A39224:148
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.
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.
Hence also it was enough to give us one pattern of an ordinary Council, there was no need for the continuation ⟨p. 22⟩thereof, whilst the Apostles and Evangelists did survive.
Hence also it was enough to give us one p•tern of an ordinary Council, there was no need for the continuation ⟨p. 22⟩thereof, whilst the Apostles and Evangelists did survive.
Object. But doth not this strengthen the Argument for Bishops, and such like Superintendents over the Churches? for so they a gue.
Ans. Were there a like example in an ordinary way, set down in Scripture, for this work to be done by any one Man not extraordinarily called, as there is for a Council, then their Argument would have force with it; but such pattern, or precept for it, is not to be found. And the way of Councils, (which is clearly instituted) is sufficient to attain the end, as we have found by precious and plenteous experience: though we are still defective, in that we have not our Councils stated, and we do find great inconvenience by reason of that defect.