Not only must the true Church be one by an internal and spiritual union, but this union must also be external and visible, consisting in and growing out of a unity of faith, worship, and government. True Notion of Unity.-The Catholic conception of the mark of unity, which must characterize the one Church founded by Christ, is far more exacting. The Anglicans likewise teach that the one Church of Christ is made up of three branches: the Greek, the Roman, and the Anglican, each having a different legitimate hierarchy but all united by a common spiritual bond. So long as they profess a common faith, are governed by the same general law of God under a hierarchy, and participate in the same sacraments, they look upon the various churches, Constantinople, Russian, Antiochene etc., as enjoying the union of the one true Church there is the common head, Christ, and the one Spirit, and that suffices. A like spiritual unity is all the Greek schismatics require. This they regard as a unity of doctrine, organization, and cult. Thus most Protestants think that the only union necessary for the Church is that which comes from faith, hope, and love toward Christ in worshipping the same God, obeying the same Lord, and in believing the same fundamental truths which are necessary for salvation. Many Christians, however, hold that the unity necessary for the true Church of Christ need be nothing more than a certain spiritual internal bond, or, if external, it need be only in a general way, inasmuch as all acknowledge the same God and reverence the same Christ. Some False Notions of Unity.-All admit that unity of some kind is indispensable to the existence of any well-ordered society, civil, political, or religious. 381), four marks of the Church are mentioned: unity, sanctity, Catholicity, Apostolicity-which are believed by most theologians to be exclusively the marks of the True Church. In the Formula of the Council of Constantinople (A.D. These marks flow from the very essence of the Church they are properties inseparable from its nature and manifestive of its character, and, in their Christian and proper sense, can be found in no other institution. Without doubt, therefore, Christ, the all-wise legislator, impressed upon His Church some distinctive external marks by which, with the use of ordinary diligence, all can distinguish the real Church from the false, the society of truth from the ranks of error. Were it otherwise the purpose of the Redemption would be frustrated, the blood of the Savior shed in vain, and man’s eternal destination at the mercy of chance. There must be no doubt as to which is the true Church of Christ, the one which has received, and has preserved intact the Revelation which He gave it for man’s salvation. It is obvious that this Church, which takes the place of Christ, and is to carry on His work by gathering men into its fold and saving their souls, must be evidently discernible to all. He established a Church to which He committed the care and the exposition of these truths, and, consequently He made it obligatory on all men that they should know and hear it (Matt., xviii, 17). Hence, Christ made known the truths which men must heed and obey. The purpose of the redemption was the salvation of men. That such external signs are necessary to the true Church is plain from the aim and the purpose which Christ had in view when He made His revelation and founded a Church. Unity, MARK OF THE CHURCH.-The marks of the Church are certain unmistakable signs, or distinctive characteristics which render the Church easily recognizable to all, and clearly distinguish it from every other religious society, especially from those which claim to be Christian in doctrine and origin.
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