The seventh article of the Confession, wherein it is affirmed
that the Church is the congregation of saints, cannot be
admitted without prejudice to faith if by this definition the
wicked and sinners be separated from the Church. For in the
Council of Constance this article was condemned among the
articles of John Huss of cursed memory, and it plainly
contradicts the Gospel. For there we read that John the
Baptist compared the Church to a threshing-floor, which
Christ will cleanse with his fan, and will gather the wheat
into his garner, but will burn the chaff with unquenchable
fire, Matt. 3:12. Wherefore this article of the Confession is
in no way accepted. although we read in it their confession
that the Church is perpetual, since here the promise of
Christ has its place, who promises that the Spirit of truth
will abide with it forever John 14:16. And Christ himself
promises that he will be with the church alway unto the end
of the world. They are praised also, in that they do not
regard variety of rites as separating unity of faith, if they
speak of special rites. For to this effect Jerome says:
"Every province abounds in its own sense" (of propriety). But
if they extend this part of the Confession to universal
Church rites, tis also must be utterly rejected, and we
must say with St. Paul: "We have no such custom," 1 Cor.
11:16. "For by all believers universal rites must be
observed," St. Augustine, whose testimony they also use, well
taught of Januarius; for we must presume that such rites were
transmitted from the apostles.


To Article VIII.