3 - Of an ecclesiastical community

Summary

Hitherto of a community in general, and of a community civil, that which we call ecclesiastical follows. This in opposition to that which we call temporal and civil is spiritual, and is such in respect of religion; for as there are matters of this life, which concern us as mortals with relation one unto another, so there are matters of God, spiritual, divine, and of a far higher allay [alloy]; there is no nation or people, though rude and barbarous, but profess some religion, by the observation whereof they acknowledge their dependence upon a superior power and providence far above that of mortal man; yet many, contrary to the very light of nature, either worshipped that which was not truly God, or with the true God a false deity; or the true God alone, without any certain rule and direction from Heaven, after the invention of men, or the suggestion of the devil. Of these there have been many communities, which I will no further mention; for these were never called churches, or the people of the living God; for the true church is a community of such as worship the true and living God, according to certain rules of truth revealed from Heaven, and now contained in the holy Scriptures. And these direct us to worship God, not only as creator, but as redeemer by Christ.