it is odious offensive c. that it coÌ„demneth the doings of the children of God the practises of the most notable servaÌ„ts of Christ accuseth them all this while to have erred gone astray that it crosseth the iudgemeÌ„t of reformed Churches who are better perswaded of the asseÌ„blies of the land that excellent and famous men sawe not this that they were of an other mind c. But what is all this to the truth is it any new thing to see the truth arraigned indighted condemned and executed for treason and sedition though never convinced of the same We consider not whether kingdomes states be so out of order as that the truth cannot come to light but it wil be accouÌ„ted traiterous among them The onely thing that we especially respect is whether it be truth or not the which being found hold it we must defend it we must whatsoever account mans corruption maketh therof And therfore here is no more said against it but what in all ages hath bene falsly vttered against the truth Falsey I say because no truth can be traiterous unto the state of any Prince or Potentate And as vnto this in particular it shal be found to cary vndoubted stability with it for the vpholding of her MAIESTIES crowne authority priviledges preheminences within all her Realmes and Dominions and to be accompanied with the allowance of her Royall Lawes if it might haue the particular benefit of them Touching the crime of Brownisme Schisme c. It is an vnconscionable slaunder for truth holdeth of no creature it is derived onely from that head in whom all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge are hidden that is from IESVS CHRIST yet this I know to be the vsuall badge of the truth to be called after the names of men to be accounted schismatical that thereby the harts of the simple may be alienated from the same And Satan in this latter age hath bene a mervelous cunning RhetoriciaÌ„ this way there hath bene no truth brought to light but he haâ—h taken paines to paint it out for Zwinglianisme Luther anisme Calvinisme Brownisme c. Odious and offensive it hath bene already graunted to be onely in their eyes who refuse to be guided by the line and rule of the Maister builder wheras otherwise it is precious vnto them that labour to square themselves and their actions according to the paterne of the holy sanctuary and temple And to pretend against the truth that it condemneth the doings of men is nothing els but a manifest testimony that truth is truth who must bear rule and bring all into order yea let all men in the world be liars and let the Lord in this truth of his ordinances be iustified and prevaile 2 Sam. 11.17 12.9.11 David is a godlie man he is the sweet singer of Israel a man according to Gods own hart wel esteemed of wel reputed may he therfore do what he wil may he continue in sinne and must not the light reproove him Peter is the notable embassadour of Iesus Christ Gal. 2.11.14 a great instrument and furtherer of the truth but may he therefore clayme libertie not to be withstood to his face in his hypocrisie If this could be once graunted that the credit of men might cover their open breach of Gods lawe and their continuance therin it were but vaine to bring the truth to light Nay let the credit of the captaynes of the congregation be hanged against the sunne rather then their place estimation and the good opinion which men haue received of them should defend the whoring of the people with the daughters of Moab
Num. 28.4 especially their spiritual whordome with the ordinances of Antichrist and their proud reiecting of Iesus Christ Touching reformed Churches we are to walk by the line of the word and not after the iudgements of men When they have answered swered the reasons set downe in this treatise and have learned aright in what staâ—e the assemblies of the land do stand we wil give some better doome vnto their opinioÌ„s In the mean time we have a sure word of the Prophets wherevnto all those are to give eare 2 Pet. 1.19 who purpose to folow the light of the true day starr If men speak not according to this word but wilfully runne from the light therof to see what cloak they may have from Churches or men to cover their nakednes we must needs tel them with the holy Prophet that they do this Isa 8.20 because there is not a glimse of light in them And that they do not suffer themselves to be tried by the light of the word because their works are in darknes The case is marveilous strange that we having the written word of God at home and the things accused by the same to be out of order present before our eyes shall runne from the word and from common sense so farr also from home to ask the iudgements of men in that case which on the one side they know not aright and therfore cannot pronounce an equal sentence therof yea when their iudgements are gotten there is no more had but the conclusions of men against the direct warrant of the word The hierarchie hath so long time fought with this weapoÌ„ as it is a wonderfull case that those who have dulled the edge therof by the buckler of the word ar not ashamed to take it vp themselves But what shift can there be so mean that Satan wil not vse for the covering of his shifting polluted marchandise Yet is he and his vtterly besides the mark if they think that we regard the persons of men in this truth which we have in hand Nay if they were Angels from heaven accursed be they if they go about in the least point to seduce vs from the truth and word of Iesus Christ our Maister In whose behalf at this instant I do here in his presence before heaven and earth arraigne and convince the whole parish-assemblies of this Land and the members therof as traytors and conspiring with Antichrist against his Maiesty and consequently as being such at this present as from whome every member of CHRIST is to separate himself vnder paine of Gods everlasting wrath Wherfore hearken ye ô heavens and hear thou ô earth let posteritie bear witnes seing this age stoppeth her eares that I accuse these parish-assemblies of being guilty of a greater conspiracy against the Maiestie of Iesus Christ then that of Corah Dathan and Abiram was against Moses And therfore also of being in danger of the Lords indignation in a more fearful sort theÌ„ were those who abode with Corah and his company The case with Corah Dathan and Abiram was thus There were three especiall prerogatives belonging vnto the sonnes of Israel Gen. 49.3.4 1 Chron. 