The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

Thus of the definition of the Church.

The original of the Church follows next to be considered, and so I consider of the Church, as she is the Church, not as these men were in their estate of Nature, for so her father was an Amorite, and her mother an Hittite, in as much as she was sinfully borne, she was basely borne: but that company that I call the Church, were not the Church, when they were in that estate of Nature. The Church then as she is the Spouse of Christ, hath many things in her original that are very glorious, and much to be admired: And that if we consider her original, in respect of decree, and in respect of her birth, and in respect of her preservation: First, her Original in respect of decree is wonderful, because she is upon record from everlasting, the names of all the members ⟨p. 562⟩of the Church are particularly written in the book of life. God made an act for her being and advancement, before she was, he provided for her from everlasting, and chose her in his everlasting grace and love; and this is her original before time. In time she was in such bondage and misery, that she must of necessity be redeemed and purchased out of that vile condition: and this purchase is the more wonderful, if we consider either the person by whom, or the price by which. The Person that redeemed her, was no less than the Son of God; and the price he paid, was his own blood, Acts 20. 28. Her original in respect of her Birth, is also very strange and wonderful: For first, she is borne of God, not of the bloods of men, nor of the will of man, but as of God by regeneration, fearfully and wonderfully made. The world never heard of two stranger things, than the generation of Christ, and the regeneration of the Church; of Christ, as the Son of God; of the Church, as it were the daughter of God. Secondly, she is borne of immortal seed, she is so endued with life, that she can never die, but live as long as God himself, 1 Pet. 1. 24. And that seed is the word of God preached to her, which makes her all new, God having chosen a company of men of purpose, and separated them by a holy calling to this Ministration, even to sow this seed of immortality and eternal life in mens minds. Thirdly, in her birth, by the mighty working of the Holy Ghost, she is qualified with supernatural gifts, such as no other of the children of men can attain unto;