once delivered to the saints. In these passages the title is applied to
all who were in outward fellowship with the Christian Church.

The term "saint" is used also in a more restricted sense. As they were
not all Israel who were of Israel, and as not every one that saith
"Lord, Lord" shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, so all who are
enrolled as members of the Christian Church do not lead saintly lives,
and those only are truly saints who are striving to live godly in Christ
Jesus, and to be holy, even as He who hath called them is holy. This
clause of the Creed expresses the doctrine that Christians ought to have
fellowship one with another, and that there ought to be harmonious
relations and stimulating communion between their several churches and
congregations--such fellowship and communion as may lead the world to
believe that they are one in Christ, and that, though compelled by
circumstances to assemble in different places and to form separate
societies, they are, nevertheless, all members of one body, of which
Jesus Christ is the Head; all stones in one building, of which He is the
chief Corner-stone; all branches in one true vine, of which He is the
Stem; and all animated and directed by the same Spirit. Thus regarded,
the clause is a protest against the exclusiveness which often marks
Christian churches, and is a recognition of the spirit of charity.

The extent of this Communion of the Saints is not revealed. Much of it
is spiritual, and is therefore invisible to us. God alone marks in full
measure the fellowship of the churches, and is acquainted with the
character and conduct of all their members. He knew the seven thousand
in Israel who had never bowed the knee to Baal, and the real, though
unrecognised, communion they had with one another in their common
fidelity and prayer to Him; but Elijah did not know how much true
fellowship he had, when he denounced the idolatries of Jezebel and