N00061:133
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.
XI. A principal objection ariseth against this fixing and stating of Councils; viz. That although pre-renascent Councils are a divine remedy, when troubles arise• as it was at Antioch, who also then finished the Council▪ when the present […] was finished: but of fixed▪ stated, and permanent Coun••ls we have no example▪ nor doth there appear any ground in Scripture to bottom them upon.
XI. A principal objection ariseth against this fixing and stating of Councils; viz. That although pre-renas•ent Coun•ils are a divine remedy, when troubles arise• as it was at Antioch, who also then finished the Council▪ when the present 〈…〉 was finished: but of fixed▪ stated, and permanent Coun••ls we have no example▪ nor doth there appear any ground in S•ripture to bottom them upon.
Ans. The Primitive Churches had a stated and permanent way of counsel eminently, and more then our stated and permanent Councils can be, for they had the Apostles and Evangelists constantly among them.