Section 7

SECT. VII.

Unto the foregoing particular Instances, with respect unto the Church, I shall yet add one more general, which is indeed comprehensive of them all: or the root from whence they spring; a root-bearing Gall and Wormwood. And this is concerning the Catholic Church.

Unto the foregoing particular Instances, with respect unto the Church, I shall yet add one more general, which is indeed comprehensive of them all: or the root from whence they spring; a root-bearing Gall and Wormwood. And this is concerning the Catholick Church.

What belongs unto this Catholic Church, what is comprised in its Communion? The Apostle declares, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. It is the Recapitulation of all things in Heaven and Earth in Christ Jesus. Eph. 1.10. His Body, his Spouse, or Bride, the Lambs Wife, the glorious Temple, wherein God doth dwell by his Spirit. An holy mystical Society, purchased and purified by the blood of Christ, and united unto him, by his spirit, or the Inhabitation of the same spirit in him, and those whereof it doth consist. Hence they with him, as the body with its head, are mystically called Christ, 1 Cor, 12.12. And there are two parts of it, the one whereof is already perfected in Heaven, as unto their spirits, and the other yet continued in the way of faith and obedience in this world. Both these constitute one family in Heaven and Earth. Ephes. 3.15. In Conjunction with the holy Angels, one Mystical-Body, one Catholic Church. And although there is a great difference in their present state and condition, between these two branches of the same Family, yet are they both equally purchased by Christ, and united unto him as their Head, having both of them effectually, the same principle of the life of God in them. Of a third part of this Church, neither in Heaven nor in Earth, in a temporary State participant, somewhat