N00061:116
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.
II. This act of the Churches Election must be diligently, religiously and solemnly attended and performed, as being fundamentally and essentially requisite, both for the Constitution of all Councils, and for the Obligation of all Churches unto obedience.
This act of the Church hath reference, not only to the Constitution of the first Council, but also of all the rest. For seeing Churches are the Efficient Causes of Councils, none are to be chosen to • Provincial▪ National, or Ecumenical Synod, but such as were first chosen by some particular Church, to constitute a first Council ▪ and to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel according to order.
This act of the Church hath reference, not onely to the Constitution of the first Council, but also of all the rest. For seeing Churches are the Efficient Causes of Councils, none are to be chosen to • Provincial▪ National, or Oecumenical Synod, but such as were first chosen by some particular Church, to constitute a first Council ▪ and to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel according to order.
Hence also it must be carefully and expressedly put into the Vote of this first act of the Churches Election, That they are chosen to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel in all the Orders of it, both in Provincial National, and Ecumenical Councils, even unto the highest point: for though all ⟨p. 19⟩