the blessed Apostles; illuminating true believers; rectifying their affections; regenerating their nature; uniting them to Christ; directing and influencing them in their actions and devotions; purifying and sanctifying their souls and bodies for their eternal acceptation with God. Thus I believe in the Holy Ghost.

CHAPTER IX.

ARTICLE IX.

"The Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints."

THIS Article has undergone some variation: in some Creeds it is placed the last; in others the latter part is omitted, and the former augmented by the word Catholic, which was added by the Greeks, and received into the Latin Creed. For the word Church, it appears to be derived from Kupιov OIKOÇ, 'the house of the Lord,' that is, of Christ; which words have been contracted and corrupted into Kupiakos, kyriac, kirk, church. But the Greek word ɛkkλŋoia, used by the Apostles, signified in its origin a calling forth (ɛê kaλɛw) in its general acceptation, and in time, came to mean an assembly of men.

The Church has sometimes been taken for all beings, angels and men, worshipping God: and again, excluding the angels, it hath been taken to comprehend all sons of men believing in God since

the foundation of the world. But though all who pleased God, from the beginning of the world, were accepted by Him through Christ; yet since Christ came not to redeem angels, and spoke of building Himself a Church, when the Jewish synagogue was about to fail; so the term Catholic Church is here restricted to Christianity and its professors. Now we find after Christ's promise to Peter, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;" and after His ascension, when Peter had converted three thousand souls, which were added to the hundred and twenty disciples; that then there was a Church; for after that we read, "The Lord added to the Church daily." This appears to be the origin of the Christian Church, which evidently consisted of the Apostles, former disciples, and recent believers in Christ; and was of a nature capable of daily increase, its members continuing steadfastly in doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and prayers.

Now, though this Church appears to have been one, and our Church in the Creed is understood to be one; yet because the Church being one in origin, and afterwards divided into many (its members becoming members of several Churches), so our Church is one now by complection, receiving the members of all Churches into union. It is neces

sary to consider how these several Churches are united in this one. Now the word εκκλησια (signifying an assembly generally) was used also for the congregations under the Mosaic law (in the Septuagint); and it has also sometimes been taken for the place in which persons meet for public worship. In the New Testament the Church always signifies a company of professing Christians. Though, indeed, sometimes the Churches of God are represented as being many; sometimes as comprehended in one; for we find that the believers in a single house are called a Church; "the Church in the house of Priscilla." We find also that distinct Churches are mentioned in divers countries; ex. gra." the Churches of Samaria and Galilee, of Syria and of Cilicia."

But we find also that though distinct Churches are named as existing in one country, yet the Apostle addressed himself to them under the notion of their forming one Church; ex. gra. "Let your women keep silence in the Churches :" whereas the Epistle in which these words occur is dedicated to the Church at Corinth. So we read also not of the Churches, but the Church at Jerusalem; of the Church at Antioch, &c. From which it appears a collection of several congregations (each of which may be called a Church) may be, and is properly

one Church, by virtue of their subordination to one ruler or Bishop. Now as several Churches are reduced to the denomination of one Church in relation to their single governor; so all the Churches in the world may be reduced to the same denomination, by virtue of their subordination to one Governor and Lord, Christ the Bishop of our souls: and therefore as single persons professing faith in Christ, by unity of congregation form the particular Churches where they live; so all the Churches in the world, however distant and dispersed, are members of the general universal and Catholic Church, which is one by unity of aggregation. And thus I believe in one Holy Catholic Church.

It is next to be seen in what the unity of the Church consists. Now the first Church consisted of believing and baptized persons, converted to the faith, continuing steadfast in doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers; they all were built upon the same rock, professed the same faith, received the same sacraments, performed the same devotions: and therefore were reputed members of the same Church. Whence it appeareth that the unity of the Church (independently of its head, which is one Christ, and of its life, which is one Spirit) depends upon its original. There is but one foundation, which is Christ; for though the Apos