OF THE CHVRCH

The questions to be obserued.

1 What the Church is.
2 How many waies it is taken.
3 What are the markes thereof.
4 Wherefore it is called holy and Catholique.
5 What is the difference betweene the Church & the common-weale, or ciuil state.
6 Whence it is, that the Church differeth from the rest of mankinde.
7 Whether any may be saued out of the church.

1 WHAT THE CHVRCH IS

When the question is, what the Church is, it is presupposed that there is a Church, so that it is not necessarie to make a question, Whether there be a church. Now as concerning the name,¹ Ecclesia (which we cal the church) it is natiuely a Greeke woord, and commeth from a word which signifieth, to cal forth. For the custome was in Athens that a companie of the citizens were called foorth by the voice of the crier from the rest of the multitude, as it were namelie, and by their Hundreds, to an assembly, wherein some publique speech was had, or to heare relation made of some sentence or iudgement of the Senate. And thus differeth the word Ecclesia, from Synagoga, or Synagog. For Synagoga signifieth any manner of congregation, be it neuer so common and inordinate. But Ecclesia betokeneth an ordained congregation, and such as is called together for some cause. From hence the Apostles translated the name, Ecclesia, to their purpose, terming the Church by it for resemblaunce and likenesse sake. For the church is gods congregation, neither comming together by chance without cause, nor beeing inordinate: but called foorth by the voice of the Lorde, and the crie of the word, that is, by the ministers of the gospel, from the kingdome of Satan, to hear or embrace Gods word. This congregation or companie of those which are called of God to the knowledge of the gospell, the Latines keeping still the Greeke woorde, call Ecclesia. But it shall bee requisite, that we a little more fully define what the Church is. The church of God is a congregation or companie of men,² chosen from euerlasting of god to eternal life, which from the beginning of the woorld vnto the ende thereof, is gathered of the sonne of god out of all mankinde by the holie ghost and the Woorde, consenting in true faith, and which the Sonne of God defendeth, preserueth, and at length glorifieth with glorie and life euerlasting. Thus is the true Church of God defined, whereof the Creede dooth properly speake. Obiection 1. They which are in the church, perish not, as the definition affirmeth: Manie hypocrites are in the Church. Therefore either hypocrites shall not perish, or it is false, that they which are in the Church perish not. Aunswere. They which are in the inuisible Church perish not; and of this was our definition. But the Minor proposition speaketh of the visible Church, in which are manie hypocrires. Obiection. 2. Where the inuisible church is not, neither is the visible. Jn the time of popery was not the inuisible church: therefore there was not the visible. Aunswere. I denie the Minor: For there also were remnantes, that is, there were alwaies some mingled with those dregs who held the foundation, some more purely, some lesse. In summe, the Church was oppressed, but not extinguished.

2 How manie waies the church is taken

The church is taken either for the true church,³ or for the false. The false church is vnproperly called the church, and is a companie arrogating vnto themselues the title of Christes church; but which do not folow the same, but rather persequute it. The true church is either visible,⁴ or inuisible. The visible church is a companie among men, embracing and professing the true and vncorrupt doctrine of the Lawe and the Gospel, and vsing the Sacramentes aright according to Christes institution, and professing obedience vnto the doctrine: in which company are many vnregenerated, or hypocrites,⁵ consenting notwithstanding & agreeing to the doctrine: in which also the Son of God is forcible to regenerate some by the vertue of his spirite vnto euerlasting life. Hither appertaine the parables of the seede and the tares. The inuisible church is a companie of those which are elected to eternall life, in whom a newe life is begun here by the holie Ghost, & is perfected in the woorlde to come. They which are in this inuisible church,⁶ neuer perish, neither are any hypocrites therein, but the Elect only, of whom it is said, Joh. 10.28. No man shal plucke my sheep out of mine hands.

