N00061:102
Communion of churches: or, The divine management of Gospel-churches by the ordinance of councils,…
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 way which hath so much light from the Scriptures of truth, as that it may lawfully be submitted unto by all; and may, by the blessing of the Lord, be a means of uniting those two holy and eminent parties, the Presbyterians and the Congregationals. : As also to prepare for the hoped for resurrection of the churches; and to propose a way to bring all Christian nations unto an unity of the faith and order of the Gospel. / Written by John Eliot, teacher of Roxbury in N.E. ; [Two lines of Scripture texts]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 way which hath so much light from the Scriptures of truth, as that it may lawfully be submitted unto by all; and may, by the blessing of the Lord, be a means of uniting those two holy and eminent parties, the Presbyterians and the Congregationals. : As also to prepare for the hoped for resurrection of the churches; and to propose a way to bring all Christian nations unto an unity of the faith and order of the Gospel. / Written by John Eliot, teacher of Roxbury in N.E. ; [Two lines of Scripture texts]
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. III. Of the Constitution of Four Orders of Councils.
I. When Twelve Churches, or any other Number under Twenty four, shall agree to hold Communion in a Council for Mutual Help, and shall send forth Messengers at least two from every Church, and they of both Orders of Elders, or in defect of Ruling Elders, Brethren eminent in Piety and Wisdom, who are as Elders, to manage the Ordinance of Counsel in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches herein combined.
I. WHen Twelve Churches, or any other Number under Twenty four, shall agree to hold Communion in a Council for Mutual Help, and shall send forth Messengers at least two from every Church, and they of both Orders of Elders, or in defect of Ruling Elders, Brethren eminent in Piety and Wisdome, who are as Elders, to manage the Ordinance of Counsel in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches herein combined.
These do constitute the first Order of a complete Council; the first Ascent of the glorious Temple; the first Row in compacting the New Jerusalem. These are the Twenty four Elders before the Lord, representing all the Congregations which sent them. It is both needful and attainable, that these Councils should meet once every Month.
These do constitute the first Order of a compleat Council; the first Ascent of the glorious Temple; the first Row in compacting the New Jerusalem. These are the Twenty four Elders before the Lord, representing all the Congregations which sent them. It is both needful and attainable, that these Councils should meet once every Moneth.