Since it appeareth that the Church of Christ, which is His body, doth consist of those which are coupled unto Him by the bond of the Holy Ghost as members to their Head, and it is manifest that the gospel and sacraments, with which as with instruments men are knit unto Christ, are not administered but in the church--and that all which are endowed with a true faith in Christ, with hope, love, repentance, and care to do good works do pertain unto the church. Therefore we think it a thing worth the labor to declare what our faith is concerning the church, the rather because about this article chiefly there are so great controversies. And first of all of Christ's Church in general, so with the whole church itself do we make confession of our faith, and purpose afterwards to speak severally of the militant church, and the things thereunto pertaining.

I. The article of faith concerning the church out of the Apostles' Creed.

We believe the holy catholic church; the communion of saints.

II. What we mean by the name of the church and the description thereof.

By the name of Christ's Church, we understand a certain number and company well known to God both of angels and men, not only chosen and predestinated to have a perpetual communion with Christ, and among themselves, and to serve the true God according to His will and commandment, and to love among themselves mutually with a perpetual and sincere love--but also of those which in their time shall be effectually and by the Holy Spirit called out of the number of others and joined to their Head Christ, and so truly made saints. Which number was begun from the first creation, and gathered and continued in a perpetual line, and band of the Holy Ghost, and to be continued to the end of the world, yea, to all eternity. And partly already triumphing in heaven with Christ, and partly yet on earth, warring with many enemies for Christ, preaching and hearing the Word of the gospel, ministering and receiving the sacraments, and taking care that the commandments of Christ's may be kept, as well publicly as privately.

III. The church is a company consisting of many.

For the Scriptures teach us that the church is a company consisting of many, as a body compact of many members, calling the same the body of Christ (Eph. 1:23); a flock of sheep (John 10:3), and the kingdom of God, and a city consisting of many citizens (Heb. 11:10), and such other like names.

IV. The church consisteth only of the elect, already incorporate into Christ.

Now that these many of whom the church consisteth are none but elect, already ingrafted into Christ, and endowed with Christ's holiness, the same Scriptures do plentifully teach, both in other places and chiefly to the Ephesians, where the apostle, speaking of the church and the members thereof, saith we are all chosen in Christ and have redemption in Him, and are "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1). That Christ is given to be the Head of the Church, and the Church is His body. It is therefore such a body whereof all the members are joined by the same spirit, both to the Head Christ, and among themselves, and are quickened or have life from the Head, and are endowed with His holiness. So that this whole body is truly holy, and called the Holy Church.

V. The holy angels are not excluded from the body of the church.

Neither from this body of Christ, which is the Holy Church, do we exclude the angels, both because the apostle speaking plainly of the church comprehendeth the angels therein, and also because they with us are likewise gathered into our body, under one and the same Head Christ, and Christ is expressly called of the apostle the Head of the angels (Heb. 12:22; Eph. 1:10; Col. 2:10). Yea, and also because they call themselves our fellow servants (Rev. 22:9), and have the same father with us and serve the same God, and we all of us shall be forever together in the same city, the heavenly Jerusalem. Lastly, they are also saints, and the church is the communion of all saints.

VI. The reprobate hypocrites, though they are in the church, yet they are not of the church.

So we rightly believe and confess that the reprobate hypocrites, though they dwell in the church and live among the saints, yet they are not of the church, nor members of the church, when they are not truly joined to the Head Christ, nor endowed with His Spirit, and consequently not truly saints. As the apostle John saith of certain hypocrites, they are gone out from us (as filth from the body) "but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would...have continued with us" (1 John 2:19). They therefore are not of the church, which at last do fall from Christ, and keep not that perpetual communion with Christ and with all His saints, howsoever great and rare men they seem in the church for a time, yea, and hold the government over the christian commonwealth, and rule over the whole church. For they are members of Satan, not of Christ, whosoever have the Spirit not of Christ, but of Antichrist.

VII. That there ever was and is one only Church of Christ.

And we confess that there ever was and is one only Church of Christ, because there ever was and is one only body, to which Christ was given of the Father to be the Head; one only Spirit, by which all the members are knit unto the body; only one God, to the serving of whom and glorifying forever we are all chosen and called; one only faith of all the faithful believers; one salvation; and lastly one heavenly inheritance of all (Eph. 4:4-6). To which purpose, also Christ ever called the Church one, and one flock, wherefore we make that church which hath been since the first creation and before the coming of Christ, no other, but the same that it is now, and shall be to the end of the world. But we call it one of all times, of all places, and all persons joined with Christ, and consequently one communion of all the saints, from which they that make an utter severing and departure, we are persuaded by the Holy Scriptures that they belong not to this body.

VIII. Of the Christian Church there is one only Head Jesus Christ.

Hereupon we are strengthened in this belief, that since there is one only Church of Christ which is His body, there ever was, and is yet therefore one only Head of it. By this name Head we mean Him which was given of God, even from the world's beginning to that end, that He might be made of the same nature with it; that He might redeem it; that He might join it to Himself; that He might quicken it; that He might deck it with the glory of His wisdom; that He might kindle it with the fire of heavenly love; that He might effectually move it to all good affections and good works; that He might evermore govern it and keep it. For that this is the proper duty of the Head towards the whole body, besides daily experience in nature, we learn also out of the Holy Scriptures. But who could perform, hath, and will perform this to the Church? We acknowledge none other besides Christ Jesus, meanwhile not denying but there may be one head of all hypocrites which are in the church, and so of the hypocritical church, since the prophets foretold it should be so and the apostles confirmed the same. But that there is one only Head, Jesus Christ, of the Holy Church, we believe and confess with the holy apostles (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18).

IX. This church is truly holy.

Whereupon it followeth, this church therefore to be truly holy, because it hath a Head that is most holy, and maketh it holy; because no sins are imputed unto it; because from Him it draweth the Spirit of sanctification, and because whatsoever holiness is in the Head, that is wholly imputed to every member.

X. It is also truly catholic.

We also confess it to be truly catholic, that is, universal, because the Head thereof is also catholic and everlasting--at all times, even from the foundation of the world to the end thereof, joining unto Himself members out of all places, from all kinds of men, and all nations, and governing and preserving them to Himself for eternal blessedness.

XI. This one church is partly in heaven triumphant, and partly on earth militant.

But we acknowledge that this church, though it is and ever was one, yet it is so distinct that one part is triumphant in heaven with Christ, already raised from death, and sitting at the right hand of the Father; another part on earth, fighting still with flesh and blood, with the world and the devil. Whereupon ariseth that usual distinction among all the godly writers of the church, of the triumphant and militant church.