N00061:167
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.
VIII. If there arise any difficulty in any of the Churches about Election of Officers, Administration of Censures, Admission of Members, Education of Youth, or in such like cases▪ (and w•en do all these vigorously proceed without difficulty?) It is the duty and care of these Councils ▪ by the evidence of the light of the Word of God so to advise and counsel these Churches, as that they may proceed to act in due unity good order, and in the power and peace of the Gospel.
VIII. If there arise any difficul•y in any of the Churches about Election of Off•cers, A•ministration of Censures, Admission of Me•bers, Education of Youth, or in such like cases▪ (and w•en do all these vigorously proceed without difficulty?) It is the duty and care of these Councils ▪ by the evidence of the light of the Word of God so to advise and counsel these Churches, as that they may proceed to act in due unity good order, and in the power and peace of the Gospel.
IX. Because the pious and prudent management of the ⟨p. 26⟩public stock of Prayers and Praises, is a point that greatly doth concern the Church Militant: and because all the great Motions in the world are steered and managed by Divine Providence ▪ according to the Prayers of the Churches, and of the Saints; Hence it is a great service of Christ, and of the Churches, for all the Councils to order and present matter of Prayers and Thanksgiving, and also to order and guide the times and seasons of public Fastings and Thanksgivings. The management of the great Wheel of public Prayers, as to the presenting of matter, and ordering of seasons, lieth within the care and guidance of the Councls, by whose pious prudence, all the Churches will be led on in an united Spirit of Prayer, both for matter and seasons, but abandoning the Antichristian stinted Forms and Times.