Paragraphs 19.1, 19.2

1. There is a Church of Christ, not onely inuisible, but also visible.

2. There is but one Church.

3. The visible Church is a Catholike church.

4. The word of God was, and for time is before the Church.

5. The markes, and tokens of the visible Church, are the due, and true administration of the word; and Sacraments.

6. The visible Church, may, and from time to time hath erred both in doctrine, and conuersation.

7. The Church of Rome most shamefully hath erred in life, ceremonies, and matters of faith.

The proofe from Gods word.

A true saying is it, the Lord, and he onely knoweth who are his. For to man the Church of Christ is partly inuisible, and visible partly. The inuisible are all the Elect, who be, or shall be either in heauen, triumphing; or on earth fighting against the flesh, the world, and the Deuill. These as members of the Church are said to be inuisible, not because the men be not seene, but for that their faith, and conscience to Godward is not perfectly, knowne vnto vs.

The members of the visible Church are some of them for God, and some against God: all of them notwithstanding deemed parts of the Church, and accōnted faithfull, so long as they make no manifest, and open rebellion against the Gospell of Christ.

And all this wee gather from the holy Scripture, where mention is made of the Church inuisible, and triumphing, Rev. 2.26.28. & 3.5.12. & 7, 14.55. inuisible, and militant, in the epistles of S. Paul.,^a Peter.^b and booke of S. Iohns reuelations,^c also of the Church visible, and mixed with good and bad, by the parable of the sower.^d of the Marriage^e and of the Virgins,^f as also by the saying of our Sauiour Christ,^g* and of S. Paul.^h†

The Churches beare witnes hereunto.^‡

The Errors, and adversaries vnto this truth.

This truth hath many adversaries, whereof

Some renounce our Christ, the Sauiour of mankind; and so thinke his people are not the Church, as the Iewes, Turkes, and heretikes haue done.⁴

Some acknowledge no triumphing state of the godly in heauen, but dreame of an euer glorious condition in this world, as the Familie of Loue.⁵

Some thinke the church Catholike to be visible, as the Papists.⁶

Some imagine the Church militant is not visible at all, as the Libertines.

Some giue out, that the visible church is deuoid of sinne, and sinners, as did the Donatists,⁷ and doe the Anabaptists,⁸ Familie of Loue,⁹ Brownists,¹⁰ and Barroistes.¹¹

The proofe from Gods word.

When wee doe say that the Church is visible, inuisible; and that there is a Westerne, East, Greeke, Latine, English Church, wee meane not that there be diuers Churches of Christ, but that one, and the same Church is diuersly taken and vnderstood, and also hath many particular Churches, as the Sea many riuers, and armes, branching from it. For the visible Church is not many congregations, but one companie of the faithfull.

Wee being many are one Body in Christ, and euery one, one anothers members.ⁱ

Wee that are many, are one Bread, and one Body.^j

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, which is one, though they be many, yet are but one body: euen so is Christ. For by one spirit, are we all baptized into one body, &c. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members for your part.^k

For as wee haue many members in one body, and all members haue not the same office: so wee beeing many, are one body in Christ, and euery one, one anothers members.^l

There is neither Iewe, nor Grecian; there is neither bond, nor free; there is neither male, nor female; for yee are all one in Christ Iesus.^m

All Gods people agree with vs in this point.¹²

The Errors, and adversaries vnto this truth.

The adversaries vnto the 18. article, be also, for a great part, adversaries vnto this truth.

Furthermore, although it be acknowledged by many, and they too baptized for Christians, that there is but one Church: yet the same persons doe erre, which condemne so many (as no members of Christs church) which ioyne not with them in their singular, and priuate opinions, arrogating the stile, and title vnto themselues onely, and denying all other men to be either the Church, or members of the body of Christ. Such are

The Russeis, who boast, how themselues with the Grecians, are the onely Church of God.¹³ themselues onely are the men who shall be saued,¹⁴ all Christians beside themselues, are no better then Turkes.¹⁵

The Papists also which say, that

The present Church of Rome is Gods Church,¹⁶ Gods catholike church,¹⁷ the mysticall body of Christ;¹⁸ Papists, Catholikes, and true christians, are all one.¹⁹

Muncer, and the Anabaptists, tearmed themselues (cleane opposite to the church of Christ) the elect of God; and said that all other men were wicked, and worthie to be slaine.²⁰

The Familie of Loue, who publish how themselues onely are the Church, and all other men are Heathen,²¹ and Beastes,²² themselues onely are the Catholike Church of God,²³ the Saints of God, and his acceptable people,²⁴ and that such as are no Familists, they haue no liuing God,,²⁵ and shall perish.²⁶

The Puritanes finally they say,

If God haue any Church, or people in the land, no doubt the title (Puritane) is giuen them;²⁷ Notable wordes, either God hath no Church in England, or Puritanes are the Church.

