In this prayer, the generic term “we” occurs in immediate connexion with “the number of thine elect.”
Therefore the evidently studied arrangement of the words, enforces the conclusion that every member of the Church, as designated by the term “we,” must be deemed one of God’s elect people.
Finally, the same matter is established, even in the familiar course of daily recitation, by the language of the very liturgy itself.
“Endue thy ministers with righteousness: and make thy chosen people joyful.
“O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine inheritance.”
Now, who are the “chosen people,” whom the Lord is here supplicated to “make joyful?”
Can we reasonably pronounce them, in the judgment of the Anglican Church, to be certain individuals of each actually praying congregation, who, in contradistinction to other individuals of the same congregation, are predestinated, either absolutely or previsionally, to eternal life?
Assuredly, the whole context forbids so incongruous a supposition; for, assuredly, the whole context requires us to pronounce, that “thy chosen people” are identical with “thine inheritance.”
But the entire tenor of the liturgy identifies “thine inheritance” with the Catholic Church.
Therefore, “thy chosen people” and the Catholic Church are terms, in point of import, identical. (See Perseverance.)