The doctrine of the church is the
entire and uncorrupted doctrine of the law and gospel concerning the true God,
together with His will, works, and worship; divinely revealed, and comprehended
in the writings of the prophets and apostles, and confirmed by many miracles
and divine testimonies; through which the Holy Spirit works effectually in the
hearts of the elect, and gathers from the whole human race an everlasting
church, in which God is glorified, both in this, and in the life to come.
This doctrine is the chief and
most expressive mark of the true church, which God designs to be visible in the
world, and to be separated from the rest of mankind, according to these
declarations of scripture: “Keep yourselves from idols.” “Come out from among
them, and be ye separate.” “If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
houses, neither bid them God speed.” “Be ye holy, touch no unclean thing, ye
that bear the vessels of the Lord. Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (1 John
5.21 2 Cor. 6.17 2 John 10
Isa. 52. 11. Rev. 18.4.)
God wills, that His church be
separate and distinct from the world, for the following considerations: First, on account of His own glory; for,
as He Himself will not be joined with idols and devils, so He will not have His
truth confounded with falsehood, and His church with her enemies, the children
of the devil; but will have them carefully distinguished and separated. It
would be reproachful to God to suppose that He would have and acknowledge as
His children, such as persecute Him; yea; it would be blasphemy to make God the
author of false doctrine, and the defender of the wicked; for “what concord has
Christ with Beliel.” (2 Cor. 6.14.) Secondly,
on account of the consolation and salvation of His people; for it is necessary
that the church should be visible in the world, that the elect, scattered
abroad among the whole human race, may know with what society they ought to
unite themselves, and that, being gathered into the church, they may enjoy this
sure comfort, that they are members of that family in which God delights, and
which has the promises of everlasting life. For it is the will of God that all
those who are to be saved, should be gathered into the church in this life. Out
of the church there is no salvation.
How the church may be known, and
what are the marks by which it may be distinguished from the various sects,
will be shown when we come to speak regularly upon the subject of the church.
We may, however, here say, that there are three marks by which the church is
known: Purity of doctrine – the proper use of the sacraments, and obedience to
god according to all the parts of this doctrine, whether of faith or practice.
And if it be here objected, that great vices have often made their appearance
in the church, as by the various sects. Yea, the church is the first to censure
and condemn them. Hence if there are faults in the church, these are
disapproved of and removed. As long as this state of things lasts, so long the
church remains.
Zacharias Ursinus
The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias
Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism, pp. 1-2
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