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
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
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
any civill constitution but an ecclesiasticall as all men know For their Courts are spirituall Courts and they spirituall Lords and spirituall Rulers deriving their offices in deed from that Spirit that ruleth in the aire Next being ecclesiasticall they belong either vnto the true Church of Christ or to some malignant synagogue but not to the true Church of CHRIST for we know that the LORD when he furnished his body with all the members meet for the same and bestowed all the Offices thereon wherewith it was at any time to be indued unto his second comming appointed no such offices therin as these Locusts are Besides they are a meer superfluous and cursed addition vnto the Testament of Iesus Christ as all men that ever read the old and new Testament do know For there are no such Officers or such offices mentioned therin And therfore they are the Tares which Satan the enemy of Iesus Christ sowed brought foorth even the plantes which the Lord God hath not planted so must be and shal be rooted out of his vineyard Yea they are no other thē the Locusts that came out of the bottomlesse pit upon the opening thereof by that darkened starre Rev. 9.3 unto whom the key of the same pit was committed Thirdly belonging vnto the malignant Church they apperteyn either vnto the heathenish Pagan religion or vnto the assemblie of Antichrist that great Traitor enemie of Iesus Christ But not vnto the heathen religion for there are no such Offices Officers and forme of regiment to be found among them Wherfore they do belong vnto no other body ecclesiasticall or civill but onely vnto that apostaticall kingdome which arose vp and stil continueth vnder the name of Christ Iesus that is the kingdome of Antichrist We are able to shew them their originall with our finger and also all the world will beare vs witnes that the Pope left them here to keep possession for him when at the beginning of her Maiesties reign he was throwen out with the rest of his guard the Cardinalls Abbots Priors Monks Friers c. Further all societies both ecclesiasticall and civil can be perfect without these Offices and this forme of Regiment save onely that right and well ordered societie of the man of sinne and his members For the Church of Christ may be perfect and absolute without these Egyptian grashoppers the civil Magistracie may be perfect without them so may the heathen idolatrie too But as for the hoast of the Romane Antichrist it shal be altogether vnperfect maimed and wanting the cheif members thereof if it want Lord Archbishops and Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Chancellors Commissaries Officialls to speak nothing in this place of Preistes Deacons so of Chapleines Parsons Vicars Curates Canons Prebendes Singing men Queristers Virgiers which are conspicuous markes whereby the beast is knowen the name and number of his name made up and accomplished Wherfore the conclusion is evident that to cōmunicate in any action of religion within any of the Parish assemblies of this land is to cōmunicate be a member within the Tents that is under the iurisdiction power and authoritie of the kingdome of that Romane Antichrist the direct enimie of Iesus Christ and so to be in a more fearefull case and in greater danger of the Lords wrath then those who remained within the Tentes of Corah Dathan and Abiram Now to come to your Honours of this high Court of Parliamēt I take heaven earth to witnes against you this day that I have here on the behalf of my maister the Lord Iesus Christ cōmenced a true action against the Parish-assemblies of this Land even such as you cannot deny to be true For yee cannot denie the Assemblies of the Land to be subject unto the forenamed officers and forme of Regiment which being ecclesiasticall and not civill as I have declared the verie light of cōmon sense and experience doth shewe unto you apperteine belong not unto the Church of Christ nor unto any heathen Idolatrie but onely unto the kingdome of Babell that band of graven Images and sea of Idolatrie And would you have us to continue in Babell seing our God calleth us out of the same by a mightie voice telling us that he maketh no other account of any that continue within these Territorie but as of those that are become poisoned Dragons unclean and polluted noisome foules and such as haue cōmunion and fellowship with Divels Threatning utter ruine unto us and our soules for evermore if we shall any longer abide within these wicked bandes Nay wil you of this Parliament suffer this cursed Iericho to stand any longer will you suffer these tēts to be pitched this host of Cōspirators to be maintained any longer within this Iland against Iesus Christ and his Saintes Nay will you your selves continue any longer within this rebellious campe and not rather set these Midianitish Tentes on fire throwe your selves downe these Rebellious Capteines also before the feet of IESVS CHRIST the true Captayn of the Lords hoast For my Lords and you the rest of this honourable assemblie I am so far from doubting whether I my brethren have done amisse in leaving these Parishes of the Land that I dare arrest your Honours and all others for conspiring against the glory of the sonne of God and so against your owne salvation whosoever you be that will presume any longer to continue members of these disordered rebellious synagogues And therfore do here for the discharge of my duetie towards the Lord you whom he hath placed in authoritie over me require you to be so farre from following the humour of Adoni-bezek and the rest of his proud confederates in making war against vs the poor Gibeonites who daring no lōger to stād out against the living God have thrown our selves down at his feet that our soules might live as you wil also take the same course with vs. For questionlesse you shall find it true Act. 3.22 Deut. 18.19 with Esa 60.12 that that Nation and that Person which will not heare and be obedient vnto this Prophet and this King which the Lord hath raised vp to sit vpon the throne of David and to rule the same shall be cut of from among his people And touching the kingdome and the government which his father hath given unto him it cannot be transferred vnto another people but it will break and destroy all the kingdomes that stand against it Dan. 2.44 and it shall stand for evermore Wherfore my Lords if you purpose to set vp a kingdome for him I do here in his name charge you to be so far from enacting any thing against vs in this present Parliament who now oppose our selves vnto the forenamed Rebels as you wil decree in his behalf at the least as much as Nebuchad-netser Darius being heathen Princes did establish Dan. 6.26 And that is that in all the Dominions of this her Maiesties Kingdome all