Trollope on Article XIX: Of the Church

The English vford Church signifies the ZorcTs Mouse; as heing generally supposed to he derived from the Greek feminine adjective Kvpiaxr}, with otKia understood. As signifyinff a cmigregation or assembly , however, the word employed in the New Testament, and rendered Church in our Version, is OKKXi^ffia.

2. Give ^he original import of the word eKK\ri<rla,

and mention the different significations given to it

by the sacred writers.

From eKKaXeTVf to call out, eKKXrifria properly denotes* a public assetnibly, as those of the Greek republics ; in which sense it is used by profane authors, and in Acts xix. 39. 41. Hence it was applied by the sacred writers to the Jewish and Christian Churches, as being called out or separated from the world; and, in a more restricted sense, to any particular branch of the Christian Church. Compare Matt, xvi. 18, xviii. 17. Acts ii. 42. 47. v. 11. vii. 38. ix. 31. xv. 4, Rom. xvi. 3. 5. 1 Co?, i. 2. Eph. v. 23. Phil. v. 2. Col. iv. 15. Rev. i. 4. In Acts xi. 26. it signifies, by metonymy, a place qf Christian worship.

3. How is it used in the nineteeuth Article of

our Church ?

In the first clause of this Article, the word is probably employed in a general sense, as including the entire body of Christians throughout the world ; and in the second clause, it denotes any particular branch of the Church Catholic. Perhaps, however, it may be taken throughout

in a more limited sense, as comprehending only the Chris- tians of one oounlay or persuasion ; so that it will retain the same signification in both clauses of the Article.

4. What do you understand by the Visible Church F

The Church is said to be vmiie, as being a visible con- aregation qf faithful merij associated under a supreme head, and having a rite of admission, stated duties and priyileges, and duly appointed ministers. See 1 Cor. x. 17. Eph. iv. 4. Col. i. 18.

5. Under what other aspect do you regard the Visible Church ?

It is likewise so called in contradistinction to the mystical or invisible Church of Christ, which consists of all who have believed and obeyed the Gospel in all ages; and which is so denominated, not only because its members are not all upon earth, but because the qualities which distinguish them are not objects of sense, and their fiEuth- fulness is known to Ood alone.

6. How then can the Church be described, in general terms, as a /at^Afu^ congregation?

The Visible Church is necessarily composed ofjprafess’ ing Christians in general, whether oad or good ; and our Saviour alludes to this mixture in several of his parables. See Matt. xiii. 26. 48. xii. 10. The termfaithfulj there- fore, designates the prqfession, not the character, of a Christian community ; of which it is impossible for men to ludge otherwise than by extenial circumstances: but altnough it would be presumptuous in man to make the discrimination, Christ will hereafter separate the good from the wicked, ’ as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the ‘goats’ (Matt. xxv. 32.), and assign to the real and nominal members of his Church their respective portions.

7. What then is absolutely essential to the con- stitution of the Christian Church ?

Although it is not necessary that all its members should be entirely free from error in their faith and without blame

in their conduct, it is essential to the existence of the Church Catholic, and the constitution of any partictdar branch of it, that the pure word of God be preached there- in, and the Sacraments rightly and duly administered. This is in accordance with the definition of the Church laid down in this Article ; and it is thus more fully stated in the second part of the Homily for Whitsunday : — * The true ’ Church is a universal con^egation of God s faithful and ‘elect people, built ujoon the foundation of the Apostles ’ and Propnets, Jesus Christ himself being the head comer ’ stone ; and it hath always three notes or marks whereby it ’ is known : — pure and sound doctrine, the Sacraments ad- ‘ministered according to Christ’s holy institution, and the ’ right use of Ecclesiastical discipline. This description of * the Church is agreeable both to tJie Scriptures of God, and ’ also the doctrine of the antient Fathers, so that none may ‘justly find fault therewith.*

