A39224:227
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 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.
I. Though it be meet that all their necessary Charges be born for them; for who goeth on a warfare at his own charge? yet it is in no wise meet that any Profits or Revenues should be annexed unto any of the Councils, from the lowest unto the highest. Worldly Profit, Power and Splendour, are beneath the spirit and aim of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only the Notaries Place, being a service of much •bour, pains and diligence, it is me•t that some consideration be had for some convenient recompense for their labour.
I. THough it be meet that all their necessary Charges be born for them; for who goeth on a warfare at his own charge? yet it is in no wise meet that any Profits or Revenues should be annexed unto any of the Councils, from the lowest unto the highest. Worldly Profit, Power and Splendor, are beneath the spirit and aim of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Onely the Notaries Place, being a service of much •bour, pains and diligence, it is me•t that some consideration be had for some convenient recompence for their labour.
II. If any godly minded Christian, out of a love unto, and zeal for the honour of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, should desire to give, and annex Maintenance unto any of these forenamed Councils, more then conveniently to bear their Charges (as Noble Constantine did for the worldly splendour of the Bishops) it ought not to be permitted, but religiously opposed: for it will certainly prove an Inlet of great Corruption, Ambition, Avarice, and Strife, unworthy and unfit persons will endeavour to Bribe themselves into Places, more for the Wages, then for the Work.
II. If any godly minded Christian, out of a love unto, and zeal for the honour of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ, should desire to give, and annex Maintenance unto any of these forenamed Councils, more then conveniently to bear their Charges (as Noble Constantine did for the worldly splendor of the Bishops) it ought not to be permitted, but religiously opposed: for it will certainly prove an Inlet of great Corruption, Ambition, Avarice, and Strife, unworthy and unfit persons will endeavour to Br•be themselves into Places, more for the Wages, then for the Work.
III. The honour of the Service, and the glory of Christ that is upon the Messengers of the Churches, these are inseparable from the Work, and are as much as flesh and blood (we being in the flesh, and state militant) will be able ⟨p. 37⟩to weather, and keep from running •ground upon.
III. The honour of the Service, and the glory of Christ that is upon the Messengers of the Churches, these are i•separable from the Work, and are as much as flesh and blood (we being in the flesh, and state militant) will be able ⟨p. 37⟩to weather, and keep from running •ground upon.
But Revenue and Profit are separable from the Work, •d must be religiously and earnestly▪ kept off▪ It being a Wor• that will surely▪ corrupt• this blessed Work, and glorious Service of Jesur Christ.
But Revenue and Profit are separable from the Work, •d must be religiously and earnestly▪ kept off▪ It being a Wor• that will surely▪ corrupt• this blessed Work, and glorious Service of Iesur Christ.
