1. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of God’s chosen people, who have been, are, or will be gathered into one under Christ the Head of the Church. It is the spouse, the body, and the fullness of him who fills all in all.

2. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (though not confined to one nation, as before under the Law), consists of all those throughout the world who profess the true religion, and their children. It is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, outside of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

3. Christ has given to this catholic, visible Church the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints in this life, up to the end of the world. He makes them effective for these purposes by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise.

4. This catholic Church has been sometimes more and sometimes less visible. Also, particular Churches which are members of it are more or less pure based on whether the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, the ordinances administered, and public worship is performed more or less purely in them.

5. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error, and some have so degenerated as to become not Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there will be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to his will.

6. There is no other head of the Church than the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be the head of it.