The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 28
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.
VVHen 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,foreign 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, The definition of the Church.choſen from euerlaſting of god to eternal life, which from the beginning of the woorld vntounto 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 propoſ…ion 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, The falſe Church.or for the falſe. The falſe church is vnproperly called the church, and is a companie arrogating vntounto themſelues the title of Chriſtes church; but which do not folow the ſame, but rather perſequute it. The true church is either viſible, The true church … either v…ible or inuiſible.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 vntounto the doctrine: in which company are many vnregenerated, or hypocrites,In the … periſh. conſenting notwithſtanding & agreeing to the doctrine: in which alſo the Son of God is forcible to regenerate ſome by the vertue of his ſpirite vntounto 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,They which are in the inuiſible Church neuer periſh. neuer periſh, neither are any hypocrites therein, but the Elect only, of whom it is ſaid, Ioh. 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, The Vniuerſall viſible Church.is the companie of all thoſe which profeſſe the doctrine, whereſoeuer in the worlde they be. The particular Viſible Church, The particular viſible.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,The Vniuerſall Inuiſible. 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, hauehave one faith:The particular Inuiſible againe it is particular, as either in this or that place they hauehave 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.The Triumphāt and Militant, parts of the Vniuerſall Inuiſible. 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 vnderunder 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 vsus, 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.
The Church of the old Teſtament, and the New.There 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, 1.1 Profeſſion of the true doctrin. 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. 2.2 The right vſe of the ſacraments. 3 Profeſſion of obedience to the doctrine. 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 vntounto 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 hauehave commaunded you. In theſe woordes of Chriſt are all thoſe three markes of the Church conteined. Obiection. 2.Not all, that challenge theſe markes, are the Church, becauſe all hauehave them not, though they challenge them. But thoſe which all Schiſmatiques and heretiques doe challenge vntounto them, are not the markes of the true Church. But all of them do challenge theſe vntounto 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 hauehave 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,The ordinarie ſucceſſion of Biſhops no neceſſarie marke of the Church. 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 hauehave 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 hauehave 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 vsus vntounto the ſcripture, and ty vsus to that voice which ſoundeth in the Scripture.
The Papiſtes wr…ngling about Traditions.But 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 vntounto 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 vntounto 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. Pauls traditions written verities and regiſtred ſcriptures.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 hauehave receiued of the Lord, that which alſo J hauehave deliuered vntounto 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 eueryevery brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the tradition which hee receiued of vsus. 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. The church holy in reſpect of Chriſts holineſſe imputed, and their own begun. Catholique in reſpect of place and time.1 Becauſe Chriſtes ſanctification is imputed vntounto it. 2 Becauſe al his members hauehave 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 vntounto 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 vntounto 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 onelyonly that opinion or ſaying, The church doth not erre. How the church may bee ſaide not to erre.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.
7 Differences betweene the Church and common-weale.THE 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 hauehave 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 onelyonly. 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, vntounto 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.Election putteth the difference betweene the Church and others. Act. 14.16. Jn times paſt god ſuffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies. Rom. 9.18. God hath merciemercy 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 hauehave all to be ſaued, and that,Rom. 11.7. 1 Jn reſpect that he loueth the ſaluation of all. But the Elect only hauehave attained to that ſaluation. 2 In reſpect that he inuiteth al to ſaluation. But the reſt hauehave beene hardened. The Efficient cauſe then of this difference, is the Election of God willing to gather vntounto 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 vsus in a woorde ſee, what that difference is.Three ſorts of men. 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.
None ſaued out of the church.NO 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.