the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Heb. 13:17. Obey them that have 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. See also Acts 14:27. Acts 15: 2, 30, 22. Acts 11:26. Also 1 Cor. ch. 5*

7.

SECTION II.

The distinction between the church, as visible and invisible.

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. 5:25-27. 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. 1:18. 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 preeminence. See also Eph. 1:10, 22, 23, and Heb. 12: 23.

8. Why is the church called invisible?

Because its union with Christ is a spiritual union; because the faith and love of those who are its true members are invisible to men, and infallibly discerned only by God, who looketh upon the heart; and because,

See

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 refer particularly to Rutherford's Due Right of Presbyteries, &c. 4to. London, 1644, at pp. 309, 314, 322, 489-491. also pp. 316, 348. See also his Plea for Paul's Presbyterie, 4to. London, 1642, p. 85, &c. Gillespie's Aaron's Rod Blossoming, 4to. London, 1646, pp. 294-297, and 350-467. See further, Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici, by the London Ministers, 4to. London, 1654, p. 208, &c. See also many authorities produced in Paget's Def. of Presb. Ch. Govt. London, 1641, pp 50, 51.

in this sense, the church has no visible or formal existence on earth, but is an object of faith, being composed of all Christ's faithful members, wherever they are found.

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

Acts 2:39, 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. 12: 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. 15:9. 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 8. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison. 1 Cor. 10:32. Give none offence, neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

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 members of the church on earth, may not be members of the church invisible, nor possessed of either faith or love.

11. May there, then, be distinct branches or sections of the visible church?

Yes; there may be distinct branches or sections of the visible church existing in different kingdoms, as the church of Scotland, the church of Geneva, the church of England, &c. These all, so far as they hold the same faith, are component parts of the one univer

sal visible church; in the same manner as the waters of the different seas, however variously distributed and called, are nevertheless connected among themselves, and form component parts of one and the same great

ocean.

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

It does not; 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 a sincere and hearty reception of the truth, in the love of it.*

13. To which of these churches are left the promises of perpetuity and indefectibility?

Not to the visible church, which may fail and err in any of its parts, but to the invisible, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail, and with which Christ will be, even to the end of the world. So that there shall always be those, somewhere, who shall believe and profess the true religion.

*See this meaning of the word fully developed in Hooker, Eccl. Pol. Book 3, sec. 1, in Works, vol. i. p. 195, Hanbury's edition, London, 1830, 3 vols. 8vo. See also p. 255. See also bishop Hopkins's Works, vol. ii. p. 418. This subject may also be seen fully discussed in Rogers's Discourse and Review of the Visible and Invisible Church of Christ. London, 1721. Dr. 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,-25, where he calls this distinction 'the essential principle of the Reformation, and very plainly discoverable in the articles (that is, the xxxix. Art.) of our church.' See also Essays on the Church, Introductory, p. 5, &c. Nolan's Catholic Char. of Christ. p. 73. The Church in the World, pp. 54, 79. Neander's Plant. of the Christ'n Ch. vol. ii. pp. 177, 178, 248. Dr. Owen's Works, vol. xix. pp. 152, 167, 209, 215, and authorities on pp. 156, 169. See also the martyr Philpot's testimony in Lond. Chr. Obs. 1841, p. 339, and Churchman's Monthly Rev. Dec. 1841, p. 661, where are quoted archbishops Secker and Hooker.

SECTION III.

The present use of the word church in these several senses.

14. Is the word church still commonly used in these various senses?

Yes, in all of them except the common sense, in which it is not used, because it is now exclusively applied to religious bodies, and in its sacred sense.

15. Can you give me an illustration of the use of the word church in the first meaning?

We speak of the several churches in any town or city, and also, when there are more than one of the same denomination, as, for instance, the presbyterian, we speak of the first, second, or third presbyterian church.

16. Can you give me an illustration of the use of the word church in the second meaning?

We speak of the presbyterian church in the United States of America, and so of other churches.

17. Can you give me an illustration of the use of the word church in the third meaning?

When the session of a church is assembled together, we say there is a meeting of the church; and when any member has been disciplined or received by that body, we say he has been disciplined or received by that church of which it is the session.

SECTION IV.

Of the church catholic.

18. What other term is applied to the church of Christ, considered as a whole, besides the terms visible and invisible?

The term catholic.

19. What is the meaning of the word catholic? The word catholic means universal.

20. Why is the church of Christ called catholic, or universal?

Because it is not confined to one nation, as it was under the Jewish economy, but consists of all those in every part of the world who believe in Christ; because its privileges are conferred equally upon all classes of men; and because it will yet embrace within it all nations and kindreds of the earth.

1 Cor. 12: 12, 13. 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. Psa. 2:8. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. See also Rom. 15:9-12.

21. What other sense was attached by the early fathers to the word catholic?

It was used by them as synonymous with the term orthodox, so that, in this view of it, the true church is to be known by that true doctrine, which is every where to be preached, and to be held fast.

22. Has this catholic visible church been perpetuated and preserved?

Yes; there has always been a visible church catholic, which, though divided by place, forms, and names, may yet be considered as one body, holding the head, and professing in substance the true religion.

23. In what sense, then, may the visible church be properly said to be catholic, or universal?

The visible church may be properly said to be catholic or universal, not as consisting of one society, under one government, but, as its various societies and churches are, or ought to be, modelled on the same principles; enjoying common privileges, and having one divine head, even Christ, who rules and guides it by ais word and spirit.