Of the True Church of God, its Origin, Progress, and Immovable Stability

[Since the following work gives some survey of the succession and establishment of the church, we think it best, so that this may not be misinterpreted, and because some of our good friends have asked and begged us to do it (though we had intended to leave it as it was), to set before what follows, by way of introduction, our exposition of the true and the false church, and of the good and the evil succession and progress belonging to each of them; and also to state the views we hold concerning the right of succession. We will therefore begin here, and, so as not to be tedious, we will try to be as brief as possible.]

Since there are two different peoples, two different congregations and churches, the one of God and from heaven, the other of Satan and from the earth, there is also a different succession and progress belonging to each of them.*

We shall first speak of the divine and heavenly church, and then of the one last mentioned.

The divine and heavenly church, which is the separated holy flock and people of God, began on earth at the beginning of the world; it has existed through all the ages up to the present time; and it will continue to the end of the world.