which gave the name Catholick to the Church, to fignify thereby nothing else but the whole or univerfal Church, yet those which followed did fignify by the fame that affection of the Church which floweth from the nature of it, and may be expreffed by that word. At first they called the whole Church Catholick, meaning no more than the universal Church; but having used that term some space of time, they confidered how the nature of the Church was to be univerfal, and in what that universality did confift.

As far then as the ancient Fathers have expreffed themselves, and as far as their expreffions are agreeable with the defcriptions of the Church delivered in the Scriptures, fo far, I conceive, we may fafely conclude that the Church of Chrift is truly Catholick, and that the truly Catholick Church is the true Church of Chrift, which muft neceffarily be fufficient for the explication of this affection, which we acknowledge when we fay, we believe the Catholick Church.

The most obvious and moft general notion of this Catholicifm confifteth in the diffufiveness of the Church, grounded upon the commiffion given to the builders of it, Go teach all nations, whereby they and their fucceffors were authorized and impowered to gather Congregations of Believers, and fo to extend the borders of the Church unto the utmoft parts of the earth. The Synagogue of the Jews efpecially confifted of one nation, and the publick worship of God was confined to one country. In Judah was Pfal. Ixxvi. God known, and his name was great in Ifrael; in Salem 1, 2. was his tabernacle, and his dwelling-place in Sion. He Pfal. cxlvii. fbewed his word unto Jacob, his ftatutes and his judg- 19. ments unto Ifrael; he hath not dealt fo with any nation. The Temple was the only place in which the Sacrifices could be offered, in which the Priests could perform their office of miniftration; and fo under the Law there was an inclosure divided from all the world befides. But God faid unto his Son, I will Pfal. ii. 8.

1

35.

Luke xxiv.

47.

give the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy poffeffion. And Chrift comMark xvi. manded the Apostles, faying, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature: that repentance and remiffion of fins fhould be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Ferufalem. Thus the Church of Chrift, in its primary inftitution, was made to be of a diffusive nature, to fpread and extend itself from the city of Jerufalem, where it firft began, to all the parts and corners of the earth. From whence we find them in the Revelation crying to the Lamb, Thou waft flain, and haft redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. This reafon did the ancient Fathers render why the Church was called (r) Catholick, and the nature of the Church is fo defcribed in the Scriptures.

Rev. v. 9.

Secondly, They call the Church of Chrift the Catholick Church, because it teacheth all things wh ch are neceffary for a Chriftian to know, whether they be things in heaven or things in earth, whether they concern the condition of Man in this life, or in the life to come. As the Holy Ghoft did lead the Apoftles into all truth, fo did the Apoftles leave all truth unto the Church, which teaching all the fame, may be well called (s) Catholick, from the univerfality of neceffary and faving truths retained in it.

Thirdly, The Church hath been thought fit to be called Catholick in reference to the univerfal obedience which it prefcribeth; both in reípect of the perfons, obliging men of (t) all conditions; and in relation to the precepts, requiring the performance of all (u) the evangelical commands.

Fourthly, (x) The Church hath been yet farther called or reputed Catholick, by reafon of all graces given in it, whereby all difeafes of the Soul are healed, and fpiritual virtues are diffeminated, all the works and words and thoughts of Men are regulated, till we become perfect Men in Chrift Jefus.

In all these four acceptions did fome of the an

cient Fathers underftand the Church of Chrift to be Catholick, and every one of them doth certainly belong unto it. Wherefore I conclude that this Catholicifm, or fecond affection of the Church, confifteth generally in univerfality, as embracing all forts of perfons, as to be diffeminated through all nations, as comprehending all ages, as containing all neceffary and faving truths, as obliging all conditions of men to all kind of obedience, as curing all difeafes, and planting all graces, in the fouls of men.

The neceffity of believing the Holy Catholick Church appeareth firft in this, that Chrift hath appointed it as the only way unto eternal Life. We read at the firft, that the Lord added to the Church Acts ii. 4%, daily fuch as fhould be faved; and what was then daily done, hath been done fince continually. Chrift never appointed two ways to Heaven; nor did he build a Church to fave fome, and make another institution for other men's falvation. There is none other Acts iv. 12. name under heaven given among men whereby we must be faved, but the name of Jefus (y); and that name is no otherwife given under heaven than in the Church. As none were faved from the deluge but fuch as were within the ark of Noah, framed for their reception by the command of God; as none of the first-born of Egypt lived, but fuch as were within thofe habitations, whofe door-pofts were fprinkled with blood by the appointment of God for their preservation; as none of the inhabitants of Jericho could efcape the fire or fword, but fuch as were within the house of Rahab, for whofe protection a covenant was made: fo none shall ever escape the eternal wrath of God, which belong not to the Church of God. This is the congregation of thofe perfons here on earth which fhall hereafter meet in heaven. These are the veffels of the Tabernacle carried up and down, at last to be tranflated into, and fixed in, the Temple.

Secondly, It is neceffary to believe the Church of Chrift which is but one, that being in it we may

take

17.

take care never to caft ourselves, or be ejected, out of it. There is a power within the Church to caft Matt. xviii. thofe out which do belong to it; for if any neglect to hear the Church, faith our Saviour, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. By great and fcandalous offences, by incorrigible mifdemeanours, we may incur the cenfure of the Church of God; and while we are flaut out by them, we ftand excluded out of heaven. For our Saviour faid to his Johnxx.23. Apoftles, upon whom he built his Church, Whofefoever fins ye remit they are remitted unto them, and whosefoever fins ye retain they are retained. Again, A man may not only paffively and involuntarily be rejected, but alfo may by an act of his own caft out or reject himfelf, not only by plain and complete apoftafy, but by a defection from the unity of truth, falling into fome damnable Herefy; or by an active feparation, deferting all which are in communion with the Catholick Church, and falling into an irrecoverable Schifm.

Thirdly, It is neceffary to believe the Church of Chrift to be holy, left we should prefume to obtain any happiness by being of it, without that holiness which is required in it. It is not enough that the end, inftitution, and administration of the Church are holy but, that there may be fome real and permanent advantage received by it, it is neceffary that the perfons abiding in the communion of it should be really and effectually fanctified. Without which holinefs the privileges of the Church prove the greateft difadvantages; and the means of falvation neglected, tend to a punishment with aggravation. It is not only vain but pernicious to attend at the mar riage-feaft without a wedding-garment; and it is our Saviour's defcription of folly to cry, Lord, Lord, open to us, while we are without oil in our lamps. We must acknowledge a neceffity of holiness, when we confefs that Church alone which is holy can make us happy.

Fourthly,

Fourthly, There is a neceffity of believing the Catholick Church, because except a man be of that he can be of none. (z) For being the Church which is truly Catholick containeth within it all which are truly Churches, whofoever is not of the Catholick Church, cannot be of the true Church. That Church alone which firft began at Jerufalem on earth, will bring us to the Jerufalem in heaven; and that alone began there which always embraceth the faith once delivered to the Saints. Whatfoever Church pretendeth to a new beginning, pretendeth at the fame time to a new Churchdom, and whatfoever is fo new is none. So neceffary it is to believe the Holy Catholick Church.

Having thus far explicated the first part of this Article, I conceive every person fufficiently furnished with means of inftruction what they ought to intend when they profefs to believe the Holy Catholick Church. For thereby every one is understood to declare thus much I am fully perfuaded, and make a free confeffion of this as of a neceffary and infallible truth, that Chrift, by the preaching of the Apostles, did gather unto himself a Church, confifting of thoufands of believing perfons and numerous congregations, to which he daily added fuch as fhould be faved, and will fucceffively and daily add unto the fame unto the end of the world: fo that by the virtue of his all-fufficient promife, I am affured that there was, hath been hitherto, and now is, and hereafter shall be, fo long as the fun and moon endure, a Church of Chrift one and the fame. This Church I believe in general holy in refpect of the author, end, institution and administration of it; particularly in the members here I acknowledge it really, and in the fame hereafter perfectly, holy. I look upon this Church not like that of the Jews, limited to one people, confined to one nation, but by the appointment and command of Christ, and by the efficacy of his affifting power, to be diffeminated through