378 DISCOURSE ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. ous, having both in holy Scripture and common use divers senses somewhat different: for, - 1. Sometimes any assembly or company of Christians is called a " C church," as when mention is made of " the church in such a house," Rom. xvi. 5; Col. iv. 15 ; Philem. 2;whenceTertullian says, " Where there are three, even laics, there is a church."' 2. Sometimes a particular society of Christians, living in spiritual communion and under discipline; as when " the church at such a town,"$ "the churches of such a province,"3 " the churches," " all the churches,"` are mentioned ;according to which notion St Cyprian says, that there is a "church" where there is "a people united to a priest, and a flock adhering to their shepherd ; "6 and so Ignatius says, "That without the orders of the clergy a church is not called."6 3. A large collection of divers particular societies combined toge- ther in order, under direction and influence of a common government, or of persons acting in the publicbehalf, is termed a " church;" as the church of Antioch, of Corinth, ofJerusalem, &c., each of which at first probably consisted of divers congregations, having dependencies of less towns annexed to them, all being united under the care of the bishop and presbytery of those places. But, however, soon after the apostles' times, it is certain that such collections were, and were named "churches." 4. The society of those who at present or in course of time profess the faith and gospel of Christ, and undertake the evangelical cove- nant, in distinction to all other religions, particularly to that of the Jews, which is called the " synagogue."Matt. xvi. 18; Eph. iii. 10; Gal. i. 13; 1 Tim. iii. 15. 5. Thewhole body of God's people, that is, ever has been, or ever shall be, from the beginning of the world to the consummation thereof, who having (formally or virtually) believed in Christ and sincerely obeyed God's laws, shall finally, by the meritorious per- formances and sufferings of Christ, be saved, is called the "church." Acts. xii. 1, ii. 47, xx. 28; 1 Cor. x. 32, xii. 28, xv. 9, xiv. 12. Of these acceptations the two latter onlycome under present con- sideration, it being plain that St Paul does not speak of any one particular or present society, but of all, at all times, who have rela- tion to the same Lord, faith, hope, sacraments, &c. 3 Ubi tres, ecclesia est, licet laici.Tent. de Exl,. Cast., cap. vii. 2 Acts viii. 1, xiv. 27, v. 11; 1 Cor. i. 2; Col. iv. 16; 1 Thess. i. 1; 2 Cor. i. 1; Rev. ii. 1, &c.; Rom. xvi. 1. 3 Aets ix. 31, Gal. i. 2; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 19; 2 Cor. viii. 1. 4 Rom. xvi. 4; 1 Cor. iv. 17, xi. 16; Acts xvi. 5; Rev. ii. 7, 11; Ka,' ixxXncíav, Acts xiv. 23. Ecclesia, plebs sacerdoti adunata, et pastori suo grex adhærens.Cypr., Ep. lxix. Xaplg ToUT,V izxxnafa of xaxûrai. Ignat. ad Tral.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=