Wesley Corpus

the Church !” (as those of old, “The temple of the Lord! the temple of the Lord!”) not knowing what they speak, nor whereof they affirm. A provincial or national Church, according to our article, is the true believers of that province or nation. If these are dispersed up and down, they are only a part of the invisible Church of Christ. But if they are visibly joined by assembling together to hear his word and partake of his supper, they are then avisible Church, such as the Church of England, France, or any other. 78. This being premised, I ask, How do we undermine or destroy the Church,--the provincial, visible Church of Eng land? The article mentions three things as essential to a visible Church. First : Living faith; without which, indeed, there can be no Church at all, neither visible nor invisible. Se condly: Preaching, and consequently hearing, the pure word of God, else that faith would languish and die. And, Thirdly, a due administration of the sacraments,--the ordinary means whereby God increaseth faith. Now come close to the question: In which of these points do we undermine or destroy the Church? Do we shut the door of faith? Do we lessen the number of believing people in England 7 Only remember what faith is, according to our Homilies, viz., “a sure trust and confidence in God, that through the merits of Christ my sins are for given, and I reconciled to the favour of God.” And we appeal to all mankind, Do we destroy this faith, which is the life and soul of the Church 7 Is there, in fact, less of this faith in England, than there was before we went forth? I think this is an assertion which the father of lies himself will scarce dare to utter or maintain. With regard then to this First point, it is undeniable we neither undermine nor destroy the Church. The Second thing is the preaching and hearing the pure word of God. And dowe hinder this? Do we hinder any Minister from preaching the pure word of God? If any preach not at all, or not the pure word of God, is the hinderance in us, or in themselves? or do we lessen the number of those that hear the pure word of God?