一、大公教会或普世教会是无形的，由过去、现在和未来在元首基督之下所召集的合而为一的选民总数构成，是那充满万有者的新妇、身体和长成（弗1:10,22-23；5:23,27,32；西1:18）。（译注：无形的教会，是神眼中所看到的。）

The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.

二、有形的教会，在福音之下也是大公的、或普世的（不像从前在律法之下仅限于一个国家），包括全世界所有承认真信仰的人（林前1:2；12:12-13；诗2:8；启7:9；罗15:9-12）和他们的儿女（林前7:14；徒2:39；创17:7-12；结16:20-21；罗11:16；加3:7,9,14；罗4:12,16,24）：这是主耶稣基督的国度（太13:47；赛9:7；路1:32-33；徒2:30-36；西1:13）、神的殿和家（弗2:19；3:15）。在教会之外，没有一般的得救可能性（徒2:47）。（译注：有形的教会，是人眼中所看到的。）

The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

三、基督已经把牧养的职分、圣道和神的典章赐给了这个大公和有形的教会，以便召集并成全在今世生活的圣徒，直到世界的末了；又按着祂的应许，就借着祂自己的同在和圣灵，使这些有效地成就他们的目的（林前12:28；弗4:11-13；太28:19-20；赛59:21）。（译注：1、神的典章包括圣礼和其他制度；2、教会在地上不只是一个抽象的身体，而且是一个具体的组织。3、教会在地上有三个任务：向神献上敬拜、向内造就信徒、向外传扬福音。）

Unto this catholic and visible church, Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world; and doth by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto.

四、这个大公教会有时比较显而易见，有时不太明显（罗11:3-5；徒9:31；2:41,47；18:8-10）。作为其成员的个别教会的纯正程度，取决于在他们中间所教导和接纳的福音教义、所执行的典章、以及所举行的公开敬拜的纯正程度（徒2:41-42；林前5:6-7；启2-3）。（译注：地上真教会的标志是：1、圣道被纯正地宣讲和聆听；2、圣礼按照基督的吩咐施行；3、纪律得到合宜的执行。可以有网上敬拜、网上祷告会，但没有网上教会。）

This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less, visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.

五、天底下最纯正的教会，也难免有混杂和错误（林前13:12；启2-3；太13:24-30,47）；有些教会已经堕落到显然不是基督的教会的地步（太23:37-39；罗11:18-22）。虽然如此，地上总会有一个教会按照神的旨意敬拜祂（太16:18；诗45:16-17；72:17；太28:19-20；林前15:51-52；帖前4:17）。

The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error: and some have so degenerated as to become apparently no churches of Christ. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to His will.

六、除了主耶稣基督以外，没有别的教会元首（西1:18；弗1:22）：罗马教宗在任何意义上都不能成为教会的元首（太23:8-10；彼前5:2-4）。（译注：OPC版对本节有修订。）

There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof.