Ecclesia enucleata: The temple opened: Or, A clear demonstration of the true gospel-church in its nature and consitution, according to the true doctrine and practice of Christ and his apostles. By I.C.

CHAP. V. Of the Catholick Visible Church.

THose that speak of a Catho∣lick Visible Church, speak some at one rate, and some at ano∣ther.

If they mean that the Catholick Church is Visible in the largest sence, as such, we deny it; for it is not visible to us, nor can be, till all the Elect are called in, and so must be onely at the General Assembly and Church of the First-born; for at present the most eminent part of it is triumphant; many true Believ∣ers that are militant, not seen or known to us: And so to say the Catholick Church is Visible, is to set our words and sences at vari∣ance.

By Catholick Visible, some will say they mean not the whole Uni∣versal Church, but so much of it as is visible; but this cannot, for that reason, have the denomination of Catholick Church, because its but a very small part of it, and part cannot be called the whole; besides if it be limited to the Visible Saints militant, I say the universality of them are never visible; either in any congregation, or in communion of any Ordinance, or under any Vi∣sible Pastoral Jurisdiction; neither are the particular Members of the Church militant visible at the same time, there being no such time when all true Believers are known by their visible Profession.

Some understand by the Catholick Visible Church, an Organized Church with a visible Pastoral Head, and furnished with Officers suiting a Catholick Ruling Power over all Churches and Saints on Earth; and

this is the meaning alwayes of the Papists when they speak of the Ca∣tholick Church, calling themselves Catholicks as Members of it, which Church they say, Rome is, wherein this universal Pastor and Jurisdi∣ction is placed.

But it is by a cloud of Witnesses asserted that Christ never Ordained any universal visible Pastor, nor ever promoted Peter above the rest of the Apostles, neither did ever the greatest contender for the Popes Headship, and Supremacy over all other Pastors and Churches, ever make seeming fair proof of it, for though he sent sorth his Apostles as extraordinary Officers, with an extraordinary presence for working Miracles, and healing, in order to the first propagating the Gospel, and Plantation of Churches, yet they had but a co-ordinate power, nei∣ther were they fixed as standing and lasting Officers in the Church,

neither was their Apostolick pow∣er conveyed to any Successors, but dyed with them, leaving only ordinary Officers in the Church. Lastly, can you read the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 any where to import in the New Testament, a Church of this nature, viz. a Catholick Visible Organized Church. Christ ra∣ther pofitively forbad it, and re∣proved that spirit of Ambition; that was one thing that our Savi∣our saw working in them, labour∣ing to be Dignitaries; But he that will be chief among you, let him be your Servant, Mat. 20.17. & 23.11.10.24, 25. Which Reprimand the Mother of Zebedee's children recei∣ved, when she enquired who should be greatest among her children.

There are six or seven sorts of Churches in the latter dayes that entitle themselves the Churches of Christ, which the Gospel makes no mention of, viz. Catholick Orga∣nized

Visible, such the Church of Rome, Patriarchal, National, Provincial, Diocesan, Archdeconary, Parochial. These seem to be the seven women spoken of, Isa. 4.1. that shall take hold of one man [The Lord Jesus Christ] Saying we will eat our own bread, and wear our own Apparel, on∣ly let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach. They will have the name of Christ, that they may not be Reproached as the Churches of Antichrist, and yet will be at their own provision for Worship and Ordinances by humane inven∣tions. But for all this, tho' these whorish women make a shift by a common vogue to carry the name of the True Gospel Churches throughout the world, his True Spouse, though small and contemp∣tible as to outward appearance, shall be glorious, ver. 2. In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the

earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel, ver. 3. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion [in that great Aposta∣cy] and he that remaineth in Jerusa∣lem shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. See what follows from ver. 4. to the end.

This I take to be the true mean∣ing of that place; for 1. Women in the Prophetick phrase are Churches, as frequent instances may be given. 2. The number may be definite for an indefinite. 3. The Prophecy is manifestly of the latter dayes, and the Churches state therein, which none will deny.