N00061:214
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.
9. All things that are to be commended or committed to Civil Authority, either from the Churches, or in behalf of the Churches, and Religion• are to be resolved, and acted by the National Council. Where great care is to be had, to keep a clear distinction, betwixt Civil and Ecclesiastical Power, and not to meddle, or in the least, intrude or intrench upon Civil Authority. The usurpation of Antichrist upon the Civil Authority, must ever keep the Ecclesiastical Councils in a vigilant fear of that aspiring pride: a worm too apt to breed and grow in the breasts of learned, and eminently gifted men, if there be not a vigilant spirit of mortification, and humble subjection unto Order.
9. All things that are to be commended or committed to Civil Authority, either from the Churches, or in behalf of the Churches, and Religion• are to be resolved, and acted by the National Council. Where great care is to be had, to keep a clear distinction, betwixt Civil and Ecclesiastical Power, and not to meddle, or in the least, intrude or intrench upon Civil Authority. The usurpation of Antichrist upon the Civil Authority, must ever keep the Ecclesiastical Councils in a v•gilant fear of that aspiring pride: a worm too apt to breed and grow in the breasts of learned, and eminently gifted men, if there be not a vigilant spirit of mortification, and humble subjection unto Order.
10 It will be necessary that an appointed Committee of this National Council be always (some or other of them) resident near unto the Supreme Civil Authority; that they may speedily have notice of all occurrences, that may have respect unto, or concern the Ecclesiastical affairs of the ⟨p. 34⟩Churches: and may receive Commands from Authority, about Fastings or Feastings, according to the well or ill being of the affairs of the Nation, or the Churches, either at home or abroad; and may call together the whole Council, if there be any cause that it should be so, &c.