in their example,--on which account also the younger members, being instructed in their duty, are to submit themselves unto the elder (1 Pet, v.5),—but are from time to time to excite others to the discharge of the same duties, to overlook the church, to watch each individual, “ to be instant in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine," as the apostle writes (2 Tim. iv. 2), but yet with that caution which the apostle prescribes (1 Tim. v. 1, 2), “Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren : the elder women as mothers, the

younger as sisters, with all purity.”

OF THE INVISIBLE CHURCH OF CHRIST. Tell me now what you think of the invisible church?

The Holy Scriptures seems hardly any where to use the word Church to designate a society of truly pious men, distinct from that church which is called visible; since all who are truly pious either do now belong, or have formerly belonged, to the visible church also: though it must be confessed that this visible church is sometimes considered in such a light, that it is assumed that it discharges its duty, and truly obeys God; regard not being had to what it really is, but to what it ought to be in virtue of its profession, condition, and discipline: as also the same thing is often taken for granted in respect to individual professors

of

of Christian truth. Nevertheless it is possible to imagine a certain peculiar multitude of people, and their union among themselves, which it might be allowable, on account of some likeness, or metaphorically, to call a church: for the truly pious, dispersed in all directions, or concealed, --if indeed true piety can be concealed,---cannot in literal propriety of speech be designated a church, that is, a congregation assembled in one place.

Who then are the invisible church?

They are those who truly confide in Christ and obey him; and are therefore, in the most perfect sense, his body: an assembly or congregation of whom, so that we may be assured in respect to the real piety of each individual, we shall not, I apprehend, ever find or see except at the coming of Christ.

Why do you call this assembly of men invisible ?

Because at present it can only be conceived by the mind; and because those qualities which constitute this church and the members thereof are invisible. For no one is a member of this church who has not true faith in Christ and real piety; for by faith we are grafted into the body of Christ, and by faith and piety we remain in him. But true faith in Christ, and real piety, can in no way be seen by our eyes, since they both lie hidden and concealed in the inmost recesses of the heart.

Can it not be known from the external actions, who is a member of the church of Christ?

From evil external actions any one may easily know that a person is not a member of the church of

Christ;

Christ; that is, that he has not a lively and efficacious
faith :-but from external actions having the appear-
ance of virtue, it may be difficult to ascertain where
true faith and piety reside. For it is easy to conceal
certain vices; and those actions which do not proceed
from a sincere heart may wear the same appearance
as those that do. In short-he that is evil-disposed
may assume the external appearance of a good man ;
but it is different with a good man, who never at-
tempts to put on the appearance of a wicked man.

Have you any thing to add, which relates to the
knowledge of the saving doctrine ?

I have now explained to you all that I could, in a
compendious way, state upon this subject. It belongs
to you, after having rightly perceived and understood
these things, to imprint then on your mind, and to
regulate your life conformably to their directions.
May God assist you in this work :-to whom, as he
has graciously permitted us to bring our conference
to a termination, be praise and glory, through Jesus
Christ, for ever and ever. AMEN.

THE END.

OF

TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE
Quoted and Explained in this CATECHISM.

-26

-

xi. 17, 25%

-31

Page.

Page.
GENESIS i. 1

49 Exodus xxxi. 13, 16, 17 273
-2

75
xxxii. 5

209
21

7

16
vi. 3

119
xxxiv. 7

312
- 5
326

24

236
viii. 21
326 Leviticus xix. 15

221
ix. 4
219

18

221, 224
xvii. 5
68

33

222
xxii. 14
77

35

237
xxxi. 36
329
xxiv. 20

224
xlviii. 20

151 NUMBERS v.5,6, 15 206
xlix. 18

109
ix. 7

275
EXODUS ii. 15
64

289
iii. 4

234
xiv. 18

312
iv. 21

344

XV. 24, 25 :. 352
-22
137

64
vii. 3

344
xxi. 5

113
345

xxiii. 5, 16 64
viii. 15, 19

345
XXXV. 27

224
ix. 4-6
64 DEUTERON.iv. 2

64
2-7 and 34 :: 345

12,15,16 .. 203
x. 1, 20
344

35

29
xi. 10
344

- V.5

65
xii, 10
273

20

212, 216
18
277

203
xiv. 4, 8
S44
vi. 4

29
31
37

-5, &c. 180, 183
xvii. 11, 13 273

13

215
15
77

16

113
XX. 2, &c.

234
12 104,216

25

237
xxi. 24
244
ix. 5

13, 22

21

..

183

vii. 3,4