Chap. xxv. Of the Church S
1
THE Catholick or universall Church which is invisible consists of the whole number of the elect that have been are or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head therof and is the spouse the body the fullness of him that filleth all in all
2
THE visible Church which is also catholick or universall under the Gospell (not confined to one nation as before under the Law) consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion together with their children and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ the house and family of God out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation
3
UNTO this Catholick visible Church Christ hath given the ministry oracles and ordinances of God for the gathering and perfecting of the saints in this life to the end of the world and doth by his own presence and Spirit according to his promise make them effectuall thereunto
4
THIS Catholick Church hath been sometimes more sometimes less visible and particular Churches which are members thereof are more or less pure according as the doctrine of the Gospell is taught and embraced ordinances administred and publick worship performed more or less purely in them
5
THE purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error and some have so degenerated as to become no Churches of Christ but synagogues of Satan nevertheless there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to his will
6
THERE is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof but is that Antichrist that man of sin and son of perdition that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ and all that is called God