N00061:159
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. If there be any among the profession Nations that sit in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death, and […] no light, (and too many such dark Corners there be, in the Land of Zebulon and Naphthali, Mat. 4 15, 16.) who ha•e none to bring the glad Tidings of Light and Life unto them, at least, none that do it: •t well becometh the vigilance of these Councils to provide and send […] Instruments unto them, by whose Labours, the Light (through grace) may arise, and shine among them. And it is the duty of the Churches to send forth such persons with their prayers and blessing, as abovesaid.
II. If there be any among the profession Nations that sit in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death, and 〈…〉 no light, (and too many such dark Corners there be, in the Land of Zebulon and Naphthali, Mat. 4 15, 16.) who ha•e none to bring the glad Tidings of Light and Life unto them, at least, none that do it: •t well becometh the vigilance of these Councils to provide and send 〈…〉 Instruments unto them, by whose Labours, the Light (through grace) may arise, and shine among them. And it is the duty of the Churches to send forth such persons with their prayers and blessing, as abovesaid.
III. If there be any Sister-Church that hath no Breasts, (which, by death or other means▪ oft-falleth out, where Churches are numerous) it is a special and proper care of the Ecclesiastical Councils, to take a prudent▪ pious, and speedy course for their supply: It being a matter that hath a great tendency to the well-being not only of that Church, but of the Councils also, into whose Communion all Elders are received.