Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572

The. vj. Question.

Whether they do beleeue that the christian Church is not only visible, but also inuisible?

The Answere.

IT behoueth in this place to vse some distinction. For the congregation of the saincts which are in heauen (althogh we be∣hold them with-the eies of our faith, & desire to be coupled with thē in the rest & ioy which they possesse) yet are they inuisible to the faithfull which liue here on the earth touching the bodily sight. Furthermore, ••ith God alone knoweth the harts, & that he on∣ly knoweth who are faythfull, and who not, and bicause many doo boste them selues to bée faythefull, whiche not∣withstanding are nothing so, but are mere hipocrites, which thing none séeth but God alone, yea and bycause many tymes men iudge those to be wretched ••inners, and abiectes from God, which

yet neuerthelesse are not separated frō him, but are better affected in their heart towards God than we doo know, and are also knowne to him only: ther∣fore in respect hereof also the church of Chryst is called inuisible. Agayne by∣cause the vniuersall churche of Chryst can neuer be gathered togither that we may wholly see it before the la••••e day and iudgemente of our Lorde Jesus Chryst, it is also called inuisible. But she is not called inuisible, as though s••e were not at all: for we doo willingly confesse, that vpon this earth the church of Chryst is visible also. For it is eui∣dent that the congregations of the Co∣rinthians▪ Ephesians, Philippians. &c. are called of Paule the church, and we know also that euery one of those faith∣full in those churches were visible, al∣thogh yet neuerthelesse y^e spirit & those spiritual gifts which they had were in∣uisible, but when they shewed foorthe them selues by the exercises of sundry vertues. But what needed this questiō? Or what profite cōmeth thereby to the faythful? Truly it tendeth ••o th•••• e••de:

the Popes and Prelates desire to bée accompted the visible Church, and here∣by would fayne haue all power and authoritie to bée conueyed ouer vnto them.