§. II.
I.The Etymology of the Word [Greek: ekklêsia: εκκλησια] (the Church) and Signification of it. The Church then, according to the grammatical Signification of the Word, as it is used in the holy Scripture, signifies an Assembly or Gathering of many into one Place; for the Substantive [Greek: ekklêsia: εκκλησια] comes from the Word [Greek: ekkaleô: εκκαλεω] I call out of, and originally from [Greek: kaleô: καλεω] I call; and indeed, as this is the grammatical Sense of the Word, so also it is the real and proper Signification of the Thing, the Church being no other Thing but the Society, Gathering, or Company of such as God hath called out of the World, and worldly Spirit, to walk in his Light and Life. The Church then so defined is to be considered as it comprehends all that are thus called and gathered truly by God, both such as are yet in this inferior World, and such as having already laid down the earthly Tabernacle, are passed into their heavenly Mansions, which together do make up the one Catholick Church, concerning which there is so much Controversy. No Salvation without the Church.Out of which Church we freely acknowledge there can be no Salvation; because under this Church and its Denomination are comprehended all, and as many, of whatsoever Nation, Kindred, Tongue, or People they be, though outwardly Strangers, and remote from those who profess Christ and Christianity in Words, and have the Benefit of the Scriptures, as become obedient to the holy Light and Testimony of God in their Hearts, so as to become sanctified by it, and cleansed from the Evils of their Ways. What the Church is.For this is the Universal or Catholick Spirit, by which many are called from all the four Corners of the Earth, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: By this the secret Life and Virtue of Jesus is conveyed into many that are afar off, even as by the Blood that runs into the Veins and Arteries of the natural Body the Life is conveyed from the Head and Heart unto the extreme Parts. Turks and Jews may become Members of this Church.There may be Members therefore of this Catholick Church both among Heathens, Turks, Jews, and all the several Sorts of Christians, Men and Women of Integrity and Simplicity of Heart, who though blinded in some Things in their Understanding, and perhaps burdened with the Superstitions and Formality of the several Sects in which they are ingrossed, yet being upright in their Hearts before the Lord, chiefly aiming and labouring to be delivered from Iniquity, and loving to follow Righteousness, are by the secret Touches of this holy Light in their Souls enlivened and quickened, thereby secretly united to God, and therethrough become true Members of this Catholick Church. Now the Church in this Respect hath been in Being in all Generations; for God never wanted some such Witnesses for him, though many Times slighted, and not much observed by this World; and therefore this Church, though still in Being, hath been oftentimes as it were invisible, in that it hath not come under the Observations of the Men of this World, being, as saith the Scripture, Jer. iii. 14. One of a City, and two of a Family. And yet though the Church thus considered may be as it were hid from wicked Men, as not then gathered into a visible Fellowship, yea, and not observed even by some that are Members of it, yet may there notwithstanding many belong to it; as when Elias complained he was left alone, 1 Kings xix. 18. God answered unto him, I have reserved to myself seven thousand Men, who have not bowed their Knees to the Image of Baal; whence the Apostle argues, Rom. xi. the Being of a Remnant in his Day.