Of the Kirk.--Cap. XVI.

The law of God we confess and acknowledge most just, most equal, most holy, and most perfect; commanding those things which, being wrought in perfection, were able to give life, and able to bring man to eternal felicity. But our nature is so corrupt, so weak, and imperfect, that we are never able to fulfil the works of the law in perfection; yea, "If we say we have no sin," (even after we are regenerate,) "we deceive ourselves, and the truth of God is not in us." And therefore it behoved us to apprehend Christ Jesus, with His justice and satisfaction, who is the end and accomplishment of the law to all that believe; by whom we are set at this liberty, that the curse and malediction of God fall not upon us, albeit we fulfil not the same in all points. For God the Father, beholding us in the body of His Son Christ Jesus, accepteth our imperfect obedience as it were perfect, and covereth our works, which are defiled with many spots, with the justice of His Son. As we have already plainly confessed, we do not mean that we are so set at liberty that we owe no obedience to the law; but we affirm that no man on earth, Christ Jesus only excepted, hath given, giveth, or shall give in work, that obedience to the law which the law requireth. When we have done all things, we must fall down and unfeignedly confess that we are unprofitable servants. And therefore whosoever boast themselves of the merits of their own works, or put their trust in the works of supererogation, boast themselves of that which is not, and put their trust in damnable idolatry.

As we believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, so do we most earnestly believe that from the beginning there has been, now is, and to the end of the world shall be a Church; that is to say, a company and multitude of men chosen of God, who rightly worship and embrace Him, by true faith in Christ Jesus, who is the only Head of the same Kirk, which also is the body and spouse of Christ Jesus; which Kirk is Catholic, that is, universal, because it contains the elect of all ages, of all realms, nations, and tongues, be they of the Jews, or be they of the Gentiles, who have communion and society with God the Father, and with His Son Christ Jesus, through the sanctification of His Holy Spirit; and therefore it is called the communion, not of profane persons, but of saints, who, as citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, have the fruition of the most inestimable benefits, to wit, of one God, one Lord Jesus, one faith, and of one baptism; out of the which Kirk there is neither life nor eternal felicity. And therefore we utterly abhor the blasphemy of those that affirm that men which live according to equity and justice shall be saved, what religion soever they have professed. For as without Christ Jesus there is neither life nor salvation, so shall there none be participant thereof but such as the Father has given unto His Son Christ Jesus, and those that in time come to Him, avow His doctrine, and believe into Him--we comprehend the children with the faithful parents. This Kirk is invisible, known only to God, who alone knoweth whom He has chosen, and comprehends as well, as said is, the elect that be departed, commonly called the Kirk triumphant, as those that yet live and fight against sin and Satan as shall live hereafter.