A39224:174
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.
VII. If any Strife or Division arise among any, either person•, or parties, or Churches, or Towns, or Magistrates; because all strife is of Satan, and dangerous, and the higher the worse: Therefore it ought to be the care of all the Councils, speedily to reconcile (in an Ecclesiastical way, as to their spirits and affections) all such strife▪ with all care refusing to interpose, o• meddle with the Civil cause, if any be, leaving that to be decided in Civil Order, according to the Ordinance of God.
VII. If any Strife or Division arise among any, either person•, or parties, or Churches, or Towns, or Magistrates; because all strife is of Satan, and dangerous, and the higher the worse: Therefore it ought to be the care of all the Councils, speedily to reconcile (in an Ecclesiastical way, as to their spirits and affections) all such strife▪ with all care refusing to in•erpose, o• meddle with the Civil cause, if any be, leaving that to be decided in Civil Order, according to the Ordinance of God.
VIII. If there arise any difficulty in any of the Churches about Election of Officers, Administration of Censures, Admission of Members, Education of Youth, or in such like cases; (and when do all these vigorously proceed without difficulty?) It is the duty and care of these Councils, by the evidence of the light of the Word of God, so to advise and counsel these Churches, as that they may proceed to act in due unity, good order, and in the power and peace of the Gospel.