A39224:169
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.
And unto this point of their care and duty it doth belong, sometimes to remove Lights from one Candlestick to another, where the gifts and labours of some special Instruments may be most fruitful, to the glory of God, and the public good of Religion, and all the Churches.
And unto this point of their care and duty it doth belong, sometimes to remove Lights from one Candlestick to another, where the gifts and labours of some special Instruments may be most fruitful, to the glory of God, and the publick good of Religion, and all the Churches.
But this is to be done with all wisdom, tenderness, and evidence of Scripture-light, that it is the Will of God, and for his Glory so to be▪ that so the Church concerned may yield it as an act of obedience to Christ, for whose sake they should be willing to pluck out their right eyes, and give them unto Christ, in obedience as unto the Apostles, so unto Councils their ordinary Successors.
But this is to be done with all wisdome, tenderness, and evidence of Scripture-light, that it is the Will of God, and for his Glory so to be▪ that so the Church concerned may yield it as an act of obedience to Christ, for whose sake they should be willing to pluck out their right eyes, and give them unto Christ, in obedience as unto the Apostles, so unto Coun•ils their ordinary Successors.
IV. As the care of all the Churches dyeth on the Ecclesiastical ⟨p. 25⟩Councils, so especially the care of those Churches which are in Combination together, and whose Communion they do act, and towards whom their first trust and care is to be exercised, for their well-being on earth, and for the furtherance of their eternal being in the Kingdom of heaven, and in all for the glory of Christ: and in particular to take care that there be general directions for Public Worship, and all other Ecclesiastical Administrations, and Conversation; and for Catechism, and Platform both of Doctrine and Discipline.