An Inquiry into the History and Theology of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses

...both the Diocesan Church of Rome and all the various National Churches or Fragments of Churches in communion with her—can be viewed as answering to their descriptive requirements.

As the promises are two in number, so are they two-fold in nature.

Whatever may be the precise reference of the term ROCK A reference to Matthew 16:18, where Christ addresses Peter., the first promise clearly implies that Christ would never cease to have a Visible Church upon earth. Consequently, the first promise is a promise of Visible Ecclesiastical Perpetuity.

The second promise declares: that Christ would always be spiritually present with his Church, through the medium of a succession of faithful Pastors from the time of the Apostles down to the end of the world. Consequently, the second promise is a promise of Ecclesiastical Purity, both Doctrinal and Practical.

That the first promise is a promise of Visible Ecclesiastical Perpetuity requires no proof, though there may be a diversity of opinion as to the character and nature of this Perpetuity involved in the meaning of the word ROCK.

And that the second promise is a promise of Ecclesiastical Purity, both Doctrinal and Practical, requires almost as little proof: for though, of course, all due allowance must be made for human...