says, that there is only one way to heaven, and that Christ is the way. He is a new way, a living way, a free way, a safe way, a pleasant way, and the only way. Reader! consider your ways, for "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

XIX.

OF THE CHURCH.

The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.

As the church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred; so also the church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith.

Q. What is the visible church of Christ!

A. A congregation of faithful men, in which the pure word of God is preached.

Q. What else is there done?

A. The sacraments be duly ministered according to God's ordinance, in all things, that of necessity are requisite to the same.

Q. As the churches of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred, what other church hath erred?

A. The church of Rome.

Q. In what particulars hath the church of Rome erred?

A. Not only in their living, and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith.

Scripture Proofs.

Romans xii. 5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Galatians iii. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians i. 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's.

Matthew xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Sacrament of Baptism.)

Matthew xxvi. 26, 27. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. (Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.)

Ephesians iv. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

The Christian church is a society of believers, who are hereby knit together, in that they acknowledge one only pure source of religious knowledge, viz. the divine scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which they revere as a revelation of God through the Spirit. The Christian church has one only faith, viz. in Christ Jesus, the only Saviour,

Redeemer, Reconciler, and Pledge of bliss, a faith which, without the merit of works, doth of grace, and through the merits of Christ, justify us, and then shows itself by love. The Christian church constitutes here below a body militant, held together in one spirit, and looks forward to appear hereafter in garments of triumph and glory, in the presence of Him "of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." The church from which we have separated, considers itself as the only Christian church: Protestants consider all men as Christians, who love the Lord Jesus with sincerity; and the compilers of our Articles protest in the strongest manner against the pretended claim of the church of Rome to infallibility, as being repugnant to the nature of man, as unfounded in scripture, and as inconsistent with God's general government of the world.

XX.

OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH.

The church hath the power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith: and yet, it is not lawful for the church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's word written; neither may it expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the church be a witness, and a keeper of holy writ, yet as it ought not to decree anything against the same; so besides the same, ought it not to enforce anything to be believed, for necessity of salvation.

Q. What power hath the church?

A. To decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith.

Q. What is it not lawful for the church to do? A. To ordain any thing that is contrary to God's word written.

Q. What else?

A. Neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another.

Q. What more?

A. Although the church be a witness and a