viii, 1. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts xxi, 20. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law. Acts xv, 6. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Acts xvi, 4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

6. What is the third meaning of the word church in its sacred sense?

It means any assembly of the rulers of the church, when convened as an ecclesiastical judicatory.*

Matt. xviii, 15, 16, 17. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.t

Heb. xiii, 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you.

1 Cor. v. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among

* That the word church means an assembly of rulers meeting together in an ecclesiastical judicatory, see largely proved in Dr. Ayton's Orig. Constit. of the Church, ch. ii, § 3, p. 63, 64.

That by the church, in Matt. xviii, 17, is meant the ministers and elders that are chosen out of the congregation, to watch over the flock," given in the "View of Antichrist in the English Church," 1581, published in Price's Hist. of Nonconf., vol. i, p. 321.

you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole Tump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle, not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters: for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that person.

Acts xiv, 27. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Acts xv, 2, 30, 22. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas, surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. Acts xi, 26. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.*

*That this meaning is to be attached to the term Church in these places, and that it is in itself an important meaning, was maintained by the early writers in defence of Presbyterianism. I may further refer particularly to Rutherford's Due Right of Presbyteries, &c., 4to, London, 1644, at pp. 309, 314, 322, 489491. See also p. 316, 348. See also his Plea for Paul's Pres

7. What is the fourth meaning of the word church in its sacred sense. ?

It means the whole body of God's redeemed people, that have been, or shall be, gathered into one, under Christ the Head, and which is generally called the invisible church.

Eph. v. 25-27. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Col. i, 18. And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.

Eph. i, 10, 22, 23. That in the dispensation of the fulness of the times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. And hath put all things under his feet, and given him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Heb. xii, 23. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

8. Why is the church called invisible?

Because the faith and love of those who are its true members are invisible to men, and can be infallibly discerned only by God, who looketh upon the heart.

9. What is the fifth meaning of the word church, in its sacred sense?

It means the whole body of those-throughout the world, of every denomination, with their

byterie, 4to, London, 1642, p. 85, &c. Gillespie's Aaron's Rod Blossoming, 4to, London, 1646, p. 294-297, and 350467. See further, Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici, by the London Ministers, 4to, London, 1654, p. 208, &c.

children who profess the true religion, and which is commonly called the visible church.

Acts ii, 39, 47. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 1 Cor. xii, 12, 13, 28. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Cor. xv, 9. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God, &c. Acts viii, 3. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison. 1 Cor. vii, 14. For the unbelieving husband sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 1 Cor. x, 32. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. Acts xiv, 15. And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.

SECTION II.

The distinction between the church, as visible and invisible.

10. Why is the church, in this sense, called the visible church?

Because all are members of it who make a profession of the christian religion, including those who, while they are regarded as members of the church on earth, nevertheless may not be members of the true church, nor possessed of either faith or love.

11. Does this distinction of the church into visible and invisible, make two churches instead of one?

No! since by these terms we only distinguish the church in its external form, from the same church in its internal or spiritual character. As visible, it includes hypocrites-as invisible, only believers. As visible, it requires from its members only an external and credible profession of the faith; as invisible, it supposes in every member of it, a sincere and hearty reception of the truth, in the love of it.*

12. Which of these, then, is the true church, out of which there is no salvation?

As Christians compose the church-and as none are truly Christians, but those who are inwardly what they profess to be outwardly; it follows that none are regarded by God as members of Christ's body, which is the church, but true believers. The true church, therefore, is that which is invisible, and not that which is visible.

* See this meaning of the word fully developed in Hooker, Eccl. Pol., Book 3. sec. 1, in Works, vol. 1. p. 195, Hanbury's edition, London, 1830, 3 vols. 8vo. See also p. 255. See also Bishop Hopkins' Works, vol. 2, p. 418. This subject may also be seen fully discussed in Rogers' Discourse and Review of the Visible and Invisible Church of Christ. London, 1721. Br. George Miller, in his recent Letter to Dr. Pusey, London, 1840, at p. 22, speaks of "the fundamental error of rejecting the distinction between the visible and the invisible church of Christ." See also pp. 23, 24, 25, where he calls this distinction"the essential principle of the Reformation, and very plainly discoverable in the articles (i. e. the xxxix Art.) of our church."