Exposition of the Apostles Creed, Part
These Sermons which follow, serve to Expound to us the Article of the Catholick Church, the Communion of Saints.
NEver any Agent is operative but in some Subject. In our s…lvation the Agent is the whole Trinity. God the Father ordain'd, the Son bought, and the Holy Ghost seals such as shall live with God. What they have done, I have at large declar'd before; it remains now to treat of the Subject in which they work, which in the Creed is call'd the Catholick Church: For he that considers the omnipotent power, and ineffable love of God the Father; that knows the bitter death and passion of God the Son; that weighs the wonderful Gifts and Graces of God the Holy Ghost, sees without more ado, the principal causes of mans salvation: But to what sort of men this love, that price,1 Pet. 2.9. those gifts and graces are extended, he sees not, till he hears of a peculiar People, a holy Nation, a royal Priesthood, honoured by the Name of the Church: For to those who are graced and dignified with this title, the merits of the Son of God, and the seals of the Spirit do belong and bequeath a blessing, and none else; Remission of sin is a blessing; Resurrection to eternal life and glorification, are blessings, and these are given to none but such who are within the Church,
The Object then of Gods favour, and Christs mercy, is to be now the Subject of my Discourse; and that I lose not my self, and tire you in discoursing on that Subject, upon which almost all the World is at loss, I shall make choice of such Texts as shall most aptly set forth unto us the Nature and Essence of the Church, and give me occasion to resolve many doubts which arise on all hands about this Subject. A Sea I now enter, tumultuous and dangerous; the good Spirit of God guide me, that I may be safely brought to the Harbour: And the words I set out with, shall be those which God by his Prophet Isaiah hath put into my mouth.