Whether Christ hath had always a Church in the last sense, 1and Acceptation of the word, in the world, is a most needless enquiry: nor are we concerned in it, any farther then in other matters of fact, ⟨p. 86⟩that are recorded in story: though I am apt to believe, that although very many in all Ages kept up their station in, & Relation to the Church in the two former acceptations, yet there was in some of them scarce any visible Society of worshippers, so far answering the institution of Christ, as to render them fit to be owned and joined withal, as a visible particular Church of Christ: but yet, though the notions of men were generally corrupt, the practice of all professors throughout the world, whereof so little is recorded, at least of them that did best, is not rashly to be determined of. Nor can our Judgement be censured in this, by them who think, that when Christ lay in the Grave, there was no Believer left, but his Mother, and that the Church was preserved in that one person: So was Bernard minded Tractat. de pass. Dom. (ego sum vitis) s•la per illud triste sabbathum stetit in fide, & salvata fuit Ecclesia in ipsa sola. Of the same mind is Marsilius in Sent. Quaest 20. Art. 3. as are also others of that sort of men, see Bannes in 2. 2. Thom. Quaest. 1. Art. 10. I no way doubt of the perpetual existence of innumerable Believers in every age, and such as made the profession, that is absolutely necessary ⟨p. 87⟩to salvation one way or other: though I question a regular association of men, for the celebration of instituted worship, according to the mind of Christ. The 7000 in Israel, in the days of Elijah, were members of the Church of God, and yet did not constitute a Church state among the ten Tribes. But these things must be farther spoken to.
Whether Christ hath had alwayes a Church in the last sence, 1and Acceptation of the word, in the world, is a most needlesse enquiry: nor are we concerned in it, any farther then in other matters of fact, ⟨p. 86⟩that are recorded in story: though I am apt to believe, that although very many in all Ages kept up their station in, & Relation to the Church in the two former acceptations, yet there was in some of them scarce any visible Society of worshippers, so far answering the institution of Christ, as to render them fit to be owned and joyned withall, as a visible particular Church of Christ: but yet, though the notions of men were generally corrupt, the practice of all professours throughout the world, whereof so little is recorded, at least of them that did best, is not rashly to be determined of. Nor can our Judgement be censured in this, by them who think, that when Christ lay in the Grave, there was no Believer left, but his Mother, and that the Church was preserved in that one person: So was Bernard minded Tractat. de pass. Dom. (ego sum vitis) s•la per illud triste sabbathum stetit in fide, & salvata fuit Ecclesia in ipsa sola. Of the same minde is Marsilius in Sent. Quaest 20. Art. 3. as are also others of that sort of men, see Bannes in 2. 2. Thom. Quaest. 1. Art. 10. I no way doubt of the perpetuall existence of innumerable Believers in every age, and such as made the profession, that is absolutely necessary ⟨p. 87⟩to salvation one way or other: though I question a regular association of men, for the celebration of instituted worship, according to the mind of Christ. The 7000 in Israel, in the dayes of Elijah, were members of the Church of God, and yet did not constitute a Church state among the ten Tribes. But these things must be farther spoken to.
- 1§. 5.
