Barrow - BX1805 .B3 1852

THE TRUE UNIVERSALCHURCH. 379 Wherefore, to determine the case between these two, we must ob- serve, that to the latter of these (that is, to the catholic society of true believers and faithful servants of Christ, diffused through all ages, dispersed through all countries, whereof part sojourns on earth, part resides in heaven, part is not yet extant, Eph. i. 10, but all whereof is described in the register of divine pre-ordination, and shall be re- collected at the resurrection of the just; that, I say, to this church) especially all the glorious titles and excellent privileges attributed to the church in holy Scripture agree. This is "the body of Christ," of which he is "the head" and Sa- viour, Col. i. 18, 20. This is the spouseand wifeof Christ, of which he is the bridegroom and husband, Eph. v. 25, 32; Rev. xix. 7; Matt. xxii. 2, xxv. 1. This is "the house of God," of which our Lord is the master, Matt. xxi. 13; 1 Tim. iii. 15; Heb. iii. 5; 1 Pet. ii. 5; Eph. ii. 21; which is "built upon a rock, so that the gates of hell shall not pre- vail against it," Matt. xvi. 18. This is "thecity of God; the new, theholy, theheavenly Jerusalem, themother ofus all," Rev. iii. 12, xxi. 2,10; Heb. xii. 22; Gal. iv. 26. This is the "Zion, which the Lord hath chosen, which he hath desired for his habitation," where he has resolved to "place his rest and residence for ever," Ps. cxxxii. 13. This is "the mountain of the Lord, seated above all mountains, unto which all nations shall flow," Isa. ii. 2; Micah iv. 1. This is "the elect generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, pecu- liar people," 1 Pet. ii. 9. This is "the general assembly and church of the first -born, who are enrolled in heaven," Heb. xii. 23. This is "the church which God bath purchased with his on blood," Acts. xx. 28; and "for which Christ hath delivered himself, that he might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy andunblemished," Eph. v. 25-27. To this church, as those high eulogies most properly appertain, so that unitywhich is often attributed to the church peculiarlybelongs thereto. This is that "one body, into which we are all baptized by one Spirit," 1 Cor. xii. 13; which is "knit together, and compacted of parts affording mutual aid and supply to its nourishment and in- crease," Rom. xii. 5; Eph. iv. 16; Col. ii. 19; the members whereof hold a mutual sympathy and complacence, 1 Cor. xii. 26; which is joined to one Head, deriving sense and motion from it; which is en- livened and moved by "one Spirit," 1 Cor. xii. 13.

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