The Marprelate is not afraide to vtter this speech.

They against whome I deale (namely the ecclesiasticall officers, as Bishops, and their fauourers, and partakers) haue so prouoked the anger of the Lord, and praiers of his Church, as stand long they cannot,²⁸ others, of the said Bishops, and the like, write thus, they bidde battell to Christ, and his Church, and it must bid defiance to them till they yeeld.²⁹

The proofe from Gods word.

The visible Church, properly vnderstood, is but a part of the Catholike: yet forasmuch as it is a Congregation of the faithfull, who are for calling, Gouernours, and subiects, noble and base: rich and poore: teachers, and learners: for sexe, men and women, for age, old and young, for nation, Iewes and Gentils, Grecians and Barbarians, for time and continuance, in all ages, euen from our first parents, it may rightly be called a Catholike Church.

This is groūded vpon Gods word, where wee finde that excluded is no calling,ⁿ³⁰ no sexe,^o31 none age,^p32 no nation,^q33 and that the Church, as it hath bin from the worldes beginning,^r so shall it continue to the end.^s

And this is the confession of the Churches.³⁴

Errors and Adversaries vnto this truth.

Vnsound be they in religion therefore which haue, and doe as it were tie the church to a certaine,³⁵ country, as the Donatists did to Africa a people, as the Iewes to themselues,³⁶ persons, place, calling, or time, as doe the Papists,

To certaine persons, when they say,

The Church is founded vpon Peter, and his successours.³⁷

All that will be saued, must of necessitie be subiect to the Bishop of Rome.³⁸

The true Church is vnited to the obedience of the Pope of Rome.³⁹

To a certaine place when they say

The Church of Rome is the Catholike Church.⁴⁰

The Church of Rome is the mother of the faith.⁴¹

To a certaine calling, by their Petrus a Soto, to Bishops, and Prelates.⁴²

To a certaine time, as when the said Papists affirme, how

The time was when holynes was onely in the virgine Mary,⁴³ when faith rested onely in the virgine Mary,⁴⁴ when all the faith was lost, saue onely in our Lady.⁴⁵

It is a bold assertion also, and very presumptuous of Apostata Hill, that in England al men were Papists without exception from the first Christening thereof, vntill the age of K. Henry the eight.⁴⁶

The proofe from Gods word.

Forasmuch as the visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of men (either in the eies of God, or in the iudgement of the godly) faithfull, it followeth, that the word of God must be afore the Church for time, as likewise for authoritie. For time, because Gods word is the Seede, the faithfull the Corne,^t and the Children,^u Gods worde is the Rocke, or foundation,^v the faithfull, the House.^w

For authoritie also the word is before the Church; because the voice of the Church is the voice of man, who hath erred, and may erre from the truth: but the voice of the word, is Gods voice,^x who cannot deceiue, nor be deceiued.

Of this iudgement be the Churches reformed.⁴⁷

Aduersaries vnto this truth.

This maketh to the strengthning of vs against those Popish assertions of Vignerinus, and such like, viz. that the Church was before the word, for time, and is aboue the word, for authoritie.⁴⁸

The proofe from Gods word.

There is the visible Church of Christ, where the word of God sincerely is preached; and the Sacraments instituted by our Sauiour, are duly administred.

Hence is it that our Lord, and Sauiour calleth them his mother, and his brethren, which heare the word of God, and doe it,^y and saith, Hee that is of God, heareth Gods word:^z also, My sheepe heare my voice,^aa and how shall they heare without a preacher, saith S. Paul.^bb

Likewise the Apostle S. Iohn.

He that knoweth God heareth vs, he that is not of God, heareth vs not:^cc Again, they are of the world, therefore speake they of the world, and the world heareth them.^dd49

And touching the Sacraments, first of Baptisme.

Goe therfore, & teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, teaching them to obserue all things, whatsoeuer I haue commanded you.^ee

Wee haue bin baptized into Iesus Christ,^ff yee are washed, yee are sanctified.^gg

By one Spirit are wee all baptized into one Body.^hh

Next of the Lords supper.

