76. You yourself can easily acquit us of this; but not of the other part of the charge. You still think we are secretly undermining, if not openly destroying the church. What do you mean by the church? A visible church (as our article defines it) is, _A company of faithful (or believing) people: cætus credentium_. This is the essence of a church: and the properties thereof are, (as they are described in the words that follow) _Among whom the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly administered_. Now then (according to this authentic account) what is _The church of England_? What is it indeed, but the _faithful people_, the _true believers in England_? It is true, if these are scattered abroad, they come under another consideration. But when they are visibly joined, by assembling together to hear the pure word of God preached, and to eat of one bread, and drink of one cup, they are then properly the visible church of _England_. 77. It were well if this were a little more considered by those, who so vehemently cry out, _The church! the church!_ (as those of old, _The temple of the Lord! the temple of the Lord!_) not knowing what they speak, nor whereof they affirm. A provincial or national church, according to our article, is, the true believers of that province or nation. If these are dispersed up and down, they are only a part of the invisible church of Christ. But if they are visibly joined by assembling together to hear his word and partake of his supper, they are then a visible church, such as the church of _England_, _France_, or any other. 78. This being premised, I ask, How do we undermine or destroy the church? The provincial, visible church of _England_? The article mentions three things as essential to a visible church: 1st, Living faith, without which indeed there can be no church at all, neither visible nor invisible: 2dly, Preaching (and consequently hearing) the pure word of God, else that faith would languish and die: and, 3dly, A due administration of the sacraments, the ordinary means whereby God increaseth faith. Now come close to the question: in which of these points do we undermine or destroy the church? Do we shut the door of faith? Do we lessen the number of believing people in _England_? Only remember what faith is, according to our homilies, (viz. “A sure trust and confidence in God, that through the merits of Christ my sins are forgiven, and I reconciled to the favour of God,”) And we appeal to all mankind, do we destroy this faith, which is the life and soul of the church? Is there, in fact, less of this faith, in _England_, than there was before we went forth! I think, this is an assertion, which the father of lies himself will scarce dare to utter or maintain.