The Art of catechising, or, The compleat catechist in four parts ...

IX. ARTICLE. I believe in the Holy Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints,

THE meaning is: I do freely profess to believe, That Jesus Christ did, by the Preaching of the Apostles, gather unto himself a Church, consisting of Thousands of beliving Persons, to which he dai∣ly added such as should be saved, and will succes∣sively and daily add to the same, to the End of the World. That this Catholick (that is, Universal) Church, is the Corporation, or general Family of all true Believers: Or, that Body or Society of Persons that profess Christ and his Gospel; and is governed and continued under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called to that Office; by whom the Word and Sa∣craments are duly Preached, and administer'd un∣der Christ their Head.

I firmly believe this Church of Christ to be One, Holy, and Catholick. One, in respect of our Faith; One, in respect of the Sacraments; One, in respect

of being guided and directed by the same Spirit; One, in respect of One and the same Head, Christ Jesus; and One, in respect of the same Hope of Glory and Immortality. Holy, in respect of its Head, the Holy Jesus; Holy, by baptismal Dedication; Holy, in respect of its Design and End; Holy, in respect of the Holy Offices performed in it, all which tend to produce Holiness; and Holy, in respect of its Calling, Profession and Hope. Catholick, in respect of that Catholick Faith, Truth, and Doctrine which it teaches. Catholick, or Universal, in respect of that Universal Obedience, which it obligeth all Men to. Catholick, in respect of time, that is, it shall universally be continued to all Ages to the End of the World. Catholick, or Universal, because 'tis made up of all the particular Churches in the World. Catholick, in respect of that universal War, which it always is to hold against all its Ghostly Enemies. Catholick, or Universal in this Sense, that it is not limitted or confined to one Nation, as the Church of the Jews was, but by the Command and Ap∣pointment of Christ, to be spread abroad, and ga∣thered from all Nations under Heaven.

I believe, That of this Catholick Church, part is on Earth, and part in Heaven; that is, the Saints de∣parted are the triumphant part of the Church; and all true Believers, Lovers and Obeyers of Jesus, are the Church Militant.

And, as I ever desire to be a Member of this Holy Catholick Church, so I believe there is and ought to be a Communion of the Saints in it; that is, a Society or Fellowship one with another, in all Holy Things: As all Saints on Earth, or all true Believers, have in common One God, One Christ, One Holy Spirit; One Lord, One Faith, One Bap∣tism: So, I believe they ever did and ought to keep

up a Holy Fellowship or Society with each other, in all the common Christian offices and duties, in Faith, in professing the Gospel, in hearing the Word, in receiving the Sacraments, in Charity and doing good to each other, and in all common Christian offices of Piety and Devotion. And I ful∣ly am perswaded that while the Saints, or true Be∣lievers on Earth do thus stedfastly keep up this Communion with each other in all holy things; in Faith, and Worship, Love and Obedience, they all have a Communion or Fellowship with the Blessed Trinity, with the holy Angels, and with the Saints departed.

So that as I am a member of Christ's Catholick or Universal Church, so I ever desire to keep Commu∣nion or Fellowship with them in all Holy Things, and that as Christ is our Common Head, and we his Members, and I never withdrawing my self from this Communion; so, my Faith may be accepted with theirs; my Prayers offered up with theirs; my profession of the Gospel may appear with theirs; my Duty, Love, and Obedience may be accepted with theirs, in the Day of the Lord Jesus. And thus I believe the Holy Catholick Church, the Communion of Saints.