The Lord Iesus in the night that hee was betraied tooke bread, and when he had giuen thankes he brake it, and said, take eate, this is my body, which is broken for you, this doe in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he tooke the cup, when he had Supped, saying, This is the new Testament in my blood, this do as oft as yee drinke it, in remembrance of mee.ⁱⁱ

The Christians in all reformed churches acknoledge these things.⁵⁰

Some (and they also many of them very godly men) adde ecclesiasticall Discipline for a note of the visible Church. But because the said Discipline in part is included in the markes here mentioned, both wee, and in effect, all other well ordered Churches, ouer passe it in this place, as no token simply of the visible Church.

Neither tie wee the Church so strictly to the signes articulate, that wee thinke all those to be without the Church, and no Christians, which neither doe heare the word ordinarily & publikely read, and preached, nor participate in the Sacraments, if so be they would, and yet can neither heare the one, nor receiue the other, as it falleth out sometimes, especially in the times of blindenesse and persecution.

The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth.

Wee renounce therefore, as altogether vnsound, & Antichristian, the opinions,

1. Of the Papists, who both denie the pure preaching of Gods word, and the administration of the Sacraments among Protestants, to be the markes of Christ his visible Church,⁵¹ and affirme the tokens hereof to be antiquitie, Vnitie, Vniuersality, Succession, &c. as doth Stapleton,⁵² Bristow,⁵³ Bozius,⁵⁴ Hill,,⁵⁵ and Alabaster.⁵⁶

2. Of the Brownists, who make discipline (and that too of their owne deuising) such an essentiall argument of the visible Church, as they thinke, where that is not, the magistrates there be Tyrants, the ministers false prophets: No Church of God is, Antichristianitie doth raigne.⁵⁷

3. Of the same Brownists, and Barrowists, who neither allow frequenting of sermons, and ministring of the Sacraments, nor haue any Sacraments administred among themselus.⁵⁸

4. Of the Familie of Loue, which haue in vtter contempt, and derision both the Preachers, and the Sacraments, scornefully tearming the Preachers, Scripture learned men,⁵⁹ Ceremoniall, and Letre Doctors,⁶⁰ and the water at Baptisme, Elementish water.⁶¹

Neither doe wee approoue them, who for these visible, and externall, put downe inuisible, and spirituall tokens of the visible Church, as Faith in Christ Iesus, and Loue towards the Saintes, which thing I. K. doth.⁶²

The proofe from Gods word.

Had not this bin most true, it had neuer bin auouched both by our Sauiour Christ, and S. Paul.

Our Sauiour saith vnto his disciples concerning doctrine, Take heede &c.^jj Beleeue it not,^kk63

Beware of the leauen of the Pharisies, and of the leauen of Herod;^ll euen of the doctrine of the Pharisies, and Sadduces.^mm

Many shall be deceiued,ⁿⁿ yea the very elect, if it were possible.^oo64

Shall he finde faith on earth?^pp

And concerning conuersation, and manners, hee prophecied, that iniquitie shall be encreased, and the loue of many shall be cold.^qq

S. Paul writeth touching doctrine, that

Wee knowe in part.^rr

Antichrist sitteth in the temple of God,^ss &c. whose comming is by the working of Satan, with all power, and signes, & lying wonders, and in all deceiueablenes, among them that perish beuause they receiued not the loue of the truth, that they might be saued; and therefore God shall send them strong delusion, that they should beleeue lies.^tt65

Beware of dogs: beware of euill workes, beware of concision.^uu

And touching conuersation,

Restore, &c. least thou also be tempted.^vv

I doe not the good thing, which I would, but the euill which I would not, that doe I, If I doe that I would not, it is no more I that doe it, but the sinne that dwelleth in mee.^ww

There is a fight euen in the best men, and members of.^xx66

Besides, that Churches visible, and glorious haue erred, it appeareth euidently by the superstitiō, heresies, yea and Atheisme nowe raigning at Hierusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch.

This with vs the Churches in their, confessions do acknowledge.⁶⁷

Errors, & adversaries vnto this truth.

The premises will not be graunted for true, neither by the Papists, which maintaine that in faith & doctrine, the church, meaning thereby the visible Church,⁶⁸ whose Rector is the Pope of Rome,⁶⁹ neuer erreth,⁷⁰ neuer hath erred,⁷¹ and neuer can erre.⁷² Nor yet by these which say the Church cannot erre for manners, such were the Donatists, and are the Anabaptists, with the Familie of Loue.⁷³

The proofe.

