N00061:197
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.
8. If any counsel or ju•gement agreed on by this Council be not accepted or acquiesced in, by the party or parties concerned he or they may Appeal unto the National Council, for further light; and the Notaries are to record it, and the Reasons thereof. Provided, that if this Council advise the Church to proceed to Censure, they may so do, if they see cause, notwithstanding his Appeal
8. If any counsel or ju•gement agreed on by this Council be not accepted or acquiesced in, by the party or parties concerned he or they may Appeal unto the National Council, for further light; and the Notaries are to record it, and the Reasons thereof. Provided, that if this Council advise the Church to p•oceed to Censure, they may so do, if they see cause, notwithstanding his Appeal
9. Those Provincial Councils which do immediately forego the state• time of the National Coun••ls meeting are each of them to choose, at least, one Teaching, and one Ruling Elder, according to the manner aforesaid, who are to be Representatives of these Provincial Councils, and of all the first Counc•ls, and Churches with them combined▪ in the National […] ; who are chosen to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel in that Order.
9. Those Provincial Councils which do immediately forego the state• time of the National Coun••ls meeting are each of them to chuse, at least, one Teaching, and one Rul•ng Elder, according to the manner aforesaid, who are to be Representatives of these Provincial Councils, and of all the first Counc•ls, and Churches with them combined▪ in the National 〈…〉 ; who are chosen to carry on the Ordinance of Counsel in that Order.
10. The Notaries are publicly in the presence of every Council, to deliver, in writing unto them who are chosen for the National Council, 1. The present state of all the first Councils, and of all the Churches combined with them, 2. All the Causes that are transmitted by them unto the National Council. 3. The Appeals, if any such be All these, being first read are delivered to them: and so they are sent with their prayers and blessing.
10. The Notaries are publickly in the presence of every C•uncil, to deliver, in writing unto them who are chosen for the National Council, 1. The present state of all the first Councils, and of all the Churches combined with them, 2. All the Causes that are transmitted by them unto the National Council. 3. The Appeals, if any such be All these, being first read are delivered to them: and so they are sent with their prayers and blessing.
11. If these Councils foresee any future Sessions this quarter, they may now agree upon the same: if any Fasts or Feasts are to be kept by all their Churches, they may now agree upon it, and propose the Causes thereof.
12. When these Elders do next meet in their first Councils, they must prudently and faithfully report the good state of all the rest of the first Councils in the Province, and of all the Churches combined with them, and all other weighty affairs frating to be communi•••••, that so they may relate them to their Churches, that […] things may be matter of joy, praise thanksgiving, […] ▪ and obedience in all the Churches.
12. When these Elders do next meet in their first Councils, they must prudently and faithfully report the good state of all the rest of the first Coun•ils in the Province, and of all the Churches combined with them, and all other weighty affairs frating to be communi•••••, that so they may relate them to their Churches, that 〈…〉 things may be matter of joy, praise thanksgiving, 〈…〉 ▪ and obedience in all the Churches.
The National Council being met at the stated time, and pla•e agreed on• completed and blessed; then
THe National Council being met at the stated time, and pla•e agreed on• compleated and blessed; then
1. The Moderator, with the co•attestation of the Ruling ⟨p. 32⟩Elder his Associate, is to declare unto them the present good estate of that Provincial Council which sent them, as also the state of all the first Councils, and particular Churches with them combined. Also he declareth such cases as are transmitted by them unto this Council; and such Appeals as are made unto them, as part of the present business of this Council. All these things to be delivered in writing distinctly, unto the Notaries, who read them all, and then record the present good estate of that Province, and all the Councils and Churches therein combined; as also the matters that are from them dilated unto the present Council.
1. The Moderator, with the co•attestation of the Ruling ⟨p. 32⟩Elder his Associate, is to declare unto them the present good estate of that Provincial Council which sent them, as also the state of all the first Councils, and particu•ar Churches with them combined. Also he declareth such cases as are transmitted by them unto this Council; and such Appeals as are made unto them, as part of the present business of this Council. All these things to be delivered in writing distinctly, unto the Notaries, who reade them all, and then record the present good estate of that Province, and all the Councils and Churches therein combined; as also the matters that are from them dilated unto the present Council.
