God has his church in every age, and under every dispensation. It consists of all the people of God in heaven and earth, and may, therefore, be regarded as militant and triumphant. That portion of the church which is on earth, the church militant, consists of all professing Christians throughout the world, and may be divided into the visible church and mystical church.1
The universal visible church on earth are all those who have been called out and set apart for holy ends, to profess the Christian religion, to read the word of God, and to observe the ordinances of the gospel; that is, all who profess themselves believers, together with their children - unless their parents, through neglect, deprive them of the privileges of the kingdom of heaven, or they themselves despise their birthright, as profane Esau did, or grow up to be persecuting scoffers, who shall be cast out, as Ishmael.2
A particular visible church is a congregation of faithful men, and their children, assembling with their officers in one place, where the true doctrine is preached, and the ordinances and discipline, which Christ instituted in his church, are observed and enforced.3
The mystical church is that which God loved, Christ purchased, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies, and which Christ will present to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. The true church can be but one; for ‘She is one;’ and Christ is her only Head, Prophet, Priest, and King.4
1 Col. 1:18; Acts 7:38; Heb. 11:2-40; Matt. 25:1-4. 2 Psa. 2:6; 90:16; 147:13; Rev. 7:9; Rom.15:9-11; Eph. 2:13,19-22; 3:15,21; 4:11-12; 6:4; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 1:2; 7:14; 12:13; Matt. 13:47; Isa. 65:23; 66:22; Acts 2:39; Gen. 25:33-34; Deut. 10:15; Ezek. 47:23; Jer. 30:20; Joel 2:16-17; Prov. 22:6. 3 2 Cor. 1:1; 8:1; Gal. 1:22; 1 Thess. 1:1; Acts 15:41; 1 Cor. 14:34; Rom. 16:4; Col. 4:15; Rev. 1:11-20; 2 & 3. 4 Eph. 1:10, 22-23; 4:4; 5:23,25-27: 5:32; Acts 3:22; 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:27; Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18; Heb 4:14; 7:25,26; 12:23; Psa. 2:6; 45:13-15.
