A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

This Head of the Church is Christ Jesus alone; for the Church is but one, although on various considerations it be likened unto two sorts of Bodies. The Catholic Church is considered either as believing, or as professing; but the Believing Church is not one, and the professing another. If you suppose another Catholic Church, besides this one, whoso will may be the Head of it, we are not concerned therein; but unto this Church Christ is the only Head. He only answers all the Properties and Ends of such an Head to the Church: This the Scripture doth so positively and frequently affirm, without the least intimation either directly or by consequence of any other Head, that it is wonderful how the imagination of it should befall the Minds of any, who thought it not meet at the same time to cast away their Bibles.

This Head of the Church is Christ Jesus alone; for the Church is but one, although on various considerations it be likened unto two sorts of Bodies. The Catholick Church is considered either as believing, or as professing; but the Believing Church is not one, and the professing another. If you suppose another Catholick Church, besides this one, whoso will may be the Head of it, we are not concerned therein; but unto this Church Christ is the only Head. He only answers all the Properties and Ends of such an Head to the Church: This the Scripture doth so positively and frequently affirm, without the least intimation either directly or by consequence of any other Head, that it is wonderful how the imagination of it should befall the Minds of any, who thought it not meet at the same time to cast away their Bibles.

But whereas an Head is to be present with the Body, or it cannot subsist, the Enquiry is, how the Lord Christ is so present with his Church? And the Scripture hath left no pretence for any hesitation herein; for he […] so by his Spirit and his Word, by which he communicateth all the Powers and Virtues of an Head unto it continually. His Promises of this way and manner of his Presence unto the Church, are multiplied, and thereon doth the Being, Life, Use and Continuance of the Church depend; where Christ is not present by his Spirit and Word, there is no Church; and those who pretend so to be, are the Synagogues of Satan, and they are inseparable and conjunct in their operation, as he is the Hd of influence unto the Church, as also, as he is an Head of Rule; for in the former sense the Spirit worketh by the Word, and in the latter, the Word is made effectual by the Spirit.