2. The Moderator calleth all the rest of the Provincial Representatives in order, who are to make the like declaration as the Moderator hath done, with the co-attestation of their Associate Ruling Elders. All their Papers are to be delivered to the Notaries, who are to read, and then record them distinctly, with the present Ecclesiastical state of all the Provinces in the Nation, whose Representatives do there appear, & make declaration thereof before the National Council.
2. The Moderator calleth all the rest of the Provincial Representatives in order, who are to make the like declaration as the Moderator hath done, with the co-attestation of their Associate Ruling Elders. All their Papers are to be delivered to the Notaries, who are to reade, and then record them distinctly, with the present Ecclesiastical state of all the Provinces in the Nation, whose Representatives do there appear, & make declaration thereof before the National Council.
3. The Notaries are orderly to propose all the matters presented by the Provincial Councils, when the Moderator requireth the same. Care being had, that the persons concerned be present, and have free and competent liberty to argue, answer, object in due, reverent, and modest manner, and to do what may be necessary for the finding out of the truth.
4. If there be no Cases transmitted to them, nor Appeals, the affairs of all the Churches in the Nation are presently issued, with glory and praise to the Lord Jesus, the King of Peace.
5. If any other person or persons within the Nation, or of any other Nation, have any Cases or Questions about Religion, they may now have liberty of proposing the same, to receive an answer.
6. If any Cases of difficulty be such, as that they cannot obtain an issue, and resolution satisfactory, then the Case must be recorded, and stay until by further consideration and discussion, God shall please to reveal further light therein, because there is no Higher Council to appeal unto for light, within the Nation. And in such cases, so the Apostles did walk, and teach the Churches to walk, Phil 3.15, 16. Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same things.
6. If any Cases of difficulty be such, as that they cannot obtain an issue, and resolution satisfactory, then the Case must be recorded, and stay untill by further consideration and discussion, God shall please to reveal further light therein, because there is no Higher Council to appeal unto for light, within the Nation. And in such cases, so the Apostles did walk, and teach the Churches to walk, Phil 3.15, 16. Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule let us minde the same things.
But if the matter be of due weight and worth, then either ⟨p. 33⟩by Transmission or Appeal, it may ascend unto an Ecumenical Council.
But if the matter be of due weight and worth, then either ⟨p. 33⟩by Transmission or Appeal, it may ascend unto an Oecumenical Council.
7. If any person or persons, whose opinion or practice receiveth a judgement, with counsel and advice in reference to the person or persons concerned, and he or they rest not therein, as to Peace and Order; then if he or they (be they many or few) be not already under Church Censure; the Church to which they belong, are to proceed (according to the determination of this Council in the case) unto their Censure, as the Church of Corinth did upon the advice of Paul, 1 Cor. 5.4, 5. for the healing of their souls, and bringing of them unto repentance, and good order. Which being effected, the end of all this acting, both in Conviction and Correction, is attended. And thus, within the compass of one year, the whole Order of Ecclesiastical Discipline hath its course, and that in a most difficult case.
7. If any person or persons, whose opinion or practice receiveth a judgement, with counsel and advice in reference to the person or persons concerned, and he or they rest not therein, as to Peace and Order; then if he or they (be they many or few) be not already under Church Censure; the Church to which they belong, are to proceed (according to the determination of this Council in the case) unto their Censure, as the Church of Corinth did upon the advice of Paul, 1 Cor. 5.4, 5. for the healing of their soules, and bringing of them unto repentance, and good order. Which being effected, the end of all this acting, both in Conviction and Correction, is attended. And thus, within the compass of one year, the whole Order of Ecclesiastical Discipline hath its course, and that in a most difficult case.
8. But yet if he or they rest not, such are high disturbers, and must be suppressed by civil Power.
