A39224:222
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 in civil Order, he that doth not submit unto and rest in (as to peace and order) the sentence of the Supreme Power, is guilty of a Capital Offence, and ought to be put to death, by the Law of God, Deut. 17. 10, 11, 12, 13. and the reason is; because Order is better then any of our lives. It is a greater good to preserve Order, then to preserve the lives of the wilful and obstinate violators thereof. And the loss of Order and Peace in Ecclesiastical Government, in the way of the Churches, is of greater consequence, then the loss of their lives. Zec. 13. 3, 6.
And in civil Order, he that doth not submit unto and rest in (as to peace and order) the sentence of the Supreme Power, is guilty of a Capital Offence, and ought to be put to death, by the Law of God, Deut. 17. 10, 11, 12, 13. and the reason is; because Order is better then any of our lives. It is a greater good to preserve Order, then to preserve the lives of the wilfull and obstinate violaters thereof. And the loss of Order and Peace in Ecclesiastical Government, in the way of the Churches, is of greater consequence, then the loss of their lives. Zec. 13. 3, 6.
9. All things that are to be commended or committed to Civil Authority, either from the Churches, or in behalf of the Churches, and Religion, are to be resolved, and acted by the National Council. Where great care is to be had, to keep a clear distinction, betwixt Civil and Ecclesiastical Power, and not to meddle, or in the least, intrude or intrench upon Civil Authority. The usurpation of Antichrist upon the Civil Authority, must ever keep the Ecclesiastical Councils in a vigilant fear of that aspiring pride: a worm too apt to breed and grow in the breasts of learned, and eminently gifted men, if there be not a vigilant spirit of mortification, and humble subjection unto Order.
10 It will be necessary that an appointed Committee of this National Council be always (some or other of them) resident near unto the Supreme Civil Authority; that they may speedily have notice of all occurrences, that may have respect unto, or concern the Ecclesiastical affairs of the ⟨p. 34⟩Churches: and may receive Commands from Authority, about Fastings or Feastings, according to the well or ill being of the affairs of the Nation, or the Churches, either at home or abroad; and may call together the whole Council, if there be any cause that it should be so, &c.
10 It will be necessary that an appointed Committee of this National Council be alwayes (some or other of them) resident near unto the Supream Civil Authority; that they may speedily have notice of all occurrences, that may have respect unto, or concern the Ecclesiastical affaires of the ⟨p. 34⟩Churches: and may receive Commands from Authority, about Fastings or Feastings, according to the well or ill being of the affaires of the Nation, or the Churches, either at home or abroad; and may call together the whole Council, if there be any cause that it should be so, &c.
11. Such public Fasts and Feasts as concern all the Churches in the Nation to solemnize, which are not first commanded by civil Authority, why may they not be appointed and agreed on by the National Council• such public sins as are to be bewailed; such mercies as are to be implored for our Churches, or for the Nation, or for foreign Churches and Nations; such motions and designs of spreading and propagating religion as are in hand, &c. These are to be presented to all the Churches as matter of Prayer, both ordinary and extraordinary.
11. Such publick Fasts and Feasts as concern all the Churches in the Nation to solemnize, which are not first commanded by civil Authority, why may they not be appointed and agreed on by the National Council• such publick sins as are to be bewailed; such mercies as are to be i•plored for our Churches, or for the Nation, or for forreign Churches and Nations; such motions and designes of spreading and propagating religion as are in hand, &c. These are to be presented to all the Churches as matter of Prayer, both ordinary and extraordinary.
12. When these Members of the National Council return unto the Provincial Councils, whose delegates they (immediately) are, they are to report unto them the state and affairs of all the Churches in the Nation, and in foreign Nations also And they are to report them to all the first Councils. and they unto all the Churches, as matters of prai•e, and prayer to God, and of encouragement to obedience unto government.
12. When these Members of the National Council return unto the Provincial Councils, whose delegates they (immediately) are, they are to report unto them the state and affaires of all the Churches in the Nation, and in forreign Nations also And they are to report them to all the first Councils. and they unto all the Churches, as matters of prai•e, and prayer to God, and of incouragement to obedience unto government.
And that this communication of Ecclesiastical affairs may be the more readily expedited:
And that this communication of Ecclesiastical affaires may be the more readily expedited:
1. All the first Councils, or some one of every Council, may meet that day seven night after the Provincial Councils meeting to hear the affairs of all the Province. And some of the Provincial Council may be there, to declare the affairs of all the Churches in the Province.
1. All the first Councils, or some one of every Council, may meet that day seven night after the Provincial Councils meeting to hear the affaires of all the Province. And some of the Provincial Council may be there, to declare the affaires of all the Churches in the Province.
2. So likewise the Provincial Councils (or some of every Provincial Council) may meet that day seven-night after the Session of the National Council, to hear the affairs of the whole Nation, and some of the National Council may be there to give information of all things •ing to be communicated. But experience will put men upon the best w•y of Order in these things.
2. So likewise the Provincial Councils (or some of every Provincial Council) may meet that day seven-night after the Session of the National Council, to hear the affaires of the whole Nation, and some of the National Council may be there to give information of all things •ing to be communic•ted. But experience will put men upon the best w•y of Order in these things.
