N00061:219
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.
1. All the first Councils, or some one of every Council, may meet that day seven night after the Provincial Counc•ls meeting to hear the affairs of all the Province. And some of the Provincial Council may be there, to declare the affairs of all the Churches in the Province
1. All the first Councils, or some one of every Council, may meet that day seven night after the Provincial Counc•ls meeting to hear the affaires of all the Province. And some of the Provincial Council may be there, to declare the a•faires of all the Churches in the Province
2. So likewise the Provincial Counc•ls (o• some of every Provincial C•un••l) may meet that day seven night after the Session of the National Council, to hear the affairs of the whole Nation, and some of the National Council may be there to give information of all things •itting to be communicated. But experience will put men upon the best w•y of Order in these things.
2. So likewise the Provincial Counc•ls (o• some of every Provincial C•un••l) may meet that day seven night aft•r the Session of the National Council, to hear the affaires of the whole Nation, and some of the National Council may be there to give information of all things •itting to be com•unic•ted. But experience will put men upon the best w•y of Order in these things.
The particular duties of the Ecumenical Council I pass in silence; I leave them to their consideration▪ whos• […] portion it shall be▪ to see those glorious times, when such Councils shall be called.
The particular duties of the Oecumeni•al Council I pass in silence; I leave them to their consideration▪ whos• 〈…〉 portion it shall be▪ to see those glorious times, when such Councils shall be called.
Notwithstanding these public Orders of Councils, it is lawful for any person• or parties, or Church▪ to t•ke any private Counsel, that he or they will or can obtain, according to G•d […] have occasion.
Notwithstanding these publick Orders of Councils, it is l•wful for any person• or parties, or Church▪ to t•ke any private Counsel, that he or they will or can obtain, according to G•d 〈…〉 have occasion.
I. Every Parishional Congregation, who solemnly renouncing all their sins and evils, both personal and Ecclesiastical, sh•ll willingly (by what ways, means, or motives soever thereunto induced) submit themselves and their children to the Government of Christ, in Gospel-Order; and particularly to be guided in the common concernments of Religion, by the holy advice of the forenamed Orders of Councils; and do (by their pious and prudent counsel and concurrence) orderly elect all Officers, both Elders and Deacons, among themselves, and promise for themselves and their households, to walk in the Christian exercise of all Gods Ordinances, according to Rule, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel: That Parish, or so many of them as shall herein concur, is to be owned a particular Reforming Congregational Church; and is to be received into the Communion of the Churches in this Order of Government. They delivering this a•t of theirs in writing, unto that first Counc•l with whom they associate, there to be recorded.
I. EVery Parishional Congregation, who solemnly renouncing all their sins and evils, both personal and Ecclesiastical, sh•ll willingly (by what wayes, means, or •otives soever thereunto induced) submit themselves and their children to the Government of Christ, in Gospel-Order; and particularly to be guided in the common concernments of Religion, by the holy advice of the forenamed Orders of Councils; and do (by their pious and prudent counsel and concurrence) orderly elect all Officers, both Elders and Deac•ns, among themselves, and promise for themselves and their households, to walk in the Christian exercise of all Gods Ordinances, according to Rule, in the Fa•th and Order of the Gospel: That Parish, or so many of them as shall herein concurre, is to be owned a particular Reforming Congregational Chur•h; and is to be received into the Communion of the Churches in this Order of Government. They delivering this a•t of theirs in writing, unto that first Counc•l with whom they associate, there to be recorded.
II. It may, by the good blessing of God, greatly promote Rel•g••n, and the Reformation of particular Churches, if such of the godly Gentry of the Land, who are not in Civil Authority would please to do that honour to Christ, to subject themselves to his servi•e in accepting of t•e Offices of Ruling Elders and Deacons, in the Churches of Jesus Christ. It would much strengthen the hands of Church government, and be no small honour to themselves▪ and they will hereby render themselves […] in the Kingdom of Heaven.
