The Remains of John Corbet, Section 4 – Section 5
§ 4. Of the Church, as Viſible and Inviſible.
THE notion of Viſible and Inviſible, muſt not here be taken ſtrictly for that which is, or is not the object of ſeeing only, but of other ſenſitive perception, or of any humane intuition. All other Societies of men admit not this diſtinction, becauſe they are conſtituted in their formal being, by things that do appear outwardly. But this of the Church is conſtituted in its formal being, primarily by things that in themſelves do not appear outwardly; and but ſecondarily by things that appear, as expreſſions of the things that in themſelves appear not.
The Church is a Society of regenerate perſons joyned to the Lord Chriſt as their Head, and to one another as fellow-members, by a myſtical union, through the Holy Goſt reſiding in them all; and through faith unfeigned towards God in Chriſt, and holy love toward one another, juſtified, ſanctified and adopted to the inheritance of Eternal Glory. Now the ſaid Qualifications, Relations, and Priviledges being in themſelves hid from mens knowledg and judgment, do primarily conſtitute the Church, which is thereupon in its primary conſideration, a Society Myſtical and Inviſible.
It is alſo a Society of perſons profeſſing Chriſtianity or Regeneration, and externally joyned to Chriſt, and to one another by the profeſſion of unfeigned faith and love, and by the Symbols of that profeſſion, and partakers of the external Priviledges belonging to it: And according to this external Conſtitution, which is neceſſary, tho it be not primary, it is named Viſible.
So then the Church Inviſible and Viſible, are not two Societies; but the ſame Society diſtinguiſhed by its divers formal conſiderations and conſtitutions; the one primary, the other ſecondary; and the former is not for the latter, but the latter for the former.
Theſe two diſtinct conſiderations, or modes or forms of the ſame Society, are not commenſurate to each other; but the Church in its Viſible form is of a larger extent than in its Inviſible form. For many profeſs Chriſtianity, or Dedication to God in Chriſt, that are not really, that is, heartily and intirely ſo dedicated.
This Society, as underſtood in the compleat notion thereof, cannot be extended any further then its primary, that is, its Inviſible form doth reach. Whatſoever lies without that compaſs, is but the ſhadow without the ſubſtance, the image without the life thereof. And therefore all they that are joyned to it meerly according to its Viſible form, are of it not adequately, univocally and ſimply, but inadequately, analogically, & ſecundum quid.
They that upon their credible profeſſion are of this Society but analogically, as to the external form only, have juſt Right and Title to its external Priviledges, according to their capacity and diſpoſedneſs, before them that can diſcern and directly judg only of things that appear outwardly; ſo that if men debar them of thoſe Priviledges, they do them wrong. For tho God allows them not, and th…y have no right in his judgment, which is always according to truth, and not bate appearance; yet he hath commanded men to admit them, and conſequently given them right before men.
Credible profeſſion, in whatſoever degree, higher or lower, can ground but a judgment of charity in a higher or lower degree, about ones part in this Society according to its Inviſible form; yet it can ground a judgment of certainty about ones part in the ſame according to its Viſible form. So that altho God only knows thoſe whom he accepts; yet the Church may know certainly whom ſhe ought to admit. And as God in the matter belonging to his cognizance, to wit, the ſincerity of profeſſion, and the rights conſequent thereunto; ſo the Church in the matter belonging to its cognizance, to wit, the credibility of profeſſion, and the rights conſequent thereunto, proceeds upon certain knowledg.
§ 5. Of the Catholick Church Inviſible and Viſible.
IT hath been well obſerved, That the term Catholick Church, hath been ſometimes uſed of a particular Church holding the true Doctrine of the Apoſtles, and is the ſame with Apoſtolical; and in this ſence, any Biſhop of a true Apoſtolical Church, may be called a Catholick Biſhop. But here the term Catholick ſignifies the ſame with Oecumenical, or the Church that is throughout the whole World, or the whole World of Chriſtians. And in this ſence, the Church is termed Catholick, not as actually extending to the whole World; but potentially, no Nation or People being excluded, but all having Liberty to accept and injoy the Priviledges thereof.
In this notion there is one Catholick Church, both in the Inviſible and Viſible form. The Catholick Church Inviſible, is the whole company of true Believers throughout the World, who make that part of Chriſts Myſtical Body, which ia militant here on Earth. The Catholick Church Viſible, is the whole company of Viſible believers, throughout the World, or believers according to humane judgment.