THE CHURCH
"Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." (Galatians 5:25)
Which is the true Church of God?
William Tyndale, Bible translator, c. 1494-1536. Taken from Tyndale's Answer unto Sir T. Mores Dialogue in the section 'Whether the Church can err or no'
"...Christ's elect Church is the whole multitude of all repenting sinners that believe in Christ, and put all their trust and confidence in the mercy of God, feeling in their hearts that God for Christ's sake loveth them, and will be merciful to them, and forgiveth their sins of which they repent: and that he forgiveth them also the motions unto sin, of which they fear lest they should thereby be drawn into sin again. And this faith they have without respect of their own personal deservings, yea, and for none other cause than that the merciful truth of God the Father, which cannot lie, hath so promised and so sworn.
And this faith and knowledge is everlasting life, and by this we be born anew and made the son of God ...And this faith is the mother of all truth ...And this faith is the foundation laid of the apostles and prophets ...And this faith is the rock whereon Christ built his congregation ...And against the rock of this faith can no sin, no hell, no devil, no lies, nor error prevail."
Nicholas Ridley, bishop and martyr, c. 1500– martyred 16 October 1555
"The Church which is Christ’s body, and of which Christ is the head, standeth only of living stones, and true Christians, not only outwardly in name and title, but inwardly in heart and in truth.”
Thomas Beccon (c. 1511–1567) chaplain in Archbishop Cranmer's household and a canon of the Canterbury Cathedral
“Unto this Church pertain so many as from the beginning of the world until this time have unfeignedly believed in Christ, or shall believe unto the very end of the world. Against this Church the gates of hell shall not prevail.”
Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), Puritan theologian and preacher in The Bruised Reed
If we look to the present state of the church of Christ, it is as Daniel in the midst of the lions, as a lily among thorns, as a ship not only tossed, but almost covered with waves. It is so low, that the enemies think they have buried Christ, in regard of his gospel, in the grave, and there they think to keep him from rising; but Christ as he rose in his person, so he will roll away all stones, and rise again in his church. How little support hath the church and the cause of Christ at this day! how strong a conspiracy is against it! the spirit of antichrist is now lifted up, and marcheth furiously; things seem to hang on a small and invisible thread. But our comfort is, that Christ liveth and reigneth and standeth on Mount Sion in defence of them that stand for him, Rev. xiv. 1; and when States and kingdoms shall dash one against another, Christ will have care of his own children and cause, seeing there is nothing else in the world that he much esteemeth. At this very time the delivery of his church, and the ruin of his enemies, is in working; we see no things in motion till Christ hath done his work, and then we shall see that the Lord reigneth.
Christ and his church, when they are at the lowest, are nearest rising: his enemies at the highest are nearest a downfall.
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THE CHURCH - what is it?
Dr J. C. Ryle, first bishop of Liverpool (from 1816-1900)
There is perhaps no subject in religion which is so much misunderstood as the subject of the Church. There is certainly no misunderstanding which has done more harm to professing Christians than the misunderstanding of this subject.
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As if it were today…
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE CHURCH
If we look to the present state of the church of Christ, it is as Daniel in the midst of the lions, as a lily amongst thorns, as a ship not only tossed, but almost covered with waves. It is so low, that the enemies think they have buried Christ, in regard of his gospel, in the grave, and there they think to keep him from rising; but Christ as he rose in his person, so he will roll away all stones, and rise again in his church. How little support hath the church and church of Christ at this day! How strong a conspiracy is against it! The spirit of antichrist is now lifted up, and marcheth furiously; things seem to hang on a small and invisible thread. But our comfort is, that Christ liveth and reigneth and standeth on Mount Sion in defence of them that stand for him, Rev. xiv. 1; and when States and kingdoms shall dash one against another, Christ will have care of his own children and cause, seeing there is nothing else in the world that he much esteemeth. At this very time the delivery of his church, and the ruin of his enemies, is in the working; we see no things in motion till Christ hath done his work, and then we shall see that the Lord reigneth. Christ and his church, when they are the lowest, are nearest rising; his enemies at the highest are nearest a downfall.
Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, in The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, 6 vols. 1862-1863) I, 99