A39224:50
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.
CHAP. II. Of the Gospel-Measuring-Reed by the Number Twelve.
I. Seeing particular Congregations in Gospel-Order, are Churches; and these Churches, for their well-being, need to hold and exercise Communion by Councils: and one Church (as Antioch) may need the greatest and highest Counsel.
I. SEeing particular Congregations in Gospel-Order, are Churches; and these Churches, for their well-being, need to hold and exercise Communion by Councils: and one Church (as Antioch) may need the greatest and highest Counsel.
Hence in such places where, through the riches of the Grace of Christ, Churches are numerous, it will be necessary, that the management of these Councils should be in Order, according to the Pattern of Complete Councils, Acts 15. For multitude unordered, by •ow much the greater they are, the greater is their cumber, and unaptness to operate in Order unto their end. Lesser Bodies are more readily ordered, and have a greater aptitude to be active in their Order unto their end. Ordo anima rerum.
Hence in such places where, through the riches of the Grace of Christ, Churches are numerous, it will be necessary, that the management of these Councils should be in Order, according to the Pattern of Compleat Councils, Acts 15. For multitude unordered, by •ow much the greater they are, the greater is their cumber, and unaptness to operate in Order unto their end. Lesser Bodies are more readily ordered, and have a greater aptitude to be active in their Order unto their end. Ordo anima rerum.