Moreouer both these partes of the true Church, both visible and inuisible, are either vniuersall or particular. The Vniuersall visible Church,⁷ is the companie of all those which professe the doctrine, wheresoeuer in the worlde they be. The particular Visible Church,⁸ is also a companie of those which professe the doctrine, but in some certaine place. The Visible Church is Vniuersall in respect of the profession of one Faith in Christ, and of one Doctrine and worshippe. But it is particular, in respect of place and habitation,⁹ and of diuersitie of rites and customes. So also the Inuisible Church is Vniuersall, as all the Elect, in whatsoeuer place they bee, and at whatsoeuer time they liued, haue one faith:¹⁰ againe it is particular, as either in this or that place they haue the same faith. Now all particular Churches are partes of the Vniuersall, and the Visible are partes of the Vniuersall church Inuisible. And of this Vniuersall Jnuisible Church doth the Article of our Creed speake properlie, I beleeue the Holie Catholique Church. For besides that the vniuersall inuisible church is catholique, it is also nobilitated with this title, that it is Holie. Furder, in this is the true communion of Saints between Christ, and al his members. It is called inuisible, not that the men are inuisible: but because their faith and godlinesse is inuisible, neither is knowen of anie, but of themseleus, in whom it is: neither can wee indeede discerne certainly the godly from the hypocrites in the church.¹¹ The partes of this vniuersal inuisible church may these two not vnfitly be accounted; The church Militant, and Triumphant. The Militant, is in this world, fighting & warring vnder the banner of Christ against the Diuel, the woorlde and our flesh. The Triumphant, which both now triumpheth with the blessed Angels in heauen, and shall after the resurrection enioie a full triumph. Nowe although the Militant church is that vniuersall inuisible church which remaineth as yet in the field and is fighting on earth, yet it is, and lieth hid in the visible church. And therefore there is almost the same difference betweene the vniuersal visible church, and this Militant which is between the whole and a part. Obiection. If the whole be visible, the part also is visible. Aunswere. That part is also visible, as concerning the men Elected, or as they are men, and as they professe the doctrine of the visible church: but it is not visible, as concerning the godlinesse or faith of men, or as concerning faith and repentaunce in men. That this inuisible church militant here on earth is a part of the visible church, is apparent euen out of this place of Paul, Rom. 8.30. Whom the Lord predestinate, them also he called. This calling, whereby the Lord calleth vs, is of two sortes, inward, and outwarde: the inwarde Sainct Paul saith, was wrought according to the purpose of sauing men; and the Elect are called by both. Hypocrites are called onelie by the outwarde calling. And in respect of this outwarde calling is the church called visible, and the Church of the called, wherein are hypocrits also. But the inuisible is called the company or church of the Elect and chosen.

¹²There is also another diuision of the Church, into the Church of the olde Testament, and of the newe. The church of the olde testament is a companie or congregation embracing the doctrine of Moses and the Prophets, and making profession that they will embrace in Iurie the Mosaicall ceremonies and keepe them, and as well in Iurie, as also out of Iurie embrace the thinges signified by those ceremonies, that is, beleeuing in the Messias which was to bee exhibited. The church of the newe testament hath not these differences, because all beleeue in the Messias already exhibited. This Church is a companie embracing the doctrine of the Gospell, vsing the Sacramentes instituted by Iesus christ, & beleeuing in him being exhibited the tru Messias.

3 What are the tokens or marks of the Church

The markes of the true Church are, 1.¹³ Profession of the true, vncorrupt, & rightlie vnderstood doctrin of the Law & Gospell, that is, of the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles. There concur withal oftentimes errors; but yet notwithstanding this marke is sure, if the foundation be kept, albeit stubble be builded thereon: yet so, that those errors or stubble be not maintained. 2.¹⁴ The right and lawfull vse of the Sacramentes. 3. Profession of obedience to the doctrine or ministerie. Obiection. In manie churches which professe true doctrine this third marke is not seene: therefore they are no churches. Aunswere. 1 There are manie in them, who indeed yeeld, and endeuor to yeeld obedience. 2. Al obey, acknowledging by their profession, that sinnes ought not to bee maintained. But it is necessarie that this third mark should be added: because they shoulde mocke God, who woulde saie that they receiued this Doctrine of Christ, and would not frame their liues according vnto it. Matth. 28.19. Goe and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Sonne & the holy Ghost; Teaching them to obserue all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you. In these woordes of Christ are all those three markes of the Church conteined. Obiection. 2.¹⁵ But those which all Schismatiques and heretiques doe challenge vnto them, are not the markes of the true Church. But all of them do challenge these vnto them: therefore they are not the markes of the true Church. Ans. I denie the Maior. For we are not to see whether they chalenge thē, but whether they haue them. So also woulde it follow, that the heauenly blessings, which are proper to the true Church, are theirs also, because they challenge them. Obiect. 3. Without which the church cannot bee, that is a marke thereof. But without the ordinarie succession of Bishops the church cannot be. Therefore it is a marke thereof. Ans. By ordinarie succession in the ministerie,¹⁶ is meant the succession of ministers in the same true doctrine and administration of Sacramentes. And if the proposition bee so vnderstoode, it is true: for such a succession is nothing else, than those notes which wee haue put. But in the conclusion of this obiection is vnderstoode that there shoulde bee an ordinarie succession into the same place, whether they teach the same doctrine or a diuerse from it. And so also it should be a tying of the Church to a certaine Citie, Region, and so foorth. Saint Augustine against Manichaeus his Epistle, cap 5. sheweth how he was brought to the faith of the Catholique Church. For hee saith, That hee obeied the catholiques, when they said, Beleeue the gospell: and there he bringeth forth that common saieng: I woulde not beleeue the gospell, except the autoritie of the catholique church mooued mee thereunto. By the testimonie therefore of the church he was mooued to reade the gospell, and to beleeue that heauenlie doctrine was conteined therein. But doth hee, after hee beleeued the gospell, promise that hee would beleeue the church more than the gospel, if the church determine, or propound anie thing, which is either contrarie to the gospell, or can bee prooued by no testimonie of Scripture? This doubtles Augustine neuer meant. Naie, elsewhere he denounceth Anathema, and biddeth a curse come to them, who declare any thing besides that which wee haue receiued in the writings of the Lawe and Gospell. And in the selfe-same place he witnesseth, That he, because he beleeueth the Gospell, cannot beleeue Manichaeus, for that hee readeth nothing in the Gospell of Manichaeus Apostleship. Therefore traditions or ordinances of the church, bring vs vnto the scripture, and ty vs to that voice which soundeth in the Scripture.

