The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. XXIII. Concerning the Church of Christ in generall.

BEcause the Church of Christ, which is his body, is known to

consist of such as by the bond of the holy Spirit are knit unto him, as members unto their head; And a∣gain, the word and the Sacraments are the means by which men are knit unto Christ, and these means no where to be had but in the Church; And further, whosoever are endued with the gifts and graces of Hope, Charitie, Repentance, Studie and care to exercise good works, do be∣long unto the Church: Therefore we judge it worth the pains, to de∣clare what is our belief concerning the Church, especially seeing that there be very great controversies about this article above all the rest. And first we will speak of the Church of Christ in generall: and so we make confession of our faith with all the Church. Afterwards we will speak in speciall of the Church Militant, and what pertaineth thereunto.

DOCTRINE I. An Article of faith concerning the Church out of the Apostles Creed.

WE believe the holy Catholike Church, the communion of Saints.

DOCT. II. What we understand by the name of the Church, and the description thereof.

BY the name of Christs Church we understand a certain number and companie known unto God, both of Angells, and Men which are not one∣ly predestinated and elected to have perpetuall communion with Christ, and mutually one with another, as also to worship the true God perpe∣tually according to his will and com∣mandment, and to love one another with sincere and perpetuall love and charitie; but are also in time effe∣ctually called by the holy Spirit out of the number of others, and neerely united unto Christ, and so true Saints indeed: begun from the foun∣dation of the world, and by a con∣tinuall succession even unto these times gathered together and conti∣nued by the bond of the holy Spirit; and to be continued even unto the end of the world, yea to all eternitie: in part already triumphing with Christ in the heavens, and in part as yet militant on earth for Christ, with

sundry enemies, preaching and hear∣ing the word of the Gospell, admi∣nistring and receiving the holy Sacra∣ments, and in publike and private looking to the observing & keeping of Christs commandments.

DOCT. III. That the Church is a companie consisting of many.

THat the Church is a companie consisting of many, and as it were a body compounded of divers mem∣bers, we are taught in holy Scripture; where it is calleda 1.1 the body of Christ which is distinguished by di∣uers members; as alsob 1.2 a flock of sheep, and the Kingdome of God, andc 1.3 a Citie, which consisteth of divers Citizens; and by other such like names.

DOCT▪ IV. That the Church consists onely of the elect which are already incorpo∣rated into Christ.

ANd that these many, whereof the Church consisteth, are none other but the elect, which are alrea∣dy

ingrafted into Christ, and endued with sanctitie from him, we are like∣wise taught abundantly out of the said holy Scripture, both in other places, and especially in the Epistle to the Ephesians, where the Apostle speaking of the Church and the members thereof, saith that we area 1.4 chosen in Christ,b 1.5 to have redem∣ption in him;c 1.6 being sealed with that holy Spirit of promise:d 1.7 that Christ was given to be the head over all things to the Church, and e that the Church is his body. Such a body therefore it is, whose members are every one, by one and the same Spi∣rit both knit unto Christ their head; and likewise one together with ano∣ther: from their head they receive life, and from him they are endued with sanctitie, so that the whole bo∣dy of the Church is truely holy, and therefore is called the holy Church.

DOCT. V. That the holy Angells are not excluded from the body of the Church.

ANd yet from this body of Christ, which is the holy Church, we do* 1.8

not exclude the Angells; and that for these reasons following.a 1.9 1. Be∣cause the Apostle speaking expresse∣ly and plainly of the Church, in∣cludeth therein even the Angells al∣so. 2.b 1.10 Because they together with us under one and the same head, which is Christ, are gathered to∣gether into one body; and Christ is manifestly by the Apostle called the head of the Angells. 3.c 1.11 Because they call themselves our fellow servants, and have with us the same Father, and worship the same God; and we are all to be together for ever in the same Citied 1.12 the heavenly Ierusa∣lem. 4. And lastly, Because they are holy. And the Church is the com∣munion of all Saints.

DOCT. VI. That reprobates and hypocrites, al∣though they be in the Church, yet they are not of the Church.

WE therefore upon good grounds do believe and professe that re∣probates and hypocrites, although they have their dwelling in the

Church, and converse with the Saints, yet they are not of the Church, nor any members thereof; forasmuch as they are not truely uni∣ted unto Christ the Head, nor en∣dued with his Spirit, and therefore not truely holy: For the Apostle St. Iohn speaking of certain hypo∣crites saith thus,a 1.13 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. They are not therefore of the Church, whosoever do at length revolt from Christ, and not retain perpetuall communion with Christ and with all the Saints: howsoever they may for a time seeme great & worthy men in the Church, either bearing rule and authoritie in a Christian Commonwealth, or being set over the whole Church. For they are the members of Satan and not of Christ, whosoever have not the Spirit of Christ, but of Antichrist.

