N00061:178
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.
III. If all the Churches walk in an Evangelical measure of Truth, Peace and Holiness, and have no cause that laboureth among them, for want of Help and Counsel; then the Moderator is to declare to the praise of God, that the work of this present Session, as touching their own Churches, is finished.
IV. But if there be any difference ▪ or strife, or any difficult case in any of the Churches, there opened by the Elders: The matter is first to be put, and resolved into a Question or Questions, according as the state of the case doth require: and those Questions recorded, as matter for the Council to give advice in, unto that Church from whence they came. Also it must be provided▪ that the party, or parties concerned in the case or case• be present both at the stating of the Questions, and discussion thereof▪ and at the Application thereof unto the particular case; and that he or they have competent liberty to Discuss, Argue Answer or what ever is requisite▪ to find out and clear up the truth. The Answer to the Questions, and the Application thereof (so far as may stand with due reverence to the Church and glory of Christ) are to be recorded.
IV. But if there be any difference ▪ or strife, or any difficult case in any of the Church•s, there opened by the Elders: The matter is first to be put, and resolved into a Question or Questions, according as the state of the case doth require: and those Questions recorded, as matter for the Council to give advice in, unto that Church from whence they came. Also it must be provided▪ that the party, or parties concerned in the case or case• be p••sent both at the stating of the Questions, and discussion thereof and at the Application thereof unto the particulr case; and that he or they have competent liberty to Disuss, Argue Answer or what ever is requisite to finde out and clear up the truth. The Answer to the Questions, and the Application theeof (so far as may stand with due reverence to the Church and glory of Christ) are to be recorded.