5. I. the kingdome 2. the birthright 3. the holy office of the Priesthood Reuben the first borne should have bene excellent in some of these as the Spirit of God recordeth had he not defiled his fathers bed but for this his sinn he lost his preferment Symeon being the next lost the same in like manner for his slaughter of the Schecemites in such sort as he was dispersed in Iacob scattered in Israel having never any proper tribe or inheritance after their owne name Levi being a brother in mischeif with him was also scattered yet the Lord in mercy vouchsafed him the dignity of the Priesthood 1 Chron. 5.1 as he did the Kingdome vnto Iuda and the Birthright vnto Ioseph who had two tribes and so a double portion amongest the children of his people Now at the comming out of Aegypt Moses by the commaundement of God I know conveighed both the kingdome that is the chief power of the civil authoritie as also the priesthood vnto his own fathers house And in regard of the priesthood he established it for ever in the line of Aaron his brother by a covenant of salt And to this purpose enacted that not onely the whol tribe of Levi even Gershom the elder brother and his sonnes should be vnder the iurisdiction and commandement of Aaron and his sonnes in the holy service of the tabernacle but also that none Aaron and his sonnes excepted either of the Levites Num. 3.10 4.10 or of any other the tribes of Israel should intermeddle with the holy office of the priesthood under paine of death Herevpon certain famous men of the congregation Corah of the house of Levi Dathan and Abiram of the house of Reuben the first borne Num. 16.10 17.5.8 with other two hundred and fifty captaines of the assemblie even all men of renowne charged Moses and Aaron of collusioÌ„ evil dealing with the Lords people in that they had transferred the priesthood vnto their fathers house without warrant so the Lord was faine to decide the controversie between them not onely by his iudgements vpon the chief conspirators and such as abode in their tents but also by the budding of Aarons rodde Now touching the controversie between Moses and Corah it was not whether the God of Israel was to be served or not for Corah and his company granted that as well as Moses It was not whether forreigne Idolatrie should be brought into the house of Israel for that would Corah and his company withstand as wel as Moses breifly it was not concerning any fundamentall point of religion as men now vse to speak but onely touching those offices Num. 16.10 and those officers wherby the worship of God was to be performed even touching the Priests office as Moses saith In regard of the persons it may seem to be somthing tolerable they were all of them members of the true visible Church before their conspiracie all famous men in the congregation 1 Chon 6.39.37.38 And Corah in particular brought vp his children in the fear of God in such measure as they wil have a famous name in the Church for evermore Num. 26.11 as being those who consented not vnto their fathers sinnes and therfore also perished not with them but were afterward imployed in the holy offices Wel the case of Corah being thus tollerable in the iudgement of flesh and blood yet was it vtterly vnlawful for any man either to preach the truth or to heare the truth taught within their tents And therfore much more unlawful to preach the same or to heare the same taught within any of the assemblies of England this day Because all these assemblies are not within the tents that is vnder the iurisdiction and of the conspiracie which Corah Dathan Abiram raised
against Moses but within the tents that is under the power and of the conspiracie which the members and officers of Antichrist have raised against Christ Iesus the sonne of God And that it may be seen that I speak the truth I appeale to the consciences of all men in this place whether all the Parish-assemblies of England are not yea and continue in subiection vnto these offices of the Antichristian kingdome namely vnto an Archbishop a Lord bishop a Chancellor an Archdeacon a Commissary an Offâ—ciall and an other Preist at the least that is eyther a Parson a Vicar or a Curate Now touching the conspiracy wherof these men are guiltie I do agayn appeale vnto the consciences of all men whether it be not greater presumption for Lord Archbishops Bishops Chancellors CoÌ„missaries Archdeacons c. to say vnto Christ Iesus that he taketh too much vpon him in a peaceable kingdome to appoint by what offices and officers he should be served then for Corah Dathan Abiram to say Moses and Aaron you take too much vpon you I know it must needs be granted to be greater for shall they be accounted rebels that break Moses his law the violaters wherof died without mercy vnder two or three witnesses and will it not be adiudged much more heynous thus to rebel against the sonne of God The Spirit of God sayth yea because this man to wit Heb. 3.3 Iesus Christ is worthy of more honour then Moses And he that breaketh his Law especially entreth into conspiracie against him is a far greater traitor then he that riseth against the ordinances of Moses The conclusioÌ„ then is evident that the conspiracy of the Archbishops and Bishops of this land against Christ Iesus wherby they being forreigne Officers and straungers from the house of