Iustly is the church of Rome condemned of vs, and all churches reformed, because shee hath erred, and still very badly euery way doth offend.

1. In life. For.

At Rome the harlot hath a better life▪

Then shee that is a Romanes wife.⁷⁴ O Roma, à Roma quantum mutata, vetusta es? Nunc caput es scelerum, quae caput orbis eras.

If yee spell Roma backeward (saith I. Bale,) yee shall finde it to be Amor, Loue in this prodigious kind. For it is a preposterous Amor,⁷⁵ Loue out of kinde.⁷⁶ Hence the Pasquil poets: Roma quid est? Quod te docuit praeposterus ordo. Quid docuit? Iungas versa elementa, scies. Roma: Amor est, Amor est? qualis? Praeposterus. Vnde hoc? Roma mares, Noli dicere plura, scio.

Againe: Roma vale; vidi: satis est vidisse. Reuertar, Cùm Leno, aut meretrix, Scurra, cynadus ero.

2. In ceremonies, which are for number, infinite. Gerson writeth, how diuers men haue runne into desperation; others haue killed themselues, finding that they were not able to keepe, and performe the ceremonies of the Romish church.⁷⁷

For vse a so they are vaine, and impious, as their leading vp and downe of an Asse on Palme Sunday, their battering of hel; ther buriall of the Crosse, &c. yea, and damnable, because Romish ceremonies are held both necessarily to be obserued, as well as the lawes of God,⁷⁸ and also to merit heauen. For sinnes veniall (say the Rhemists) be taken away by sacred ceremonies.⁷⁹

3. In doctrine. For proofe hereof, see the popish errors in euery article almost, if not proposition of this booke.

Againe looke wee vnto the heads of the Antichristian synagogue, and wee shall finde that of them.

Some haue bin Coniurers, Sorcerers, and Inchanters, as were Pope Martin 2. Siluester the 2. and third, Benedict 8. Iohn. 19.20.21. Sergius 4. Gregorie 6. and 7. and such were all the Popes (euen 18. for number) from Siluester the second vntill Gregorie the seuenth.⁸⁰

Some Heretikes. For Siricius, Calixtus, Leo 9, and Paschalis condemned the marriage of Preists; Liberius was an Arrian; Marcellinus, an Idolater; Honorius a Monothelite.⁸¹

Iohn the 22, held many errors, whereof W. Occam wrote a booke,⁸² one wherof was that the soules of the wicked should not be punished, till the day of iudgement,⁸³

Pope Iohn the 23. denied the soules immortalitie.⁸⁴

And some worldly, prophane, and deuilish Atheists. For Sixtus 4. builded a Male stewes.⁸⁵

Paul 3. receiued a monethly pension for 45000. whoores at Rome.⁸⁶

Leo the 10. made a Fable of the Gospell of Christ.⁸⁷

Hence it proceeded, that

Rome hath bin called Babylon, both by S. Augustine,⁸⁸ and Hierome,⁸⁹ and by Pope Pius S. was said Magis gentilizare, quam Christianizare: rather to gentilize: or to be a citie of Heathens, rather then of Christians.⁹⁰

S. Bernard said how the Romanes in his time were hatefull vnto heauen and earth, yea and hurtfull vnto both, wicked against God; rash against holy things, and seditious among themselues.⁹¹

Genebrard (himselfe an Antichristian Romanist) writeth that 50. Popes successiuely, & within the space of 150. yeares, departed from the virtue of their Elders, and shewed themselues Abiurers of Christianitie, and Apostataes, rather then catholike Bishops,⁹²

The Pope was proclaimed Antichrist at Rhemes by the Councell there, vnder Hugh Capet.⁹³

Errors & Adversaries to this truth.

What the Papists are then it appeareth, whose doctrine (as hath bin shewen) is, that the church of Rome neither hath, nor can erre,

Erraverunt aliae ecclesiae (saith Di. Stella) other churches, as of Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople &c. haue erred, sed nunquam ecclesia Romana, but the church of Rome neuer yet erred.⁹⁴

Id constanter negamus (saith Costerus the Iesuit) we constantly deny, that christ his Vicars & Peters successors, the Bishops of Rome haue either taught heresies, or can propound errors.⁹⁵

God preserueth the truth of christian religion in the Apostolike sea of Rome,⁹⁶ and It is not possible that the church (meaning the church of Rome) can erre or hath erred at any time, in any point, say the Rhemists.⁹⁷