A39224:146
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.
Sundry Churches also, and remote places, lie long in the dark, without food and help, for want of the orderly care of settled Councils; Every bodies work is no-bodies. But when all Churches are in order, all know where their work lieth.
Sundry Churches also, and remote places, ly long in the dark, without food and help, for want of the orderly care of setled Councils; Every bodies work is no-bodies. But when all Churches are in order, all know where their work lyeth.
Disorders likewise, and insuperable distempers, by long •retting and burning in the bosom of sundry Churches, to the great dishonour of God, and scandal to the Saints, for want of stated Councils: some or other refusing (in the time of their temptations) to submit themselves unto the remedy, especially having that advantage, that without their consent, a pro-renascent Council may not be called; or if called by some only, they have the less opportunity of doing good, and are in the more danger of doing hurt.
Disorders likewise, and insuperable distempers, by long •retting and burning in the bosom of sundry Churches, to the great dishonour of God, and scandal to the Saints, for want of stated Councils: some or other refusing (in the time of their temptations) to submit themselves unto the remedy, especially having that advantage, that without their consent, a pro-renascent Council may not be called; or if called by some onely, they have the less opportunity of doing good, and are in the more danger of doing hurt.
Nor can it be said that there is no example nor ground of stated and permanent Councils in the holy Scriptures, seeing the Apostles and Evangelists were so, and more, unto the Primitive Churches.