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
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
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
wel ecclesiastical as civil in such sort as nothing is to be established among her subiects either in ecclesiasticall or civil causes publikl or privately but what belongeth vnto her power to correct order enact according vnto the written word of God and the rules of common equide and iustice So that it doth no whit infringe her royal power and authoritie to deny that she hath any warrant any power any sword granted her of God to establish either false Religion false Antichristian ordinances or yet any other vnwarrantable or vniust constitutiō Yet if of oversight she hath imposed any such thing vpon her subiects and inflicted a penaltie vpon them for not obeying that wherto they cannot yeeld any submissiō without the breach of Gods lawe I hold it to be the duty of private men to suller patiently the stroke of her sword and in no wise to withstand the power thereof either by open force or secret practises but only to betake themselves and their cause vnto the Lord God earnestly desiring him to passe by her oversight and to encline her heart and hand to embrace and mainteyue his truth and to suppresse all falshood violence and oppression Now if her Maiestie and this high Court require of vs that we resort vnto the publick assemblies of the land and so to enter as hath ben shewed into the tents of the Antichristian band continue therein I answer againe that this is against the written word of God and therfore that her Maiestie hath no power no authoritie from the Lord to require this at our hands We are punished for it we answer againe that the sword is given for our wealth and not for our hurt that it ought not to be drawen against vs for well doing yet we paciently and quietly bear the stroke we dare not resist we dare not rebel against the Powers Nay we intreat our God day and night for the prosperity of her Maiesties crowne desiring him in mercy to passe by this blemish of her government and not to lay it to her charge earnestly craving that her eyes and the eyes of your Honours may be opened to see our innocency and the truth wherein we stand admonishing both Her and you that although we for our parts knowe our selves bound even in nature to pacifie the hard dealing of our Prince and country towards vs by suffring and bearing of their iniuries as we would do our parents that yet the Lord God who iudgeth without respect of persōs is an avenger of al such things In respect wherof we dare notbut endeavour to the uttermost of our power to pull her and you from this consuming fire of his judgements that hang over your heads even for the maintenance of this Antichristian merchandise within this Land much more for pursuing vs that will not trafique and intermedle with the said wares Hitherto I have shewed the Parish-assemblies of the Land to be of a most feareful conspiracie against Iesus Christ and therefore to be dissolved by your Honours and avoided in the meane time by all the Servants of Christ But I would this preheminence that these forreigne Romish Captaines have over them were the only thing which maketh them vnclean vnto the Saints of God Their case in the next place then is now to be considered for the vnderstading wherof I am to set down these groūds following 1. That as the Lord hath appointed his word and trueth to be taught his Sacraments to be administred and the holy Order appointed by himself to be kept in his house and body so he hath ordeyned a Power and authoritie that is certaine offices by vertue whereof these things are to be done 2. Next that Christ Iesus being the head of his Church hath ill fulnes of power preheminence authority dwelling in himself in such sort as his body and spouse is to submit her self unto no power in religion save onely vnto that power which is derived from him that is her head So that as the Church is to receive no doctrines no sacraments no order but what the Lord hath anpointed to be in his house so also hee hath forbidden his said Church to receive be subiect vnto any power authority save onely unto the power which is derived frō the head therof For it is no lesse derogatory vnto the Majesty of Christ Iesus for the Church to submit her self vnto the power of another head though conveighing the truth with it then to receive the false doctrines and false sacraments of some other Religion or God 3. Thirdly that Satan in bringing the mysterie of iniquity to light and in advancing the sonne of perdition into his chaire of pestilence did not onely appoint false Sacraments false worship but also a false head and a false power that is false Offices by vertue wherof both those things were to be done as also the Lords true institutions and ordinances were to be violated in the Antichristian Synagogue 4. That those who preach the truth administer the sacraments of baptisme and the Lords supper and none other by vertue of any of the false offices invented and reteyned in the kingdome of the Romane Antichrist derive their power wherby they doe these things from Antichrist and not from Christ Iesus And therfore that such working by vertue of a false power is not to be received of the church of Christ Now to come to the Parish-assemblies of this land admit that ARCH BISHOPS LORD BISHOPS c. bare no such rule authority over them as now they do and that there were none but Preachers in them yet we demaund of these Preachers by what authoritie they preach baptize c that is we demand what office they have so to do whether this office of theirs be an office derived frō Chirst Iesus or a power left here by Antichrist I say that whatsoever they do they doe the same by vertue of an Antichristian power office and calling none other That is they do it either as they are Deacons Preists or as having a priviledged immunitie licence and dispensation counterveyling a Deaconry or a Preisthood I adde this priviledged License because some one among ten thousand it may be being neither Preist nor Deacon by vertue of a License from his Ordinarie doth serve a cure Yet if there be any such they are not capable of any charge and what they do they do it by this power of the beast And here because I deale in a matter of fact I call but day light and common sense to decide this whole controversie which is conteyned in these two points 1. Whether at the expelling of the Pope out of this Land by her Maiesties saves the Popish offices of Preists and Deacons were expelled also out of the Parish-assemblies or reteyned 2. Whether at the same tyme or sithence any of the true offices of the Church of Christ were instituted and ordeyned in the Parish-assemblies of the Land The case is cleere that
