N00061:162
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.
But this is to be done with all wisdom, tenderness▪ and evidence of Scripture light, that it is the Wall of God, and for his Glory so to be: that so the Church concerned may yield it as a• act of obedience to Christ, for whose sake they should be willing to pluck out their right eyes and give them unto Christ, in obedience as unto the Apostles, so unto Councils their ordinary Successors.
But this is to be done with all wisdome, tenderness▪ and evidence of Scripture light, that it is the Wall of God, and for his Glory so to be: that so the Church concerned may yield it as a• act of obedience to Christ, for whose sake they should be willing to pluck out their right eyes and give them unto Christ, in obedience as unto the Apostles, so unto Councils their ordinary Successors.
IV. As the care of all the Churches lieth on the Ecclesiastical ⟨p. 25⟩Councils, so especially the care of those Churches which are in Combination together, and •hose Communion they do act and towards whom their first trust and care is to be exercised, for their well-being on earth▪ and for the furtherance of their eternal being in the Kingdom of heaven, and in all for the glory of Christ and in particular to take care that there be general directions for Public Worship, and all •ther Ecclesiastical Administrations and Conversation; and for Catechism, and Platform both of Doctrine and Discipline.
IV. As the care of all the Churches lyeth on the Ecclesiastical ⟨p. 25⟩