"There shall be always a Church on earth..."

Via Mere Orthodoxy, two passages from the Westminster Confession.

From Chapter nine:

When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by his grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly, or only, will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil.

And from Chapter twenty-five, a passage which may seem especially relevant these days:

This catholic Church has 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.

The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to his will.

The blog poster explains why he finds these passages reassuring.

The Westminster Confession.

The Surprising Humanity of the Westminster Confession