¹⁷But here it must bee obserued, howe honestly and fairely the Papistes deale. For wheresoeuer they meete with the word Tradition, that by and by they wrest to their traditions, which can not bee proued out of the worde of god. As when Paul saieth. 1. Cor. 15.3. J deliuered vnto you that which J receiued: straight waies they crie out, heare you traditions? I heare; but reade on there in the woordes folowing Paul him-selfe by writing declaring what those traditions are. J deliuered vnto you, how that Christ died for our sinnes, according to the scriptures, And that hee was buried, and that hee arose the third day, according to the scriptures.¹⁸ Heare you heare Pauls traditions to bee doublie thinges written. For first they were taken out of the scripture of the old Testament; Secondly they were committed to writing by S. Paul himselfe. So Paul saith of the Lordes supper. 1. Cor. 11.23. I haue receiued of the Lord, that which also J haue deliuered vnto you. But this tradition, after the Euangelistes, himselfe also hath set downe in writing. The Iesuites cite the saying of Paul, 2. Thes. 3.6. Withdraw your selues frō euery brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the tradition which hee receiued of vs. But a little after in the same chapter hee describeth what tradition he meaneth, as it is manifest to him that looketh on the place. And yet will they thence prooue that many thinges are to bee beleeued, which can not bee proued by anie testimonie of Scripture. The like impudencies they shewe in another testimony taken out of Luke. Act. 16.14. They deliuered them the decrees to keep ordained of the Apostles & Elders, which were at Jerusalem: When a little before, Cap. 15.23. he witnesseth that those decrees were set downe in letters written by the Apostles.

But wee are to keepe and hold the notes and marcks before set downe; First, in respect of Gods glorie, that enimies may be discerned from Sonnes. Secondly, In respect of our own saluation, that we may ioine our selues to the true Church. For there are three sorts of men. 1 They, who openly professe and declare themselues to be enimies. 2 Hypocrits 3 The company of the Elect chosen.