DOCT. VII. That the Church of Christ alwayes was and is but one onely.

ANd we confesse that the Church of Christ alwayes was and is

one onely: because the body where∣unto Christ was given by his Father to be the Head thereof, alwayes was and is buta 1.14 one; one onely Spirit, whereby all the members of the body have their connexion together with the Head;b 1.15 One onely God, to worship whom and to glorifie him for ever, we are all elected and called;c 1.16 one faith of all believers, one salvation, and one celestiall inheritance: in regard whereof Christ alwayes called his Church one, and his flock one. We do not therefore make the Church which was from the begin∣ning of the world, and before the coming of Christ, to be another from that which now is, and ever shall be even to the end of the world; but we hold it to be one at all times and in all places and of all persons truely joyned unto Christ. And therefore we say that the communion of all Saints is one; and we are perswaded out of holy Scripture that whosoever do make a finall revolt or departure therefrom, they do not belong unto this one body.

DOCT. VIII. That there is but one Head of the Church, to wit, Iesus Christ.

FRom hence are we confirmed in the faith, that, seeing the Church of Christ, which is his body, is but one, therefore the Head thereof is and alwayes was but one. Now by the name of Head we understand him, who from the beginning of the world was by God given unto the Church to this end, that he should be at length made partaker of the same nature with it, and redeem it, and closely unite it unto himself, and quicken it, and illuminate it with the splendour of his wisdome, and inflame it with the ardent heat of divine love, and effectually move it unto all good desires and good works, and perpetually guide, governe, and preserve it. For be∣sides dayly experience in nature, we are caught it out of the holy Scri∣pture, that these are the proper ope∣rations of the Head in respect of the body. But we acknowledge none that doth or can perform these for

the Church besides Iesus Christ: not denying in the mean time, but there may be one head of all the hypo∣crites which are in the Church, and consequently of a hypocriticall Church it self; forasmuch as the Prophets did foretell thus much, and the Apostles also have confirmed it. But we believe and confesse with the holy Apostles that thea 1.17 Head of the true Church is but one onely, to wit, Iesus Christ.

DOCT. IX. That this Church is truely holy.

FRom whence also it followes, that this Church is truely holy, and that for these reasons. 1. Because it hath a most holy and sanctifying Head. 2. Because no sins are impu∣ted to it. 3. Because from the Head it drawes the Spirit of Sanctification. 4. Because, whatsoever sanctitie is in the Head, all the same is impu∣ted to every particular member.

DOCT. X. That the Church is also truely Catholike.

WE confesse also, that it is truely Catholike, that is, Universall: Because the Head thereof is Catho∣like and eternall; at all times from the foundations of the world even unto the end thereof, out of all sorts of men, and nations, and places, gathering and knitting unto himself the members of the body, and go∣verning', guiding, and preserving them unto himself unto eternall hap∣pinesse.

DOCT. XI. That this one onely Church is partly Triumphant in the heavens, and partly Militant on the earth.

BUt yet we acknowledge, that this Church, although it be and for ever hath been but one onely, yet it is so distinguished, that one part thereof is Triumphant in heaven to∣gether with Christ who was raised from the dead, and now sitteth at the

right hand of the Father; and the other part on earth, fighting still with flesh and bloud, with the world, and with the devil. From whence is received amongst all the godly that distinction of the Church into Triumphant and Militant.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Eph. 1.23.
• b 1.2

  Iohn 10.3, &c.
• c 1.3

  Heb. 11.10.
• a 1.4

  Ephes. 1.4.
• b 1.5

  7.
• c 1.6

  13.
• d 1.7

  22.
• * 1.8

  23.
• a 1.9

  Heb. 12.22.
• b 1.10

  Eph. 1.10. Coloss. 2.10.
• c 1.11

  Rev. 22.9.
• d 1.12

  Heb. 12.22.
• a 1.13

  1 Ioh. 2.19.
• a 1.14

  ••ph. 4.4.
• b 1.15

  6.
• c 1.16

  5.
• a 1.17

  Eph. 1.22.4.15.5.23. Col 1.18.