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Article VIII: What the Church Is.
Although the
Church properly is the
congregation of
saints and true believers, nevertheless, since in this life many
hypocrites and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use
Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: The Scribes and the
Pharisees sit in
Moses' seat, etc. Matt. 23, 2. Both the Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the
institution and
commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they be administered by evil men.
They condemn the
Donatists, and such like, who denied it to be lawful to use the ministry of evil men in the Church, and who thought the ministry of evil men to be
unprofitable and of none effect.