the last day. And, secondly, as upon the same grounds we do also farther believe, that in all the ages yet come, to the end of the world, Christ shall continue to have a church upon earth; so that no power of men, or malice of the devil, shall ever be able utterly to root it out, or to destroy it.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Luke, xx. 38. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. 1 Cor. xv. 22, 23. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, they that are Christ's at his coming. 1 Thess. iv. 13, 15. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others, which have no hope. For, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

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Matt. xvi. 18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. xxviii. 20. Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

5. Q. How can a society, consisting of such different members, and those at so great a distance, both in time and place, from one another, yet all together make but one church?

A. Because how different soever the members of this church may otherwise seem to be; yet they are all united together under one head, the Lord Jesus: are * sanctified and ruled by the same Holy Spirit: are endued with the same love to God, and towards one another: * live by the same laws: *profess the

same faith: *partake of the same sacraments: *have the same hope of salvation set before them: worship the same God, by the same advocate and Saviour, Jesus Christ: and (as to what concerns all the true and lively members of this society,) * shall one day be gathered together into one actual place, and portion: in the glorious kingdom of God for ever.

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PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Acts, ii. 41, 46. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and with singleness of heart. Rom. xii. 4, 5. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Cor. x. 17. For we, being many, are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. xii. 27, 28. Now, ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Eph. iv. 3, 4, 5, &c. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead: that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.

Heb. xii. 23. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels ;

to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men, made perfect.

6. Q. Wherefore do you give this church the title of Catholic?

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A. Upon several accounts, but chiefly these two: first, to distinguish it from the Jewish church, which was confined to a certain people, and was to continue but for a certain time; whereas the Christian church takes in all mankind; and is to last to the end of the world. Psalm ii. 8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Acts, x. 34, 35. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Mark, xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. Luke, xxiv. 47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free.

And, secondly, to shew that in this Creed, which comprehends what is to be believed by all Christians, we profess not our faith of any one particular church; which may cease, and fail, (such as the church of

England, or church of Rome,") but of the catholic, or universal church of Christ; as that which shall never fail; and to which alone the promises of God belong.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.- Psalm 1xxvi. 1, 2. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. cxlvii. 19, 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation.

Matt. xvi. 18. I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 7. Q. May not any one particular church be called the catholic church?

A. No, it may not; any more than London may be called England, or England, the whole world. The catholic church is the universal church; and that neither ours, nor any other particular church is; nor whilst there are more such Christian churches in the world, can be. But a catholic church, a particular church may be called: and such ours is; though that of Rome, I doubt, will hardly be able to make a good pretension to this title, any more than to the other.

8. Q. Do you make a difference then between a catholic church and the catholic church?

A. There is certainly a wide difference between them. The catholic church is, as I before said, the whole church. But a catholic church implies no

more than a sound part of it; a church in communion with the catholic church of Christ, in opposition to the conventicles of heretics and schismatics, who, whatsoever they may pretend, are really no parts of the catholic church, nor shall be considered by Christ as such.

9. Q. Whom do you account heretics and schismatics? and how does it appear that they are not parts of the catholic church?

A. The catholic church being that church, which was at the first planted by Christ and his apostles, and has continued ever since to teach the same doctrine which it received from them; it is evident that no heretic can be a true member of it: because those only are heretics who deny or disbelieve that faith which Christ and his apostles delivered to this church. And that not in some lesser points, but in the most necessary and fundamental articles of it. Now those who do this can never be true members of that church whose doctrine they not only do not receive, but reject: and who, by their errors, destroy that very faith by which alone they can be intitled to the character either of true disciples, or sound members of Christ's church.

10. Q. But why may not schismatics be accounted true members of Christ's church?

A. Because they forsake and cut themselves off from the communion of the catholic church. Now, it is a contradiction to say, that those should continue members of the catholic church, who, by their own voluntary departure from it, have renounced the communion of it.

11. Q. Do you look upon the church of England to be a true part of the catholic church?