8. Shew that these essentials accord with the marks by which the Church is distinguished in Holy Writ.

In the Acts qf the Apostles (ii. 41, 42.) the Church is described as consisting oi those who ’ believed ’ and ’ were ’ baptized, and continued steadfastly in the Apostles* doctrine ’ and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.’ Its members are also represented as united in one body under Christ their head y as having one faith, one hope, one l^ptism ; as partakers of one bread and of one cup in the communion of the body and blood of Christ ; as walking by one rule, and endeavouring to keep the unitj of the Spirit in the bond of peace. See 1 Cor. x. 17. xi. 8. xii. 12. 20. Ephes. iv. 2. sqq. Phil. iii. 16. Col. iii. 12. sqq. 1 Pet. iii. 8.

9. What is meant by preaching the pure word of Gods and duly administering the holy Sacra’ ments ?

In order to the preaching of the pure word of God, it is renquired that it be delivered to the p^eople whole and entire, without adding thereto, or diminishing aught from it ; and the Sacraments must be administered without in any way detracting from their efficacy. Accordingly Baptism must be performed in the express form enjoined by Ohrist him- seli, ’ in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

’ the Holy Ghost ;’ and the Elemente of bread and wine in the Lord 8 Sunper must be consecrated with strict attention to the form ot institution, and delivered in both kinds as memorials of his body broken and his blood shed for our Salvation.

10. Under these circumstances is it possible that a Church should err; and why are the Churches, specified in the Article^ selected as instances of possible corruption?

That the word of Gbd may be preached, and the Sac- raments administered, while yet a Church entertains both erroneous doctrines and corrupt practice, will be admitted by all who admit ^e fkliibility of mankind. The three Churches of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, are selected as instances of erring communions, as being the most distinguished of those rounded by the Apostles, and consequently on a par with lliat of Rome, against whose corruptions the following Articles are principally directed.

11. Can you state the particular errors charged against the Churches of Jertisalem, Alexandria, and Antioch ; and the ground upon which the Church of Rome claims to be secure from error ?

It is not recorded, nor is it necessary to inquire, in what particulars these Churches have erred; but that in process of time they fell into considerable errors, is univer- sally agreed. This indeed the Church of Rome does not denv; while she rests her own assumed perfection on the infallibility to which she la^ claim, by virtue of the spiritual supremacy over the Christian world alleged to be communi- cated, through St. Peter, to the Popes, his successors.

12. Shew that the Romish pretensions to in- fallibility are unfounded.

See Questions on St. Maithewj chaps, z. qu. 7. zvi. qq.

13. With what view was the latter clause of this Article appended ?

This cleause was introduced to set aside, in the outset, the claim to infallibility ; for if it were admitted, all the other doctrines of Romanism would be established at once : since the teaching of an l7\faUible Church must be true.

14. Illustrate, by quotations, the light in which the Church was regarded by the early Fathers.

Ireneeus, in Heer. i. 3. 46. Ths Church, having received the same preaehing and the eame faith, though dispersed throughout all the world, carefully preserves them; and believes, and teaches and preaches ths same things, as having one mind, one heart, and one mouth, Tertulhan de Preescr. c. 20. So many and great Churches are nothing else but that primitive one, from which all the rest proceed. Thus aU are primitive, and all are Apostolical, whilst they all agree in one and the same truth ; whilst there is among them a communication of peace, an appellation of brother- hood, and a league oj hospitality, which are only to be preserved inviolable by a constant participation qf the same noly Sasraments. Augustine, C. Faust. Man. xii. 15. As there were clean and unclean aninuUs in the Ark, so both good and bad partake qf the Sacraments of the Church. Jerome, ad Galat. i. The Church is twofold : that which has neither sot nor wrinkle, and is truly the body of Christ ; and that which assembles in Chrisfs name rvithmitfull and perfect goodness, Augustine, Epist. 48. The Church is sometimes obscured, aria as it were clouded over, with the multitude qf offences. See Iren. Hser. y. 20. Tertull. de Bapt. c. 8. August, de Ciy. D. xv. 27. Ambros. Hezaem. IV. 8. Theophyiact. in Joh. iii.