A39224:108
Communion of churches, or, The divine management of gospel-churches
Communion of churches, or, The divine management of gospel-churches by the ordinance of councils constituted in order according to the Scriptures as also the way of bringing all Christian parishes to be particular Reforming Congregational Churches, humbly proposed as ... a means of uniting those two holy and eminent parties the Presbyterians and the Congregationals ... / written by John Eliot.Communion of churches, or, The divine management of gospel-churches by the ordinance of councils constituted in order according to the Scriptures as also the way of bringing all Christian parishes to be particular Reforming Congregationall Churches, humbly proposed as ... a means of uniting those two holy and eminent parties the Presbyterians and the Congregationals ... / written by John Eliot.
printed by Marmaduke Johnson, 1665
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. III. Of the Constitution of Four Orders of Councils.
I. When Twelve Churches, or any other Number under Twenty •our▪ shall agree to hold Communion in a Council for Mutual Help, and shall send forth Messengers at least two from every Church, and they of both Orders of Elders, or in defect of Ruling Elders, Brethren eminent in Piety and Wisdom, who are as Elders, to manage the Ordinance of Counsel in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches herein combined.
I. WHen Twelve Churches, or any other Number under Twenty •our▪ shall agree to hold Communion in a Council for Mutual Help, and shall send forth Messengers at least two from every Church, and they of both Orders of Elders, or in defect of Ruling Elders, Brethren eminent in Piety and Wisdome, who are as Elders, to manage the Ordinance of Counsel in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches herein combined.
These do constitute the first Order of a complete Council; the first Ascent of the glorious Temple; the first Row in compacting the New Jerusalem. These are the Twenty four Elders before the Lord, representing all the Congregations which sent them. It is both needful and attainable, that these Councils should meet once every Month.
These do constitute the first Order of a compleat Council; the first Ascent of the glorious Temple; the first Row in compacting the New Ierusalem. These are the Twenty four Elders before the Lord, representing all the Congregations which sent them. It is both needful and attainable, that these Councils should meet once every Moneth.