N00061:120
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. The Provincial Council doth consist of the choicest Instruments in all the first Councils, by whom they are chosen and sent with their Prayers and Blessing: Every first Council electing the most holy, learned, and able Elders, both Teaching and Ruling, that they have, who are most fit to promote and attain the ends they are sent for, viz. To carry on the Ordinance of Counsel in a Provincial Synod, both by themselves, and by choosing such as may further promote the same in a National Council, &c.
IV. The Provincial Council doth consist of the choycest Instruments in all the first Councils, by whom they are chosen and sent with their Prayers and Blessing: Every first Council electing the most holy, learned, and able Eld•rs, both Teaching and Ruling, that they have, who are most fit to promote and attain the ends they are sent for, viz. To carry on the Ordinance of Counsel in a Provincial Synod, both by themselv•s, and by chusing such as may further promote the same in a National Council, &c.
V. The Time of this Election, is to be in that Session of the first Councils, which doth immediately precede the stated Quarterly time of the Provincial Councils Meeting.
VI. The Order and Manner of this Election may be this: The Moderator of that Session may first put this to vote, whether they will send but one, or more then one Teaching Elders; for by the good Providence and rich Grace of Christ, there may be sundry able and eminent Lights in one first Council, and such, as that it were a public injury and detriment to the Cause of Christ, if they be not sent. This provided, That according to the Number of Teaching Elders, a like Number of Ruling Elders be also sent with them.