N00061:107
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.
IV. As the first Councils consist of the most choice persons in all the Churches; so the Provincial Councils do consist of the most choice Instruments in the respective Provinces; and the National Council doth consist of the most choice persons in all the Nation: who pass through so many Ecclesiastical Elections, before they arrive unto this high and holy Service. They pass under an opportunity of being called out from among all the Choice Jewels of the Nation, who are in an Ecclesiastical Order and Capacity. It will be both needful and attainable, that these should meet once in a Year.
IV. As the first Councils consist of the most choyce persons in all the Churches; so the Provincial Councils do consist of the most choyce Instruments in the respective Provinces; and the National Council doth consist of the most choyce persons in all the Nation: who pass through so many Ecclesiastical Elections, before they arrive unto this high and holy Service. They pass under an opportunity of being called out from among all the Choyce Jewels of the Nation, who are in an Ecclesiastical Order and Capacity. It will be both needful and attainable, that these should meet once in a Year.
V. When Twelve National Councils, or any Number under Twenty four, shall agree, with the explicit consent of all the Churches, passing and arising through all the Order• of Councils, to hold Communion in Councils for Mutual Help; and to that end shall send forth, at least one Teaching, and one Ruling Elder, men eminent in Holiness and Abilities for so high a service, to constitute an Ecumenical Council ▪ and there to manage the Ordinance of Counsel, in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches and Councils ⟨p. 16⟩herein combined: These do constitute a Fourth Order of Councils. They are an Ecumenical Council, and represent all the Churches in those Nations before the Lord