God by vertue of their Offices do yet presume to arrogate the government of his house into their owne hands to take vp weapons against him and his servants that would restore him into his own possession are greater Rebels and guiltie of a greater sin against the Maiestie of God then were Corah Dathan Abiram their company And that those who continue and have ecclesiasticall authoritie and iurisdiction are guilty of an high sinne and to expect a more fearful hand of God over them then those who remayned in the tents of Corah Dathan and Abiram If it be here obiected that these Romish Locusts their guard do not say that Christ taketh too much vpon himself in going about to plant what Offices he thinketh meet in his owne house they mend not themselves for he that heareth you heareth me saith Christ Iesus and he that despiseth his word reiecteth him againe Corah did not professe himselfe to rise against the God of Israel yet sayth Moses vnto him Thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord for what is Aaron that ye murmure against him So say we vnto this Romish traine ye and your abettors are gathered together this day against Iesus Christ and have wrested the Scepter out of his hand as for vs that oppose our selves against you in our Maisters quarrel what are we that ye should thus molest and persecute vs If any man shall plead ignorance for them and say that they see not what they do in these things we answer that the question is not what they know but what they doe They have had sufficient time to learne now these 34 yeares and vpward wherin they haue continued and increased their rebellion and their practises against CHRIST JESVS his Saints Let them put on armour and pitch a feild against her MAIESTIE molest and persequute her subiects despise her proclamations and imprison to the death her faithfullest servants and see whether pleading ignorance wil cover their attempts Much lesse wil it serve their turne in this case And if they are ignorant then speak they evil of and persequute that which they know not and so are in a fearful case But Corah and his company living in a time of smaller light having also some more reasons to cover their attempts as before hath and agayn shal be briefly touched might plead ignorance better then our Prelacy and Preisthood may do Wherfore eyther it must be sayd that men may conspire against IESVS CHRIST without controlment wheras this could not be done vnder and against Moses without the danger of a fore recompense of Gods wrath Or els it must be graunted that the conspiracie of our Prelates must be farre greater then that of Corah Dathan and Abiram was which can in no wise be denied both because it aymeth at the same point that Corahs did namely at the outward offices of the house of God to speak nothing here of the will-worship and false administrations wherein these Romish Offices are imployed in the assemblies of this Land and also in as much as it is against Iesus Christ the Sonne wheras the gainsaying of Corah withstood but the ordinances appointed by Moses the servant And therfore also it followeth that seing the assemblies of this Land cannot be drawen to leave the tents of these wicked men but continue in the wilful and obstinate defence of this their doing it followeth I say that they are also guilty of a greater conspiracie then those were that abode in the tents of Corah What these parish assemblies wil be able to say for themselves I know not for it is out of controversie true that all of them are at the commaundement under the iurisdiction of these Antichristian Captaynes They receive no Ministerie but what they allow what they make what hath authoritie from them They receive no worship manner of serving the true God but what these Romish Apollyons are content shal be over them Nay they are wholly their subiects and at their call and commaundement in every thing that apperteyneth vnto the outward worship of the Lord. When this gainsaying generation graunteth the Parish a preaching Preist they have a Preacher when they deny the same they must be content with reading Not to be long in a knowen case what can there be done in these assemblies which the Prelates are not content to tollerate and allow Nay what power hath the Parish or their Preist to establish any thing there but what they derive from their Ordinary And as to the most Parishes in this Land Preists that serve in them they professedly mainteyn this conspiracie Some few preaching Preists or Deacons and some small number of the Parish I graunt to be here and there which pretend a desire to have this conspiracie dissolved but these are nothing to the generall state of the Land And these in the mean time are also themselves the cheif vpholders of this conspiracie holding it lawful contrarie to the expresse inhibition of the word for themselves and all others to continue within these tents in such sort as they are become the cheifest mainteyners of this Rebellion the egerest pursuers of those
that leave the same For if any man shal accuse eyther them or these famous Captayne 's the Archbishops and Lordbishops Preists Archdeacons c. to be an Antichristian band risen vp against Jesus Christ therfore such as from whose assemblies everie servant of Christ is to sever himself these preachers and other people presently band themselves gainst him for a Schismatick and a Brownist And they wil leave no weapō vnhandeled no meanes vnassayed eyther of abusing the word or of fair speaking slandering reviling c vntil if possibly by that furniture they may they hav turned him into those tents agayn the which they can prove to be Schems wherevnto the Lord hath promised to perswade Japheth to enter and not Corahs or Antichrists from the which and out of the which he calleth his people by a loud voice saying Num. 16.26 2 Cor. 6.16.17 Depart now from the tentes of these wicked men