The particular duties of the Ecumenical Council I pass in silence; I leave them to their consideration, whose happy […] it shall be, to see those glorious times, when such Councils shall be called.
The p•rticular duties of the Oecumeni•al Council I pass in silence; I leave them to their consideration, whose happy 〈…〉 it shall be, to see those gl•rious times, when such Councils shall be called.
Notwithstanding these public Orders of Councils, it is lawful for any person, or parties, or Church, to take any private •unsel, that he or they will or c•n obtain, according to God, […] they •ay have occasion.
Notwithstanding these publick Orders of Councils, it is lawful for any person, or parties, or Church, to take any private •unsel, that he or they will or c•n obtain, according to God, 〈…〉 they •ay have occ•sion.
I. Every Parishional Congregation, who solemnly renouncing all their sins and evils, both personal and ecclesiastical, shall willingly (by what ways, means, or motives soever thereunto induced) submit themselves and their children to the Government of Christ, in Gospel-Order; and particularly to be guided in the common concernments of Religion, by the holy advice of the forenamed Orders of Councils; and do (by their pious and prudent counsel and concurrence) orderly elect all Officers, both Elders and Deacons, among themselves, and promise for themselves and their households, to walk in the Christian exercise of all Gods Ordinances, according to Rule, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel: That Parish, or so many of them as shall herein concur. is to be owned a particular Reforming Congregational Church; and is to be received into the Communion of the Churches in this Order of Government. They delivering this act of theirs in writing, unto that first Council with whom they associate, there to be recorded.
I. EVery Parishional Congregation, who solemnly renouncing all their sins and evils, both personal and •cclesiastical, shall willingly (by what wayes, means, or motives soever thereunto induced) submit themselves and their children to the Government of Christ, in Gospel-Order; and particularly to be guided in the common concernments of Religion, by the holy advice of the forenamed Orders of Councils; and do (by their pious and prudent counsel and concurrence) orderly elect all Officers, both Elders and Deacons, among themselves, and promise for themselves and their households, to walk in the Christian exercise of all Gods Ordinances, according to Rule, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel: That Parish, or so many of them as shall herein concurre. is to be owned a particular Reforming Congregational Church; and is to be received into the Communion of the Churches in this Order of Government. They delivering this act of theirs in writing, unto that first Council with whom they associate, there to be recorded.
II. It may, by the good blessing of God, greatly promote Religion, and the Reformation of particular Churches, if such of the godly Gentry of the Land, who are not in Civil Authority, would please to do that honour to Christ, to subject themselves to his service, in accepting of the Offices of Ruling Elders and Deacons, in the •urches of Jesus Christ. It would much strengthen the hands of Church-government, and be no small honour to themselves; and they will hereby render themselves great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
II. It may, by the good blessing of God, greatly promote Rel•gion, and the Reformation of particular Churches, if such of the godly Gentry of the Land, who are not in Civil Authority, would please to do that honour to Christ, to subject themselves to his service, in accepting of the Offices of Ruling Elders and Deacons, in the •urches of Jesus Christ. It would much strengthen the hands of Church-government, and be no small honour to themselves; and they will hereby render themselves great in the Kingdome of Heaven.
III. By the Ordinance o• […] prudently exercised, both publicly in the Church, and in private houses, all t• Church are to be trained up unto a competency of knowledge in Jesus Christ.
III. By the Ordinance o• 〈…〉 prudentl• exercised, both publickly in the Church, and in private houses, all t• Church are to be trained up unto a competency of knowledge in Jesus Christ.
IV. Special •are is to be had in the training up of Youth in the good knowledge of God, made manifest to the Church by their public account, answer, or confession thereof; a•d unto an explicit acknowledgement of Christ, with sub• and engagement of themselves unto the Church, ⟨p. 36⟩wherein they give up themselves and their children unto God, to be ruled by Religion, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel. Which done, their Children are to be baptized.
IV. Special •are is to be had in the training up of Youth in the good knowledge of God, made manifest to the Church by their publick account, answer, or confession thereof; a•d unto an explicite acknowledgement of Christ, with sub• and engagement of themselves unto the C•urch, ⟨p. 36⟩wherein they give up themselves and their children unto God, to be ruled by Religion, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel. Which done, their Children are to be baptized.
V. Upon the due evidence of some hopeful real work and change of heart by Faith and Repentance, duly manifested to the Church, whereby the persons concerned may be in Charity conceived able to examine themselves, & •o discern the Lords body in the Sacrament, and spiritually to judge of a spiritual cause, such ought, by the Church, to be received unto Communion in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and such Males unto Voting in the Church; because ordinarily, such as are able to discern Christ in the Sacrament, are also able spiritually to discern of a spiritual cause, and thereby capable to Vote, in such cases wherein the Fraternity is called to Voting in the Church.
V. Upon the due evidence of some hopeful reall work and change of heart by Faith and Repentance, duely manifested to the Church, whereby the persons concerned may be in Charity conceived able to examine themselves, & •o discern the Lords body in the Sacrament, and spiritually to judge of a spiritual cause, such ought, by the Church, to be received unto Communion in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and such Males unto Voting in the Church; because ordinarily, such as are able to discern Christ in the Sacrament, are also able spiritually to discern of a spiritual cause, and thereby capable to Vote, in such cases wherein the Fraternity is called to Voting in the Church.
