are taught in the Lord’s Prayer; being assured that whatever we ask of the Father in his name, will be granted us.
XXVII. Of the Catholic Christian Church.
We believe and profess one catholic or universal Church, which is an holy congregation of true Christian believers, all expecting their salvation in Jesus Christ, being washed by his blood, sanctified and sealed by the Holy Ghost. This church hath been from the beginning of the world, and will be to the end thereof; which is evident from this, that Christ is an eternal king, which, without subjects, cannot be. And this holy church is preserved or supported by God, against the rage of the whole world; though she sometimes (for a while) appear very small, and in the eyes of men, to be reduced to nothing: as during the perilous reign of Achab, the Lord reserved unto him seven thousand men, who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Furthermore, this holy church is not confined, bound, or limited to a certain place or to certain persons, but is spread and dispersed over the whole world; and yet is joined and united with heart and will, by the power of faith, in one and the same spirit.
XXVIII. That every one is bound to join himself to the true Church.
We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved and out of it there is no salvation, that no person, of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself, to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it; maintaining the unity of the church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.—And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the word of God, to separate themselves from all those, who do not belong to the church, and to join themselves to this congregation wheresoever God hath established it, even though the magistrates and edicts of princes were against it; yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment. Therefore all those, who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.
XXIX. Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.
We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the word of God, which is the true church, since
