IV. Our final argument in favor of the visibility of the Church is the general consent of Christians in modern times. In the language of a modern writer, who fortifies his statement by sufficient references and quotations,-Palmer on the Church, Vol. i., p. 56,

"The Confession of Augsburg denies that all ceremonies, all old institutions were abolished in their Churches, Conf. August., part i. xxii., evidently understanding visible societies. The Saxon Confession says that the Church may be seen and heard according to that text, 'their sound went into all the world,' and that there is a visible Church in which God operates. Conf. Saxon., Art. xii. The Bohemian Confession, approved by Luther, Conf. Bohemica, Cap. viii; the Confession of the Reformed of Strasburg, Conf. Tetrapolit., Cap. xvi. 16; the Helvetic Confession, Conf. Helv., Cap. xvii ; that of Basil in 1536 (Art. xiv. xv.); the Gallican Conf., Gall. xxvii., all speak repeatedly of the Church as essentially visible. This was also the doctrine of Calvin, who declares that out of the visible Church, there is no salvation. Jus. iv. Sec. 4. So, also, the Presbyterian divines say: The visible Church, which is also Catholic or universal, under the Gospel, consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children, and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.' Pres. Con. of Faith, ch. xxv., s. 2.

"And Dr. Owen, the chief of English Independents of the seventeenth century, believes in 'a

visible Catholic Church,'-Owen's True Nature of a Gospel Church,' p. 50. And says also, 'that the union of the Catholic Church in all particular Churches is always the same, invisible, unchangeable, comprehending all the Churches in the world, at all times,..... nor to be prevailed against by the gates of hell.' Ibid., p. 403.

"So also the English and American Churches declare that the visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly administered.' Article xix."

Such is the opinion of the leading denominations of Christendom in modern times. Nor is it necessary to quote the sentiment of the Romish and Oriental Churches on this point, with whom this has never been made a matter of dispute.

5th. While, however, the true Church of God on earth is a visible body, this does not prove, by any means, that all the members of that visible Church are its living members, or will attain salvation. On the contrary, the Holy Scriptures, and the experience of the Church in all ages, bear melancholy testimony that "they are not all Israel who are of Israel." Rom. ix. 6. There may be dead branches even upon a living vine. John xv. 5. There always have been and are now, "tares in the midst of the wheat." Mat. xiii. 26. The net which was

* For an able treatise on the visibility of the Christian Church, the reader is referred to "Law's Third Letter to Bishop Hoadley."

cast into the sea and drawn ashore, contained both the good and the bad. Mat. xiii. 47. And by such repeated illustrations our Saviour designedly taught that, in the Church of God, there will be both worthy and unworthy members. So it has been from the days of Judas and the eleven Apostles, and so it doubtless will be until the chaff shall be finally separated from the wheat. "Let both grow together until the harvest," said our Saviour, "lest while ye gather up the tares ye root up the wheat also." Mat. xiii. 29.

It has been the object of the preceding remarks to establish the truth of the visibility of the Church of Christ. Nor is this truth unimportant. By that visibility, a great object was to be gained in our world. As the profound Bishop Butler, says, in that imperishable monument of his: "A visible Church was established in order to continue (Christianity) and carry it on successively throughout all ages. Had Moses and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, only taught, and by miracles proved religion to their contemporaries, the benefit of their instructions would have reached but to a small part of mankind. Christianity must have been in a great degree sunk and forgot in a very few ages. To prevent this, appears to have been one reason why a visible Church was instituted; to be like a city upon a hill, a standing memorial to the world, of the duty which we owe our Maker; to call men continually, both by precept and in

struction, to attend to it, and by the form of religion ever before their eyes, remind them of the reality; to be the repository of the oracles of God; to hold up the light of revelation in aid of that of nature, and propagate it throughout all generations to the end of the world." Butler's Analogy, p. ii., ch. 1.

There is still another reason why the visibility of the Church is an important truth :-it is the blessings which that Church is made God's chosen instrument in conveying to the children of men. By this Church, God calls men out of that state in which all are by nature, into a state of visible covenant relationship with Him. By our membership in this body, in the faithful use of appointed means, we become partakers of the blessings of Him who is the "Head of the body," and "the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member but many." 1 Cor. xii. 13, 14. And again, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ." Gal. iii. 27.

Hence, if such is one object which Jesus Christ had in establishing his Church, and such the blessings which it is the instrument of conveying, then the tendency at least must be of the doctrine of another invisible Church, to detract from the honor of that visible Church which Christ established, and also to cherish the presumption in individuals,

that if they only possess those invisible graces which they suppose characterize the invisible Church, then it is of little consequence whether they belong to any other. And such has been the actual tendency of this doctrine. Thousands, and tens of thousands, in Christian lands, live and die, and go into the world of spirits, without ever seriously asking the question, whether they have, or have not, received Christian Baptism, or have membership in that body of which Christ is the Head. Thus Christ is dishonored, and souls are deprived of many rich spiritual blessings which Christ has promised in and through his Church.

Let me then exhort every reader to cherish the inestimable privilege of membership in Christ. Though this body is a visible body, it is also a living body. If you would be a living branch, and bring forth fruit to the honor of God, maintain a close and intimate union with the parent vine. When the early Christians "continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers, then fear came upon every soul, and the Lord added to the Church daily, such as should be saved." Acts ii. 47.