The nominal church of Christ is a splendid imposition. It is a great swelling vanity, with moral perfection only in pretence. When this ecclesiastical bubble shall burst, the amazing imposition will vanish away. But the true Church of Christ will then arise from the dust of its moral imperfections, and the obscurity of its relative condition, and fulfil its wonderful mission on earth, preparatory to still more astonishing glory in heaven. Then will it appear that God created all things, “ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.”
The point
The outward institutional church is a splendid deception of moral perfection, but the true Church will arise from obscurity to fulfill its mission and display God's wisdom.