Orthodox Creed · Chapter 30

Of the Catholick Church as Visible

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1. Nevertheless, we believe the Visible Church of Christ on Earth, is made up of several distinct Congregations, which make up that one Catholick Church, or Mystical Body of Christ. And the Marks by which She is known to be the true Spouse of Christ, are these, viz. Where the Word of God is rightly Preached, and the Sacraments truly Administred, according to Christ’s Institution, and the Practice of the Primitive Church;^a having Discipline and Government duly Executed by Ministers or Pastours of God’s Appointing, and the Churches Election, that is a true constituted Church: to which Church (and not elsewhere) all Persons that seek for Eternal Life, should gladly joyn themselves.^b And although there may be many Errors in such a Visible Church, or Congregations, they being not Infallible, yet those Errors being not Fundamental, and the Church in the major, or Governing part, being not Guilty, she is not thereby unchurched; nevertheless She ought to detect those Errors,^c and to Reform, according to God’s holy Word, and from such Visible Church, or Congregations, no Man ought by any pretence whatever, schismatically to separate.^d

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