Fourthly, They must be Professors of Christ, professing that in words, the having whereof indeed maketh men truly Christians. So the Apostle defineth it, Ephes. 1. 1. where, in stead of naming the Church of Ephesus (for to the outward Church he writeth) he useth this Periphrasis to the Saints that are in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: and 1. Cor. 1. 2. To the Church of God which is in Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus, Saints by calling. In regard whereof, the same Apostle calleth Christ, The foundation even of the visible Church, ⟨p. 351⟩1. Co. 3. 11. And this is the right Touchstone to examine all Churches by, for what1 Church soever in such sort professeth Christ, as the members truly holding that they do profess, are thereby made members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the same, what imperfections soever it have beside, and how unsound soever it may be in many parts, yet it hath the heart and life of a Church: otherwise it cannot be said a Church. For albeit the Church of God be not subject to fundamental errors, that take away the life and being of a Church; for then how could it be any Church at all? yet in other points, not of manners only, but of Truth and Opinion, it doth and may err, both particular Congregations & the whole Church Universal ⟨p. 352⟩did not the whole Church of the Jews err. And even they that heard our Saviour, Christ so long, when they dreamed of the Kingdom of the Messiah, to be an earthly yKingdom, and that it should come in bravery and ostentation. And was it not the zcommon error of all the Church, and of the Apostles themselves, after his Ascension, that they thought the Gentiles to be unclean, and that the Gospel pertained not to them?
Fourthly, They must bee Professors of Christ, professing that in words, the hauing whereof indeed maketh men truly Christians. So the Apostle defineth it, Ephes. 1. 1. where, in stead of naming the Church of Ephesus (for to the outward Church he writeth) hee vseth this Periphrasis to the Saints that are in Ephesus, and to the faithfull in Christ Iesus: and 1. Cor. 1. 2. To the Church of God which is in Corinth, sanctified in Christ Iesus, Saints by calling. In regard whereof, the same Apostle calleth Christ, The foundation euen of the visible Church, ⟨p. 351⟩1. Co. 3. 11. And this is the right Touchstone to examine al Churches by, for what1 Church soeuer in such sort professeth Christ, as the members truely holding that they doe professe, are thereby made members of the Mysticall Bodie of Christ, the same, what imperfections soeuer it haue beside, and how vnsound soeuer it may bee in many parts, yet it hath the heart and life of a Church: otherwise it cannot bee said a Church. For albeit the Church of God be not subiect to fundamentall errours, that take away the life and being of a Church; for then how could it bee any Church at all? yet in other points, not of manners onely, but of Truth and Opinion, it doth and may erre, both particular Congregations & the whole Church Vniuersall ⟨p. 352⟩did not the whole Church of the Iewes erre. And euen they that heard our Sauiour, Christ so long, when they dreamed of the Kingdome of the Messias, to be an earthly yKingdome, and that it should come in brauerie and ostentation. And was it not the zcommon errour of al the Church, and of the Apostles themselues, after his Ascension, that they thought the Gentiles to be vncleane, and that the Gospell pertayned not to them?
- 1The Papists make three notes of the visible Church; Antiquity, Unity, Universality, most fondly and ridiculously, when as all these are to be found in the malignant Church, & in the most wicked assemblies & societies Errors have bin ancient, as long as since the Apostles time: for even then the mystery of iniquity began to work, 2. Thes. 2. 7. 1. John 5. 3. and then were there many Antichrists, 1. Joh. 2. 13 Thieves are as unity among themselves, and so are the Devils one with another, else their Kingdom could not stand, Mat 12 25. 26. And Revel. 17. 17. it is said that God put into their hearts, with one consent to give their Kingdom to the Beast. As for Universality, that is so far from being a certain badge of the true Church, that contrariwise Paul telleth us when Antichrist shall be revealed, there must be a general Apostasy and defection from the Truth, 2. Thes 2. 3. And in the Revel. we read, that all the World went wondering after the Beast, & worshipped the Beast and the Dragon that gave him power, Reu. 13. •, 4. Howbeit we say, the Church of God is Catholic or Universal, but in a far other sense then they mean by their universality which they intend of a general spreading of itself, without any great opposition to the contrary in beauty and much bravery, and multitudes of men glittering and shining in the World, whereas we say, The true Church of Christ is Catholic or Universal, because it is not tied to any one particular place or Country, as sometimes among the Jews it was; but in every Nation God hath those that fear him, and belong to his Election. Not always visible, and to be seen with the eye, but members through faith, of the true Catholic and invisible Church of Christ. The Papists which say the Church cannot err.The Papists make three notes of the visible Church; Antiquitie, Vnitie, Vniuersalitie, most fondly and ridiculously, when as all these are to bee found in the malignant Church, & in the most wicked assemblies & societies Errors haue bin ancient, as long as since the Apostles time: for euen then the mystery of iniquitie began to worke, 2. Thes. 2. 7.
