A DISCOURSE

ON THE

HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH.

COLOSSIANS i. 18.

And he is the head of the body, the Church.

It is certain that the word church has different meanings in the sacred scriptures. Sometimes it denotes a particular assembly, or company of christians in one house. Sometimes, a society of christians in the same town, or province. Again, it comprehends the whole body of God's people, from the beginning of the world to the consummation of all things. And this, let me say, is the only sense, in which it

* Rom. xvi. 5. Col. iv. 15. Philem. 2.

Acts viii. 1. ix. 31. 1 Cor. i. 2. xvi. 1, 19. 2 Cor. viii. 1. Gal. i. 2. 1 Thess. i. 1. Rev. i. 4.

B

can properly be termed the body of Christ,—the body, of which he, in his mediatorial character, is the head. It is the people, called forth from the rest of the world, the church, which God has purchased with his own blood, and for which Christ gave himself," that he might

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sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of "water by the word, that he might present it to "himself a glorious church, not having spot, or "wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should "be holy and without blemish." "What"soever we read in scripture" (declares the venerable Hooker) "concerning the endless love " and saving mercy which God showeth towards "his church, the only proper object thereof is "this church. Concerning this flock it is, that

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our Lord and Saviour hath promised, I give "unto them eternal life, and they shall never

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perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my "hands. John x. 28." Eccles. Pol. B. iii.

The order, proposed in the following dis

*Rom. i. 7. Acts xx. 28. Eph. v. 26, 27.

course, is, first, to define the true church of God; secondly, to state the scriptural authority, on which this article of the creed is founded; and, lastly, to make such a practical application of the subject, as, under the divine blessing, may not be without its use and benefit.

I. Definition. It may therefore be observed, that the true church of God consists of believers, who have been no less inwardly than outwardly called into it. They have been outwardly called by the sincere preaching of God's word, and by the right administration of the sacraments; and inwardly, by the efficacy of the spirit of God; thus becoming an holy church, hating sin, and striving after holiness. Moreover, they are a Catholic Church; they are persons of all conditions, dispersed throughout the world, and of all times and ages. Of this holy Catholic Church, many of its members are in a state of felicity; they have gone to their rest, and their works do follow them: while others, seen perhaps only by the eye of God, are now upon the earth. The one part are the saints departed;

the other, faithful men and women, who are still living.

And what blessed and glorious privileges, my beloved brethren, belong to God's true church,his holy Catholic Church! Blessed is the communion of saints,-that sweet fellowship of the real members of the church unto Christ its head, and, through him, unto God the father. 1 John i. 3. As members of the same glorious body, they are moved and governed by one spirit, and have fellowship, one with another. And this fellowship (be it remembered) reaches not only to the church militant here on earth, but even to the church triumphant, to the saints that are in heaven. Hence the christian, the child of God,-* exclaims, "I do thankfully acknow

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ledge all the benefits received from the com"munion of saints. I believe them to be such

* John xvii. 21. Eph. ii. 20. v. 30. Matt. xxv. 34, 46. x. 40, 42. Eph. iv. 4-6 comp. John xv. 1-8, Rom. xii. 1 John iii. 14. Isai. xi, 6-9. James v. 16. Heb. x. 24, 35. Gal. vi. 1. Rom. xv. 26. Rev. vi. 10, 11. 1 Thess. iv. 15. Phil iii. 20. 2 Cor. v. 2.