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Covenant； and that Word of God receiv'd from the beginning； we
must farthermore consider with whom the authority of judging；
whether the writings of the Prophets arising afterward； were to
be receiv'd for the Word of God； that is to say； whether the
Events did answer their praedictions or not； and with whom also
the authority of interpreting the Lawes already receiv'd； and the
written Word of God； did reside； which thing is to be trac't
through all the times； and severall changes of the Commonwealth
of Israel。 But it is manifest that this power during the life of
Moyses； was intirely in himselfe； for if he had not been the
Interpreter of the Lawes and Word； that office must have belong'd
either to every private Person； or to a congregation； or
Synagogue of many； or to the High…Priest； or to other Prophets。
First； that that office belong'd not to private men； or any
Congregation made of them； appeares hence； that they were not
admitted； nay they were prohibited； with most heavy threats； to
heare God speake； otherwise then by the means of Moyses； for it
is written； Let not the Priests and the people break through to
come up unto the Lord； lest he break forth upon them。 So Moyses
went downe unto the people； and spake unto them。 Exod。 19。 24；
25。 It is farther manifestly； and expresly declar'd； upon
occasion given by the Rebellion of Core； Dathan and Abiram； and
the two hundred and fifty Princes of the Assembly； that neither
private men； nor the Congregation should pretend that God had
spoken by them； and by Consequence that they had the right of
interpreting Gods Word； for they contending； that God spake no
lesse by them then by Moyses； argue thus； Yee take too much upon
you； seeing all the Congregation are holy； every one of them； and
the Lord is among them； wherefore then lift yee up your selves
above the Congregation of the Lord？ Numb。 16。 ver。 3。 But how God
determin'd this controversie is easily understood by the 33。 and
35。 verses of the same Chapter； where Corah； Dathan； and Abiram
went downe alive into the Pit； and there came out fire from the
Lord； and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offer'd
Incense： Secondly； that Aaron the high Priest had not this
authority； is manifest by the like controversie betweene him
（together with his Sister Miriam） and Moyses； For the question
was； whether God spake by Moyses only； or by them also； that is
to say； whether Moyses alone； or whether they also were
interpreters of the Word of God。 For thus they said； Hath the
Lord indeed spoken onely by Moyses？ Hath he not also spoken by
us？ Numb。 12。 ver。 2。 But God reprov'd them； and made a
distinction betweene Moyses and other Prophets； saying； If there
be a Prophet among you； I the Lord will make my selfe knowne unto
him in a vision； and will speake unto him in a dreame： My Servant
Moyses is not so； &c。 For with him will I speake mouth to mouth；
even apparently； and not in darke speeches； and the Similitude of
the Lord shall he behold； wherefore then were yee not afraid to
speake against my Servant Moyses？ Ibid。 ver。 6； 7； 8。 Lastly；
that the interpretation of the Word of God as long as Moses
liv'd； belong'd not to any other Prophets whatsoever； is
collected out of that place which we now cited concerning his
eminency above all others； and out of naturall reason； for as
much as it belongs to the same Prophet who brings the Commands of
God to unfold them too； but there was then no other Word of God；
beside that which was declar'd by Moyses。 And out of this also；
that there was no other Prophet extant at that time； who
Prophesied to the people； excepting the 70。 Elders who Prophesied
by the Spirit of Moyses； and even that Joshuah； who was then
Moyses his Servant； his successour afterward； beleev'd to be
injuriously done； till he knew it was by Moyses his Consent；
which thing is manifest by Text of Scripture； And the Lord came
downe in a clowd； & c。 and tooke of the spirit that was upon
Moyses； and gave it unto the 70。 Elders。 Numb。 11。 ver。 25。 Now
after it was told that they Prophesied； Joshuah said unto Moyses；
Forbid them my Lord。 But Moyses answered； Why enviest thou for my
sake？ Seeing therefore Moyses alone was the Messenger of Gods
Word； and that the authority of interpreting it pertain'd neither
to private men； nor to the Synagogue； nor to the High Priest； nor
to other Prophets； it remaines； that Moyses alone was the
Interpreter of Gods Word； who also had the supreme power in
civill matters； And that the conventions of Corah with the rest
of his complices against Moses and Aaron； and of Aaron with his
Sister against Moyses； were rais'd； not for the salvation of
their soules； but by reason of their ambition； and desire of
Dominion over the People。
XIV。 In Joshuahs time the interpretation of the Lawes； and of
the Word of God； belong'd to Eleazar the High Priest； who was
also under God； their absolute King。 Which is collected first of
all out of the Covenant it selfe； in which the Common…wealth of
Israel is called a Priestly Kingdome； or as it is recited in the
1 Pet。 2。 9。 A Royall Priesthood； which could in no wise be sayd；
unlesse by the institution and Covenant of the People； the regall
power were understood to belong to the High Priest。 Neither doth
this repugne what hath beene said before； where Moyses； and not
Aaron； had the Kingdome under God； since it is necessary that
when one man institutes the forme of a future Common…wealth； that
one should governe the Kingdome which he institutes； during his
life； （whether it be Monarchie； Aristocraty； or Democraty） and
have all that power for the present； which he is bestowing on
others for the future。 Now； that Eleazar the Priest； had not
onely the Priesthood； but also the Soveraignty； is expressely set
downe in Joshuahs call to the administration； for thus it is
written。 Take thee Joshuah the Son of Nun； a man in whom is the
Spirit； and lay thine hand upon him； and set him before Eleazer
the Priest； and before all the Congregation； and give him a
charge in their sight； and thou shalt put some of thine honour
uPon him； that all the Congregation of the Children of Israel may
be obedient； and he shall stand before Eleazar the Priest； who
shall aske Counsell for him after the judgment of Urim； before
the Lord： at his word shall they goe out； and at his word shall
they come in； and all the Children of Israel with him； even all
the Congregation。 Num。 27。 ver。 18； 19； 20； 21。 where to aske
Counsell of God for whatsoever is to be done； （that is） to
interpret Gods word； and in the name of God to Command in all
matters； belongs to Eleazar； and to goe out； and； to come in at
his word； that is to say； to obey； belongs both to Joshuah； and
to all the People。 Its to be observ'd also； that that speech；
Part of thy glory； clearely denotes that Joshuah had not a power
equall with that which Moyses had。 In the meane time it is
manifest； that even in Ioshuahs time； the Supreme power and
authority of interpreting the word of God； were both in one
Person。
XV。 After Ioshuahs death follow the times of the Iudges
untill King Saul； in which it is manifest that the right of the
Kingdome