Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/529

Rh and anger hurries men along. Let not, however, this gross and unexpected unbelief of the many move or disturb us: rather let our faith be confirmed through the confidence created by its being announced beforehand. In the same way as some have begun to be of this character, because it was before predicted, so let the other brethren be on their guard against these men; for this too is predicted, the having prepared us by saying, "but be ye on your guard; behold I have told you all, before it come to pass." I entreat you to avoid such men, and drive off their pernicious converse from beside you, and from your hearing, as though it were a mortal pestilence. As it is written, "hedge thine ears with thorns, and be unwilling to hear a wicked tongue." And again, "evil communications corrupt good manners." The Lord teaches and admonishes us to retire from such men. He speaks of the blind leading the blind; if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. That man ought to be avoided and exiled from our society, who is separated from the Church. Such a man is perverse, and a sinner, and condemns himself. Does the man think himself with Christ, who strives against the Christian priesthood, and separates himself from the converse of Christ's clergy and people? He is bearing arms' against the Church; he is fighting against ordinances, a foe to the altar, a rebel against Christ's sacrifice, for honour faithless, for religion sacrilegious, a servant without obedience, a son without piety, a brother without love, setting at naught the Bishops, and despising the Priests of his, he audaciously builds another altar, offers up the unhallowed accents of a separate prayer, and profanes with false sacrifices the truth of the Dominical victim. He is not permitted to be wiser, since he who strives against the ordinances of is punished for his temerity and daring by divine reprehension.

Thus Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who endeavoured to assume to themselves a licence, to sacrifice in opposition to Moses, and