The proper and true position that should be assigned to all churches—particularly those that have fallen into corruption under the oppressive influence of the Romish idol—becomes much clearer when we compare them with the ancient Israelite Church as depicted by the prophets. As long as the Israelites remained faithful to the law of the covenant, a genuine and authentic church continued to exist among them; through God's mercy, they were able to enjoy the blessings of true ecclesiastical fellowship. The pure and unadulterated doctrine was contained and preserved within the law itself, and the responsibility of teaching and guiding the people was entrusted to the prophets and priests appointed by God. Their initiation into God's service was marked by the sign of circumcision, and through other sacred rites and ceremonies, they were nurtured, strengthened, and confirmed in their faith and devotion. The titles, honors, and divine epithets given to God's true church—those divine names and descriptions—were fittingly applied to their community. However, once the Israelites abandoned the law of the Lord and fell into idolatry, superstition, and corruption, they gradually lost that privilege and status. For who in their right mind can deny the title of "Church" to those in whom God entrusted His word, His sacred mysteries, and the true worship of His name? Conversely, who can justifiably refuse to call the assembly that boldly tramples upon God's word—where His ministers and the very heart of His worship are so grievously destroyed—the true Church? Would you like me to adjust the tone further or expand more on any specific part? Despite the Jews' descent into idolatry and false worship, the existence of some form of the church among them persisted in various shapes and degrees. But what about this? Some might question: Was there still a remnant of the true Church left among the Jews after their rebellion and fall into idolatry? The answer is clear and straightforward. First, I affirm that within their widespread deviation, there were varying degrees of decline; we cannot simply equate the serious lapses of Judas or Israel as a whole with minor faults. When Jeroboam fashioned the golden calves in direct opposition to God's explicit commands and established unauthorized places of worship—places that were not ordained by God—they corrupted religion entirely, leading it astray from its true purpose. Prior to this, the Israelites had already become morally corrupt and overly superstitious even before they changed or added external religious rites. Although during Rehoboam’s reign, they introduced many erroneous ceremonies and superstitions, the core doctrine of the law, the priesthood, and the divine ordinances still remained in Jerusalem. This allowed the faithful to maintain a semblance—though imperfect—of the true church and worship. Regarding the northern kingdom of Israel, matters had not been reformed even up to the time of Ahab; in fact, matters worsened. The subsequent kings, influenced by the example of Ahab and Jeroboam’s corruption, were wicked and idolatrous, with some attempting minor reforms, but all ultimately failing to restore true worship. In the southern kingdom of Judea, various kings sometimes corrupted God's worship through false innovations, superstitions, and idolatrous practices. Yet, even amidst these corruptions, some faithful priests and remnants of true worship persisted. Unfortunately, even the priests themselves often polluted the temple with profane, abominable rites, further betraying the sanctity and purity of God's house. Despite these corruptions, a true remnant of the church and faithful worship persisted in some form among the Jews, though greatly diminished and compromised by their idolatry and superstition.