Wilson on Article XIX: Of the Church

a We believe that there is one Church of God, and that the same is not shut up (as in times past among the Jews) into some one corner or kingdom, but that it is catholic and universal, and dispersed throughout the whole world. So that there is now no nation which may truly complain that they be shut forth, and may not be one of the Church and people of God : and that this Church is the kingdom, the body, the spouse of Christ: that Christ alone is the Prince of this kingdom : that Christ alone is the Head of this body : that Christ alone is the Bridegroom of this spouse. Jewell.

In the Creed is properly entreated of the congregation of those whom God by his secret election hath adopted to himself through Christ : which Church can neither be seen with eyes, nor can continually be known by signs. (See Art. XVII. a> g.) Yet there is a Church of God visible, or that may be seen, the tokens or marks whereof he doth shew and open unto us. — The visible Church is nothing else but a certain multitude of men, which in what place soever they be, do profess the doctrine of Christ pure and sincere, even the same which the Evangelists and Apostles have, in the everlasting monuments of holy Scrip- tures, faithfully disclosed to memory, and which do truly call upon God the Father in the name of Christ ; and moreover do use his mysteries, commonly called sacraments, with the same pureness and simplicity (as touching their substance) which the Apostles of Christ used, and have put in writing. Norvcll, p. 67.

b Q. Are not then all that be in this visible Church, of the number of the elect to everlasting life ? A. Many by hypocrisy and counterfeiting of godliness, do join themselves to this fellow-

a Unto the church of God which church the manifold wisdom of God.

is at Corinth, to them that are Eph. iii. 10. Unto God be glory

sanctified in Christ Jesus, called in the church by Christ Jesus

to be saints, with all that in every throughout all ages, world without

place call upon the name of Jesus end. Amen. Eph. iii. 21. Christ our Lord, both theirs and b How shall they call on him in

ours. 1 Cor. i. 2. The house of whom they have not believed ? and

God, which is the church of the how shall they believe in him of

living God, the pillar and ground whom they have not heard ? and

of the truth. 1 Tim. iii. 15. To how shall they hear without a

the saints and faithful brethren preacher? and how shall they

in Christ, which are at Colosse. preach except they be sent ? as it

Col. i. 2. The Lord added to the is written, How beautiful are the

church daily such as should be feet of them that preach the gos-

saved. Acts ii. 47. To the intent pel of peace, and bring glad tidings

that now might be known by the of good things? So then faith coin-

God is preached, and the sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to

ship, which are nothing less than true members of the Church. But forasmuch as wheresoever the word of God is sincerely taught, and his sacraments rightly administered, there are ever some appointed to salvation by Christ, we count all that whole company to be the Church of God, seeing that Christ also pro- miseth that himself will be present with two or three that be gathered together in his name. Nowell, p. 68.

The sincere preaching of the Gospel, that is to say, of the benefits of Christ, invocation, and administration of the sacra- ments, are the chief and the necessary marks of the visible Church, such as without which it cannot be indeed, nor lightly

called the Church of Christ. In whatever assembly these are

purely and sincerely retained, it is no doubt that there is also the Church of Christ. Nowell, p. 67, 68.

They (the Scriptures) be the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, whereupon is built the Church of God : that they be the very sure and infallible rule, whereby may be tried whether the Church do swerve or err, and whereunto all ecclesiastical doctrine ought to be called to account : and that against these Scriptures neither law, nor ordinance, nor any custom ought to be heard : not though Paul himself, or an angel from heaven, should come and teach the contrary. Jewell.

0 Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock ; make, we beseech thee, all bishops and pastors diligently to preach thy holy word, and the people obediently to follow the same ; that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for Saint Peter’s Day.

eth by hearing1 and hearing1 by the word of God. Rom. x. 14, 15, 17. He gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edify- ing of the body of Christ. Eph. iv. 11, 12. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. 1 Pet. iv. 11. He that prophesieth speak- eth unto men to edification, and

exhortation, and comfort he

edifieth the church. 1 Cor. xiv. 3, 4. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Moreover it is required in stew- ards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. i. 21. A bishop must be blameless, as the

steward of God; holding fast

the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince gainsayers. Tit. i. 7, 9. I have sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faith- ful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 1 Cor. iv.

the same. As the Church of Jerusalem, Alex- andria, and Antioch, have erred ; c so also the

0 Almighty and everlasting- God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy word : Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church to love that word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for Saint Bartholomew’s Day.

O Almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the found- ation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone ; Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple, acceptable unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for Saint Simon and Saint Jude’s Day.

The church, or house of God, is a place appointed by the holy Scriptures, where the lively word of God ought to be read, taught, and heard, the Lord’s holy name called upon by public prayer, hearty thanks given to his Majesty for his infinite and * unspeakable benefits bestowed upon us, his holy sacraments duly and reverently administered ; and that therefore all that be godly indeed ought both with diligence, as appointed, to repair together to the said church, and there with all reverence to use and behave themselves before the Lord. The said church thus godly used by the servants of the Lord, in the Lord’s true ser- vice, for the effectual presence of God’s grace, wherewith he doth by his holy word and promises endue his people there pre- sent and assembled, to the attainment as well of commodities worldly, necessary for us, as also of all heavenly gifts, and life everlasting, is called by the word of God (as it is indeed) the temple of the Lord, and the house of God. Horn. xiv. 1.

c Neither is the Church of God such as it may not be dusked with some spot, or asketh not sometime reparation. Jewell.

