25. Of old the Psalmist sang, Bless ye
God in the congregations, even the Lord, (ye that are) from the
fountains of Israel Ps. lxviii. 26: ἐν
ἐκκλησίαις.. But after
the Jews for the plots which they made against the Saviour were cast
away from His grace, the Saviour built out of the Gentiles a second
Holy Church, the Church of us Christians, concerning which he said to
Peter, And upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it Matt. xvi. 18.. And David prophesying of both these,
said plainly of the first which was rejected, I have hated the
Congregation of evil doers Ps. xxvi. 5.; but of the second
which is built up he says in the same Psalm, Lord, I have loved the
beauty of Thine house Ps. xxvi. 8: Sept. εὐπρέπειαν
. R.V. and A.V.
“habitation.”; and immediately
afterwards, In the Congregations will I bless thee, O
Lord Ib. v.
12.. For now that
the one Church in Judæa is cast off, the Churches of Christ are
increased over all the world; and of them it is said in the Psalms,
Sing unto the Lord a new song, His praise in the Congregation of
Saints Ps. cxlix. 1.. Agreeably to
which the prophet also said to the Jews, I have no pleasure in you,
saith the Lord Almighty Mal. i. 10.; and immediately
afterwards, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down
of the same, My name is glorified among the Gentiles Ib. v.
11.. Concerning this Holy Catholic Church
Paul writes to Timothy, 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. iii. 15..