4 Why the Church is called holy and Catholicke

The Church is called Holy.¹⁹ 1 Because Christes sanctification is imputed vnto it. 2 Because al his members haue begunne al the parts of obedience. It is called Catholicke. 1 In respect of places, because it is spread through the whole world. For there is one Vniuersall Church of all places, & degrees of life, neither is it tied to a certaine place & kingdome, or to certain succession. 2 In respect of times: Because there is but one true Church of all times, which also is at all times so Catholicke, as that it is dispersed through the whol world, nether is at any time tied to any certain place. Jt is not called Catholicke, because it possesseth many kingdomes. For Catholicke is a title giuen vnto the Church in the Apostles time, for before time the Church was limited within narrowe bondes. Nowe, that there is but one Church of al times and ages from the beginning of the world vnto the end, it is out of doubt. For, 1 It is manifested that the Church hath euer been. Neither can Abrahams daies be obiected, as if before he was called there had beene no worship of the true God in his familie, and himselfe had beene after his calling alone without anie others. For before his calling he held the foundations and grounds of Doctrine of the true God, though it were darkned with superstitions mingled therewith. Againe, Melchisedec liued at the same time, who was the Priest of the most high God; and therefore neither was Abraham after his calling alone, but there were others besides him, worshippers of the true God, whose priest was Melchisedec. 2 That the Church, as it hath beene euer, so shall also continue euer, appeareth by these testimonies. Isay. 59.21. My woordes shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed. Ier. 33.20. If the night and day may bee chaunged, then shall my couenant also be changed. Mat. 28.20. I am with you alway vntill the end of the world. Moreouer Christ was euer and euer shal be King, Head, and Priest of the Church. Wherefore the Church was euer, and euer shall be. And hence also it is manifest, That the Church of both testaments is one and the same; that which is confirmed also by the article folowing. For Christ is the sanctifier of his Church, who is common to men of both testaments. Hither appertaineth the Question of the authoritie of the Church. Which I omit. In this we wil consider here onely that opinion or saying, The church doth not erre.²⁰ Which is true after this sort. First, the whole doth not erre, though some members thereof doe er. Secondly, it doth not erre Vniuersally, although in some pointes of Doctrine it may. Thirdly, It erreth not in the foundation.

5 In what the Church differeth from the common-weal

²¹THE Church differeth from the common-weal. 1. Because common-weales are distinct, and kingdomes of the world, in diuerse places and times. The Church is alwaies one and the same at all times, and with all men. 2. The kingdomes and states of the world haue many Heads, or one chiefe Heade, and many other inferiour Heades besides, and that on earth. The Church hath but one, and that in heauen. 3. The common-wealth is gouerned by certaine lawes made for the maintenance of outwarde peace and tranquillity. The Church is ruled by the Holy Ghost & the worde of God. 4. The common-wealth or ciuill state requireth outward obedience onely. The Church requireth both, as well inwarde obedience as outwarde. 5. In ciuill states and common-weales there is power and libertie to make new lawes positiue by the authoritie of the magistrate, the violating of which lawes bindeth mens consciences, and deserueth corporal punishmentes: The Church is tied to the woorde of God, vnto which it is not lawfull to adde ought, or to detract ought from it. 6. The ciuill state hath corporall power, where-with it is armed against the obstinate & disobedient. For he may and ought by force to curb these, and to punish them by the sword. The Church punisheth by denouncing of Gods wrath out of the worde of God. 7. Jn the Church are alwaies some Elect & Holie; but not alwaies in the common-wealth.

6 Whence ariseth the difference of the Church from the rest of mankinde

The cause of the difference is the Election of God.²² Act. 14.16. Jn times past god suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies. Rom. 9.18. God hath mercie on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. Ioh. 6.37. Al that the Father giueth me shal come to me. Rom. 8.29.30. Those which hee knew before, he also predestinate to be made like to the Image of his Sonne, and whom he predestinate, them also he called. By these wordes we are also taught that the promise of grace is generall, in respect of the Elect, or beleeuers. God verilie would haue all to be saued, and that,²³ 1 Jn respect that he loueth the saluation of all. But the Elect only haue attained to that saluation. 2 In respect that he inuiteth al to saluation. But the rest haue beene hardened. The Efficient cause then of this difference, is the Election of God willing to gather vnto himselfe, a Church in earth. Secondly, the Sonne is a mediate executour of this will and purpose; The holy ghost immediate. Thirdly, The woord of God is the instrumental cause.

Now the cause of the difference beeing known, let vs in a woorde see, what that difference is.²⁴ Wee are to obserue therefore that there are three sortes of men verie much different one from another. For some men are euen in profession estraunged and aliants from the church, as who deny faith or repentance, and therefore are openly enemies of the Church: others are called, but not effectuallie, which are al hypocrits. Others lastly are called effectually, which are the Elect, who are but a little portion, according to that of Christ, Matt. 20.16. Many are called, but few are chosen.

7 Whether anie one maie bee saued out of the Church

²⁵NO man can bee saued out of the Church: For whomsoeuer God hath chosen and elected to the ende, which is eternal life, them he hath chosen to the means, which is the inward and outwarde calling. Obiection. Therefore Election is not free. Aunswere. It is free; because God chose freely, both to the end, and to the meanes. But after he hath once destined and ordeined men to meanes, hee neuer changeth: Wee are here also to holde against the Anabaptistes, That infantes, which are borne in the church, are also of the church.