The true Church is an universal congregation or fellowship of God’s faithful and elect people, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head

17. Blessed is the man that hear- Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

eth me, watching daily at my gates, and in breaking of bread, and in

waiting at the posts of my doors, prayers. Acts ii. 42. Now I praise

Prov. viii. 34. Go ye therefore, you, brethren, that ye remember

and teach all nations, baptizing me in all things, and keep the or-

them teaching them to observe dinances as I delivered them to you.

all things whatsoever I have com- For I have received of the Lord

manded you. Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. that which also I delivered unto

When they believed, Philip preach- you. 1 Cor. xi. 2, 23.

ing the things concerning the king- c Now the Spirit speaketh ex-

dom of God, and the name of Jesus pressly, that in the latter times

Christ, they were baptized, both some shall depart from the faith,

men and women. Acts viii. 12. giving heed to seducing spirits,

They continued stedfastly in the and doctrines of devils ; speaking

Church of Rome hath erred ; not only in their

corner-stone. (Eph. ii. 19, 20.) And it hath always three notes or marks, whereby it is known : pure and sound doctrine ; the sacraments ministered according to Christ’s holy institution; and the right use of ecclesiastical discipline. This description of the Church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God, and also to the doctrine of the ancient Fathers ; so that none may justly rind fault therewith. — Now if you will compare this with the Church of Rome — not as it was in the beginning, but as it is at present, and hath been for the space of nine hundred years and odd — you shall well perceive the state thereof to be so far wide from the nature of the true Church, that nothing can be more. For neither are they built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, retaiuing the sound and pure doctrine of Christ Jesus ; neither yet do they order the sacraments, or else the ecclesiastical keys, in such sort as he did first institute and ordain them : but have so intermingled their own traditions and inventions, by chopping and changing, by addiug and pluckiug away, that now they may seem to be converted into a new guise. Whereof it followeth that the Popes, in not hearing Christ’s voice, as they ought to do, but preferring their own decrees before the express word of God, do plainly argue to the world that they are not of Christ, nor yet possessed with his Spirit. Horn, xxviii. 2.

Let them compare our Churches and theirs together, and they shall see, that themselves have most shamefully gone from the Apostles, and we most justly have gone from them. For we, following the example of Christ, of the Apostles, and the holy Fathers, give the people the holy communion whole and perfect : but these men, contrary to all the Fathers, to all the Apostles, and contrary to Christ himself, do sever the sacraments, and pluck away one part from the people, and that with most noto- rious sacrilege, as Gelasius termeth it. We have brought

again the Lord’s supper unto Christ’s institution, and have made it a communion in very deed, common and indifferent to a great number according to the name ; for of that it is called a corn-

lies in hypocrisy, &c. 1 Tim. iv. 1. &c. Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matt, xxiv. 11, 12. That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition : who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shew-

ing himself that he is God. — Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceiv- ableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. 2 Thess. ii. 3, 4, 9, 10. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ ; preach the word; be instant in season, oat of season ; reprove, rebuke, ex. hort with all long-suffering and

living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.

munion. But these men have changed all things contrary to Christ’s institution, and have made a private mass of a holy communion : and so it cometh to pass, that we give the Lord’s supper unto the people, and they give them a vain pageant to

gaze upon. We affirm, together with the ancient Fathers,

that the body of Christ is not eaten but of the good and faithful, and of those that are endued with the Spirit of Christ. Their doctrine is, that Christ’s very body effectually, and as they speak really and substantially, may not only be eaten of the wicked and unfaithful men, but also, which is monstrous and horrible

to be spoken, of mice and dogs. We use to pray in our

churches after that fashion, as according to Paul’s lesson the people may know what we pray, and may answer Amen with a general consent. These men, like sounding metal, yell out in the churches unknown and strange words without understanding, without knowledge, and without devotion : yea, and do it of purpose, because the people should understand nothing at all.

But not to tarry about rehearsing all points, wherein we

and they differ, for they have well nigh no end, we turn the Scriptures into all tongues : they scant suffer them to be had

abroad in any tongue. We allure the people to read and to

hear God’s word ; they drive the people from it. We desire

to have our cause known to all the world ; they flee to come to

any trial. We lean unto knowledge ; they unto ignorance :

we trust unto light ; they unto darkness. We reverence, as it

becometh us, the writings of the Apostles and Prophets ; and

they burn them. Finally, we in God’s cause desire to stand

to God’s only judgments ; they will stand only to their own. Wherefore if they will weigh all these things with a quiet mind, and fully bent to hear and to learn, they will not only allow this determination of ours, who have forsaken errors and followed Christ and his Apostles, but themselves also will forsake their own selves, and join of their own accord to our side, to go with us. Jewell.

doctrine. For the time will come from the truth, and shall be turned when they will not endure sound unto fables. 2 Tim. ir. ]— -4. Of doctrine ; but after their own lusts your own selves shall men arise shall they heap to themselves speaking perverse things, to draw teachers having itching ears; and away disciples after them. Actsxx. they shall turn away their ears 30.