WE understand thereby1 the congregation or company of those which believe in Christ. For the church in the German tong is called Kirch, as though it were derived from the Grecians which call our Lord Jesus Christ [Greek or Hebrew], that is to say, Lord. Wherefore all those which are coupled or knit to Christ, the true head and fruitful vine, as his proper members and branches springing and growing in him, are the true Christian church. And this interpretation of the name of the church we2 have also in the Articles of our faith: for to the confession of the catholic church we add, that we believe in the Communion or fellowship of Saints: as though we should say, the church is none other thing but the congregation of Saints. And even in this sort do the blessed Fathers ⟨p. 4⟩interpret these things. The church is called the Communion or fellowship of Saints for these causes. First, because all the faithful there, are partakers of all the gifts and graces which Christ hath purchased: that is to say, chiefly the remission of sins, like as it is said in the Creed next after this Article: I believe the remission of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Secondly, it is called the Communion or fellowship of Saints,3 that is to say of the faithful: (for as appeareth by the Epistles of S. Paul, the Apostles and other blessed Fathers, called the faithful or Christians, Saints.) Because (as I said before) they are sanctified by Christ in his blood through the holy Ghost. But because the church is a congregation or company, peradventure therefore it is called in our mother tong Kuch, by this letter L, and not as some other Germans do sound it by the letter R. For in the Hebrew tongue the people or church of God is called K•ha• and Keh••a•, whereupon the Germans say Kilcha. But whether ⟨image 16⟩it be derived from the Hebrew or from the Greek, it is all one. For each of those words signify the congregation or fellowship of Gods people, even as this word Ecclesia amongest the Latins doth also signify, which word is borrowed of the Grecians. And although the universal Church of God in this earth can not be brought into one company or fellowship before the last day: yet notwithstanding, is the same nevertheless, a spiritual and invisible body, perfectly compact under one4 head, Jesus Christ:
WE vnderstande thereby1 the congregation or cō pany of those which beléeue in Christ. For the church in the Germain tong is called Kirch, as though it were deriued from the Grecians which call our Lord Jesus Christe 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that is to say, Lord. Wherefore all those which are coupled or knitte to Christ, the true head and fruteful vine, as his proper members and braunches springing and growing in him, are the true Christian churche. And this interpretation of the name of the church we2 haue also in the Articles of our faith: for to the confession of the catholike church we adde, yt we beleue in the Communion or felowship of Sainctes: as though we should say, the church is none other thing but the congregation of Sainctes. And euen in this sort do the blessed Fathers ⟨p. 4⟩interprete these thyngs. The church is called the Communion or felowshippe of Sainctes for these causes. First, bicause all the faithfull there, are partakers of all the giftes and graces which Christe hath purchased: that is to say, chéefely the remission of sinnes, like as it is said in the Créede next after this Article: I beleue the remission of sinnes, the resurrection of the body, and life euerlasting. Secondly, it is called the Communion or felowship of Sainctes,3 that is to say of the faithfull: (for as appeareth by the Epistles of S. Paul, the Apostles and other blessed Fathers, called the faithful or Christians, Sainctes.) Bicause (as I said before) they are sanctified by Christ in his blud through the holy Ghost. But bicause the church is a congregation or companie, peraduenture therfore it is called in our mother tong Kuch, by this letter L, and not as some other Germanes do sound it by the letter R. For in the Hebrewe tonge the people or churche of God is called K•ha• and Keh••a•, whereuppon the Germanes say Kilcha. But whether ⟨image 16⟩it be deriued from the Hebrue or from the Gréeke, it is all one. For ech of those wordes signifie the congregation or felowshippe of Gods people, euen as this worde Ecclesia amongest the Latines dothe also signifie, which worde is borowed of the Grecians. And although the vniuersall Churche of God in thys earth can not be brought into one company or felowshippe before the last day: yet notwithstanding, is the same neuerthelesse, a spirituall and inuisible body, perfectely compacte vnder one
- 1What the Church is.
- 2The Communion of saintsThe Communion of saincts
- 3Saints.Sainctes.
- 41. Cor. 12. Ephesi. 4.