and touch nothing that is theirs least you perish in all their sinnes And Come out from among them separate your selves and touch no vnclean thing and I wil receive you sayth the Lord. For what fellowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes what communion hath light with darknes what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath the beleever with the infidel So that if we consider these people although they are nothing to the assemblies of the Land behold a company of conspirators as wel as the rest even those who are as much subiect vnto the controlment no lesse under the iurisdiction of Lord Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons Chancellors then any other of the land and as to their meetings they are the same with all the rest of the ignorant sort who are members as wel as they And here we are not to regard whether men be desirous to be out of the tents of Corah because they had rather ioyn with Moses or fear the Lord wrath that is like to insue vpō that wicked habitatiō but whether they continue there or not If they continue there then may we say vnto them that they shal perish in all their sinns They must needs touch their vncleannesse they must have fellowship nay stoup and yeeld reverence and obeisance vnto the vnrighteous ordinances of Antichrist which are laid and imposed on them in steed of the ordinances of Jesus Christ They appear at their Courts pay and bring their fees to kindle and mainteyn that fire vpon Baals altar which otherwise would be easily quenched They ioyne in prayer hearing sacraments and every other action wherby the conspirators pollute the religiō of Christ so that they are not separated from they are the same with they come not out from among these Rebels They confessing them selves to be light have communion and fellowship with these most uncleane ordinances of the kingdome of darknes which they should withstand gainsay reprove and avoid though with the peril of their lives They participate they communicate with the Ordinances of the vnbeleeving Antichristian race nay with the Ordinances of Divels though they confesse themselves to be beleevers The Ordinances of Divels I say for all the inventions of the kingdome of Antichrist all the members and officers of that child of perdition as Archbishops Lord bishops Chancellors Commissaries Archdeacons Preists Officials and their iurisdictions were invented by the mighty power of Satan as the Apostle teacheth vs. They say they are Christes and yet ioyne themselves with the ordinances of Belial are subiect vnto him at his commandement in his sayd ordinances And therfore let them say what they wil these also who would be otherwise accounted ioyne light and darknes together righteousnes vnrighteousnes Christ and Belial and consequently are vnited in the same band of Rebellion and conspiracy against Christ Iesus with these forenamed leaders Whervpon it followeth that the whol assēblies of the land every member of them do not onely continue within these Antichristian tabernacles that are pitched vp against Iesus Christ that is under the iurisdiction and at the commandement direction and government of those Maisterful Rebels and conspirators the Lord Archbishops and Bishops Priests Chancellors of the Land but also are found to cary armour against Iesus Christ and his members vnder the banner of these foresayd Rebels Yet the question here is not so much whether a Levite or any other of the children of Israel agreing with Corah Dathan and Abiram in consent and action might remaine within their tents as whether any disliking the conspiracie might yet abide in that rebellious campe vpon some other respect or purpose it is answered no seing the Lord absolutely commaundeth all to depart So that it would not serve a Levite to say I may here preach the truth Corah and his company are brethren they professe the true Religion they erre in no fundamental point the matter of their oversight is rather in manners then in doctrine Though it were in doctrine yet is it onely touching the outward offices of the house of God Corah thinketh it much that he and his should be made perpetual servants vnto Aaron his sonns There are many famous men of his iudgement even two hundred and fifty Captaynes of the Congregation The most of the people are of the same mind and alas should these want teaching They have conceived such a deep impression of hatred against Moses and Aaron that as yet they wil not be gotten to come vnder their tents though they should dy for it The whol assembly of the Lords people both one other think much that Moses should establish both the Scepter and the Preistood in his own fathers house Num. 16.13.14 Especially Dathan Abiram the sonnes of Reuben the first borne cannot brook this All of them charge Moses very heavily of breach of promise of seducing thē by faire words to come out of Egypt that he might be made a Lord and ruler over them He promised them inheritāces of fields vineyards therby brought them out for a land that floweth with milke and hony and yet behold they are all this while in a barren and fearful wildernesse where they can get neither bread to eat nor yet water to drink for themselves and their cattel Farre be it that we should iudge all these to be reprobates that are of this mind Many of them are known to be good soules and to carrie a good heart to the glorie of God The time was when Moses himselfe was not of that mind that he would have none to sacrifice but Aaron and his sonnes Nay we would have ben glad all of vs when we were in Egypt to have had but halfe the libertie quietnes to serve our God that we may have within the tents of Corah we may teach the whole substance of the truth there yea that also which cōcerneth the outward Offices so that we do it wiselie discreetly It is an hard matter therfore for vs to leave our places here and the