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the lawful pastors of the church, especially the Roman Pontiff.

"Observe that the doctrine of the heretics by which they assert that the church consists of the elect only, or of the just alone, tends to this that they may make the church invisible, and hence let section 73 treat

Of the visibility of the church.

"Is the church visible?

"1. Yes. This is proved from Matt. v. 14, where it is said concerning the church: 'a city set upon a hill cannot be hid;' and thus the church is not only visible, but evidently conspicuous, like a city set upon a hill: as Augustine, &c. says, 'The church stands forth before all, clear and conspicuous, for it is a city, built upon a hill, which cannot be hid.'

"2. It is proved from Matt. xviii. 16, where Christ com. mands that the faithful should tell it to the church, that is, to the superiors of the church, when private fraternal reproof does no good: and again he commands, that if a reproved brother shall not hear the church, he must be regarded as a heathen and a publican; now he cannot be denounced to the church, nor hear her, if the church is invisible; therefore, &c. "3. It is proved from reason; all ought to come to the church under peril of eternal damnation; therefore, it must be visible or cognizable.

Obj. I. Christ says to the Samaritan woman, John iv. 23, 'The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth;' therefore, &c.

"Ans. I deny the inference: for that (phrase)'in spirit,' does not exclude external worship; but teaches that to external worship internal is to be joined: and hence it is opposed to the worship of the Jews and the Samaritans, most of whom stopped in external rites only; and the expression, in truth,' is opposed to the figures of the old law, or also to the worship of the Samaritans, which was mixed up with many corruptions.

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"Obj. II. Christ says, Luke xvii. 20, The kingdom of God does not come with observation; therefore the church cannot be observed or seen.

“Ans. I deny the inference: for there the question is not

concerning the church, but the kingdom of God is put for the coming of Messiah; and hence the meaning is, Messiah does not come with observation, i. e., with pomp and royal parade, as the Jews expected.

"How is the church said to be visible?

"Ans. The church is formally to be seen and known not only through faith and the understanding, but also by physical senses; because the church is not only spiritual by reason of the internal form of faith, hope, charity, &c., but it also is a certain material and sensible body, because it embraces a visible head, visible persons, the external profession of faith, sensible sacraments, the order of a visible priesthood.

"Through what is the church seen sensibly?

"Ans. By her own marks, which are so peculiar to our church, that they can be found in no other congregation or sect; and hence the church is visible, not only to the faithful, but also to those who do not hold the faith, as heretics, Jews, and Gentiles.”

The arrogant demand of the Romish Church to be regarded as the only and the true Church of Christ, containing in her communion all who shall be saved, deserves no refutation. We pass by this impudent claim with sincere pity for the deluded members of that apostate church, whom "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness," she entices from the way of God's testimonies. Our theologian in contending for the visibility of the Church against "the heretics," is wasting his eloquence and his prowess upon a man of straw. WE believe in a visible church. We need not be told that the Church of Christ and the private members also of that church are as a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. Surely the church of Rome has sufficient reason both to know and feel that the Protestant church is visible; if she does not know it, the noble army of martyrs, who were slain by the blood-thirsty minions of the Pope, stand forth as witnesses, who being dead yet speak. The flames of persecution, which have reddened the sky of every kingdom

and country, which the Babylonish woman has intoxicated with the wine of her lewdness and blasphemy, have made the Protestant church a BURNING and a SHINING light in the world. We yield the point, however, that the church of Rome has her own peculiar marks. She bears upon her brazen face THE MARKS OF THE BEAST, mentioned in the Apocalypse. They are so indelibly stamped upon her brow, that he who reads her history cannot fail to recognise her as the base deceiver and apostate, against whom the finger of divine prophecy is pointed. These marks are SUPERSTITION, and BLOOD.

PERFIDY, FALSEHOOD,

CHAPTER XX.

Concerning the Marks of the Church. (74.)

"What is understood by a mark of the church? "A certain sign and peculiarity by which the true church can be known, and discerned from all other assemblies. "How many are the marks of the church?

