Chapter 25. Of the Church

Chapter 25. Of the Church

I. The catholic or universal 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 thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.⁵¹³

II. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law) consists of all those, throughout the world, that profess the true religion,⁵¹⁴ and of⁵¹⁵ their children;⁵¹⁶ and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,⁵¹⁷ the house and family of God,⁵¹⁸ out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.⁵¹⁹

III. Unto this catholic 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 effectual thereunto.⁵²⁰

IV. This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.⁵²¹ And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.⁵²²

V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;⁵²³ and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.⁵²⁴ Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to his will.⁵²⁵

VI. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ:⁵²⁶ 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.⁵²⁷