entring in at the doore Wee detest their Anabaptistrie But to answer the word abused by them Paul was an Apostle and had his office thereunto before ever he saw the Corinthians yea he had his office from Iesus Christ before ever he preached This office of his he proveth unto us by the written word although he was in no wise to receive the same his office from the Church Now if the Corinthians or any other whom he had called unto the obedience of the Gospell should by the instigation of the false Apostles call his office into question under the pretense that they knew not whether he spake true in affirming that Christ with his own mouth appointed him thereunto because he was not able to produce any witnesses of this Commission given as the rest of the Apostles were Paul answereth this that they were an evident seale of his office and as touching any calling from men he was not to receive it They were I say the seale of his Apostleship For he was made conspicuous amongst them by signes by wonders by doing of miracles They were by his Ministerie indued with the giftes of healing of miracles of prophecie of strange tongues and in these things inferiours unto no Church So that although they would not beleeve his testimonie of him selfe the witnesse which Luke in the written word giveth of him yet these most excellent rare supernaturall giftes wherewith he had furnished them were a sufficient seale unto their consciences that he was the great Apostle of Iesus Christ. Other witnesses of his office was he to bring none besides his owne testimony warranted by the written word the great power of the Spirit accompanying his Ministerie in a powerfull sort For a calling unto this office of his by the Church was he to receive none Now are the Ministers of our Parishes Apostles When saw they Iesus Christ then when spake he with them what miracle can they work what strange tongues which they studied not can they spake whom have they healed whom have they indued with these rare giftes why take they the polluted calling of the Preisthood or Deaconry from men If they be not Apostles they must not onely shew us their gifts but also what office they have in the Church to execute the same Thinke they to refuse and cast of the calling and order of God in his Church by bragging of their operations If they think themselves bound to take an office of the Church as their Preisthood sheweth they do why will they not have us to turne over the booke of their genealogie that we may see whether they be of that line of Aaron or of the house of Corah Whereas they bragge of calling and opening the eies of any I would learn whereto they have called them to be Christians to the Church of Christ they will not I hope say that the people were unchristianed Panims that the Parishes were no Churches before they came among them Whence then have they called the people out of the tentes of Corah out of the kingdom of Antichrist why both they their people continue their still And yf they say they have taught them many truethes which they knew not so may the Papist-preachers say too And if they have furnished them with any of the giftes of the Spirit they do thereby but deck and adorne a strumpet in steed of the true spouse of Christ with the Iewel◠of the spouse And therefore if they wrought any knowledge in their people let that be manifested by bringing them out of these Conspiring Tentes and presenting them before the dore of the true tabernacle of Iesus Christ As to themselves if they wil be the Ministers of righteousnes let them not fly the light but prove their office out of the written word For are they disciples and wil they be greater then their Maister Are they servantes and wil they be greater then their Lord Shal we yeeld unto them that lawlesse unwrittn prerogative which our head and Maister would not claime at our handes nay which we durst not yeeld unto him that is shall we receive them having no warrant of the scripture no Cōmission from God to come unto us They preach they say and they administer the Sacraments be it so But we demaund of them by what power they do these thinges If by a power that is by vertue of an Office comming from heaven let them shew it as our Lord and maister Christ Iesus did If by a power cōming from men or from the bottomlesse pit our Saviour Christ telleth us nay even the book of Ordination her Majesties Lawes tell us that they are theeves and robbers and they come unto us in the name and by the power of another God whome we know not will not acknowledge And the Lord by his Prophet sayth unto us with amighty voice I have not sent these Prophets yet they ranne I have not spoken unto them and yet they Prophecie They preach the trueth they say and administer the sacraments Be it so but have they taken the honour unto themselves or hath it ben given unto them by him who onely hath power to say This day or at such a time have I given thee honour holy office of the Ministerie in my Church If they can name us the time shew us the office we wil beleeve them we will embrace them otherwise we say unto them that no man taketh this honour unto himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron that is no man taking it can have it for many would take it steal it c. if so they might come by the same This folly this presumption this collusion should not be heard of in Israel They preach and baptise they say We demand who sent them who said Go unto them If Iesus Christ let them shewe their commission from him that he hath said unto them as he did to the Apostles Go ye therfore c. If Antichrist by vertue of an office in his body hath said vnto them Go ye therfore c. they have power in deed to preach and to administer the Sacraments unto such as confesse themselves to be under that head But for our selves we refuse him and all his power his members his Officers If Antichrist saith vnto any All power over the assemblies of this Land is committed unto me and because many of the people would withdraw themselves from my jurisdiction if they had not the trueth taught vnto them Goe ye therefore preach that by meanes of your preaching they may remaine within my Tentes Shall we receive such Preachers God forbid And yet such are all the preachers of this Land Shall Antichrist say Goe shall we say Come vnto them Shall they derive their power from another head then from Christ Iesus shall we be in subjecttion vnto them They say that they are the Ministers of Iesus Christ but we demand by whose will by whose