"Four principal ones are enumerated, expressed in the Constantinopolitan symbol, viz. that she is ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC.

"That these are the marks of the true church, the authority of the symbol just quoted, and the consent of the apostles and fathers prove these reason proves and Scrip

ture attests.

"Calvin and sectarians appoint only two marks of the church, viz. the sincere preaching of the word of God, and the legitimate use of the sacraments.

"These two, although they are found in the true church of Christ, are yet foolishly laid down as marks of the church for the marks ought to be more notorious than the thing, which they are to characterize: but it is at least as difficult to know which is the sincere preaching of the word of God, (and) which is the legitimate use of the sacraments, as which is the true church.

"But as the four abovementioned marks pertain to the Roman Catholic Church alone, it follows that SHE is the ONLY church of Christ: and in order that this may appear more clearly, we will consider them one by one."

Concerning the mark of the church by which she is called ONE. (75.)

"Prove that unity is the mark of the true church.

"It is proved from various texts of Sacred Scripture, in which unity is attributed to the church: thus, it is said, John x. 16., 'one fold and one pastor;' and John xvii. 21, Christ prays for unity for his sheep: that they all may be one; also the apostle, 1 Cor. x. 17., says, 'We being many are one body,' and Eph. iv. 4, 5. One body, one faith, one baptism.'

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"This unity all the fathers acknowledged in time past, and from it they confuted heretics and schismatics; amongst them, St. Cyprian wrote his book concerning the unity of the church.

"In what does the unity of the church consist?

"In unity of head, in unity of faith and doctrine, in the consent of minds, in the communion of the same sacraments, and of other things pertaining to the communion of the Saints.

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Unity of head is found in the Roman Catholic Church; because in it there is no visible head under Christ except the Roman Pontiff, to whom all the bishops and the faithful are subordinate, and are united as in a centre of unity, and who exercises visible jurisdiction and rule over the whole church. "This unity of the church is manifestly found in no sect, not even among the Greeks, who obey different Patriarchs. "Unity of faith and doctrine, equally shines forth in the Roman Catholic Church, in which all the faithful, although scattered over the whole earth, believe the same doctrines of faith; neither in any definitions of the church, concerning the faith, can repugnant things be proved; but among heretics and schismatics there is no agreement of faith but there are as many opinions as heads; as many faiths as wills.

"You will say: In the Roman Church there is also diversity of doctrine, because the doctrines of the Thomists,

Scotists, and Molinists, are opposed to one another in many things; therefore, &c.

"I deny the inference: for as has been said, the unity of faith and doctrine is in this, that Catholics believe the same doctrines of faith; to which it is no obstacle that there are different opinions of the school, which, when not injuring the faith, the church permits to be defended for the elucidation of truth, and the exercise of the schools, which are prepared to submit their opinions to one judge, the Roman Pontiff and the church; but heretics dissent in things pertaining to the faith, nor do they acknowledge any judge to whom they may submit themselves.

"There is also in the church, a consent, or union of minds, like the union of sheep of the same fold, and like that of members of the same body. The same is readily apparent from the communion of the sacraments, and the communion of the saints."

We do most cordially embrace the doctrine of the unity of the Church of Christ; we believe that Christ has a visible church upon earth, constituting part of the Universal Church to which the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, also belong. The visible church is scattered over the whole earth: but every man, woman, and child, who loves the Lord Jesus Christ, and keeps his commandments, is a member of that church, and shines forth as a constituent part of Christ's mystical body. Wherever two or three true believers are gathered together in Christ's name, there you have a particular church, inheriting all the promises and blessings of the New Covenant as fully as the largest congregation of believers upon earth. The word of God designates all as God's children, who love the Lord Jesus Christ; into their hearts he has sent forth the spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, "Abba Father," giving them in this witness of the Holy Ghost, the seal of their acceptance, and the pledge and earnest of their heavenly inheritance. By whatever name they may be called, the members of Christ's body are ONE; they love the same Saviour, they

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