# Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God. · Page 24 of 44

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“That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to
behave thyself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:20; 4:16; Hebrews
12:23.

Of the fellowship of believers, read: “But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John
1:7.

“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’
doctrine and fellowship.” Acts 2:42; 4:34; 1 Corinthians
12:12; Gal. 3:28; John 17:21.

ARTICLE XIX.

Of the signs of the church of God, by which it
may be distinguished from all other peoples, we
confess the following: In the first place, all true
Christians are known by the only saving faith,
which works by love. It is wrought, through the
grace of God, in the heart of man by the hearing
of the word of God, and hence, is not founded and
built upon human decrees, but upon the word of
God alone; and it works so effectually that by it
we are drawn and impelled from all visible things
and sinful lusts of this world to the invisible God
and his heavenly riches.

Secondly. All true children of God are known
by the second or new birth, from above, of God;
which is wrought by the Spirit of God internally in
the heart, through the putting off of the sinful lusts
of the flesh; so that, as man, through his first birth
of the flesh, brings forth his human nature and
mind; so, through regeneration, he becomes a partaker
of the divine nature, by which he is also to
bring forth godly and spiritual fruits, and the mind
of Christ Jesus.

Thirdly. The church, or the believers, are known
by the good works which they evince as fruits of
gratitude from their faith; which may not be done
according to human instructions, in a self-selected
holiness, but in which we follow Christ and his
apostles, as they prescribed and walked. And with
these divine virtues all true believers must be clothed,
that, as a light on the candlestick, and a city on
a hill, they may excel and shine among all men,
and may be known thereby, as a good tree is known
and distinguished by its good fruits.

Fourthly. The church of God is known by the
glorious appellations by which she is described and
honored by the Holy Spirit, as a city and temple
of the living God, in which God will dwell and
walk; the bride of the Lamb, the daughter of Zion;
a chaste virgin, joined to Christ by faith; so that,
even as with all cities which are subject to the command
of their Lord and king, and it may thereby
properly be known, under whose power and dominion
they belong, so also the church of God is
known by this that she recognizes and obeys Christ
Jesus as her only Head and King, in all matters of
faith, and observes his commandments. And as a
pure virgin and bride forsakes father, mother, and
all strange company and subjects herself to the will
and obedience of her only bridegroom; so all true
children of God must separate themselves from all
false worship, flee from the stranger’s voice, and
unite themselves to Christ, to hear and obediently
follow his voice, which is proclaimed by the ministers
sent by him.

Fifthly. The people of God are known by their
faithful ministers, who, according to the doctrine of
Paul, are unblamable in doctrine and life, and feed
the sheep of Christ, not for the milk and wool, but
with a willing mind, with knowledge and understanding;
speaking not their own words, but only
the words of their Lord, and executing his work;
rightly dividing and dispensing the word of God,
and bringing forth fruits with it; in order that
380
through this good message of the ways of the Lord
men might, according to the counsel and will of
God, be converted from their evil ways, and won
to God.

Sixthly, and lastly. All true disciples of Jesus
Christ are known by the unfeigned godly love,
which our Savior himself has put as a sign, by
which his disciples should be specially known;
which is comprehended in these things: That we
love the Lord God our Creator with all our heart
and strength, above all other things, which consists
principally in the keeping of his commandments.
And besides: That we love our brethren or neighbors
as ourselves, not only in word or tongue, but
in deed and in truth; so that those to whom God
has given spiritual gifts, minister therewith, from
love, to the souls of their neighbors; and those
whom God has blessed with temporal possessions,
minister therewith unto the temporal needs of their
neighbors, in order that thus among this true Israel
of God, there may be found no poor, nor any lack
in spiritual or temporal things. Finally, we must
show charity to all men, though they be our open
enemies, who persecute and kill us, whom we may
by no means resist with carnal weapons; but, as
Christ did not open his mouth in revenge upon his
enemies, but, as an humble and dumb lamb, prayed
for them, so we must also follow this infallible example.
And as all soldiers forsake their former
avocation, and wear the livery of their lord and
king, as a sign to distinguish them from all strange
servants, and that they are bound to their captain
even unto death; so also, must all true servants of
Jesus Christ be armed with the aforesaid marks,
that thereby they may be known and distinguished
from all other people.



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_380)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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