Lutheran Manual on Scriptural Principles e-bog

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The visible Church of Christ is a divinely-appointed institution, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; against which Church the gates of hell shall never prevail. It is not to be regarded as of human origin, as a voluntary association, or Optional institution, to which we may attach ourselves or not, as we please. It is a place of refuge provided by God himself for fallen man, and if he voluntarily neglects to flee to it for safety, he will forever fail to find any other hiding place from the tempest or refuge from the storm of the divine displeasure. It consists of all those who have heard the gospel call, and having resolved to accept it, have been made disciples by baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who have thus publicly professed the name of Christ before the world, and promised to obey all things, whatever he has commanded them in his inspired word.