An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

These things concluded on, let us draw some Uses by way of Corollaries. As

1. In that the holy Ghost is pleased to appropriate this Word in the New Testament to his people, which among the Heathens signifieth the meaner sort of people; for that they called Ecclesia, and it was opposite to [Greek or Hebrew], the Senate, which consisted of more noble men. Hence we may see, who they are that are most commonly called to be of his Church, even the meaner sort, Not many rich, not many noble hath God called, 1 Corinth. 1. We should not despise the Church of God, if it be not so externally pompous and glorious as Kingdoms and States. For Christ is more peculiarly present with his Church, and shed his blood for that.

1. In that the holy Ghost is pleased to appropriate this Word in the New Testament to his people, which among the Heathens signifieth the meaner sort of people; for that they called Ecclesia, and it was opposite to 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the Senate, which consisted of more noble men. Hence we may see, who they are that are most commonly called to be of his Church, even the meaner sort, Not many rich, not many noble hath God called, 1 Corinth. 1. We should not despise the Church of God, if it be not so externally pompous and glorious as Kingdoms and States. For Christ is more peculiarly present with his Church, and shed his bloud for that.

2. That if we speak properly, the Church is not a material place, not this building of stones and wood, but the people of God meeting there. Indeed it may tropically be well enough, called a Church, as Synagogue is applied to the place, He built us a Synagogue, whereas properly it signifieth the people meeting together, as you heard. Thus Concio amongst the Latins, signifieth both the place, and the company met together. Bellarmine would have the word to signify a place,