II. It may, by the good blessing of God, gre•tly pro•ote Rel•g••n, and the Reformation of particular Chur•hes, if such of the godly Gentry of the Land, who are not in Civil Authority would please to do that honour to Christ, to sub•ect themselves to his servi•e in accepting of t•e Offices of Ruling Elders and Deacons, in the Churches of Jesus Christ. It would much strengthen the hands of Church govern•ent, and be no small honour to themselves▪ and they will hereby render themselves 〈…〉 in the Kingd•me of Heaven.
III By the Ordinance o• Ca•e•h•zing prudently exercised, both publicly in the Church, a•d in private houses all the Church are to be trained up unto a competency of knowledge in Jesus Christ.
III By the Ordi•an•e o• Ca•e•h•zing prudently exercis•d, both publ•ckly in the Church, a•d in private houses all the Church are to be train•d up unto a competency of knowledge in Jesus Christ.
IV. Special• are is to be h•d in the training up of Youth in the good knowledge of God▪ made manifest to the Church by their public account, answer, or […]; a•d unto an expl••ite acknowledgement of Christ with submission and engagement of themselves unto the Church, ⟨p. 36⟩wherein they give up themselves and their children unto God, to be ruled by Religion, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel. Which done, their Children are to be baptized.
IV. Special• are is to be h•d in the tra•n•ng up of Youth in the good knowl•dge of God▪ made manifest to the Church by their publick account, answer, or 〈…〉; a•d unto an expl••ite acknowledgement of Christ with submi•sion and engagement of themselves unto the C•urch, ⟨p. 36⟩wherein they give up themselves and their children unto God, to be ruled by Religion, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel. Which done, their Children are to be baptized.
V. Upon the due evidence of some hopeful real work and change of heart by Faith and Repentance, duly manifested to the Church▪ whereby the persons concerned may be in Charity conceived able to examine themselves, & to discern the Lords body in the Sacrament, and spiritually to judge of a spiritual cause, such ought, by the Church, to be received unto Communion in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and such M•les unto Voting in the Church; because ordinarily, such as are able to discern Christ in the Sacrament, are also able spiritual•y to discern of a spiritual cause, and thereby capable to Vote, in such cases wherein the Fraternity is called to Voting in the Church.
V. Upon the due evidence of some hopeful reall work and change of heart by Faith and Repentance, duely manifested to the Church▪ whereby the persons concerned may be in Charity conceived able to examine themselves, & to discern the Lords body in the Sacrament, and spiritually to judge of a spiritual cause, such ought, by the Church, to be received unto Communion in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and such M•les unto Voting in the Church; because ordinarily, such as are able to discern Christ in the Sacrament, are also able spiritual•y to discern of a spiritual cause, and thereby capable to Vote, in such cases wherein the Fraternity is called to Voting in the Church.
I. Though it be meet that all their necessary Charges be born for them; for who goeth on a warfare at his own charge? yet it is in no wise meet that any Profits or Revenues should be annexed unto any of the Councils, from the lowest unto the highest. Worldly Profit, Power and Splendour are beneath the spirit and aim of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only the Notaries Place, being a service of much labour, pains and diligence, it is me•t that some consideration be had for some convenient recompense for their labour.
I. THough it be meet that all their necessary Charges be born for them; for who goeth on a warfare at his own charge? yet it is in no wise meet that any Profits or Revenues should be annexed unto any of the Councils, from the lowest unto the highest. Worldly Profit, Power and Splendor are beneath the spirit and aim of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Onely the Notaries Place, being a service of much l•bour, pains and diligence, it is me•t that some consideration be had for some convenient re•ompence for their labour.
II. If any godly minded Christian, out of a love unto, and zeal for the honour of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, should desire to give, and annex Maintenance unto any of these forenamed Councils, more then conveniently to bear their Charges (as Noble Constantine did for the worldly splendour of the Bishops) it ought not to be permitted, but religiously opposed: for it will certainly prove an Inlet of great Corruption▪ Ambition, Avarice, and Strife unworthy and unfit persons will endeavour to Bribe themselves into Places▪ more for the Wages, then for the Work.
II. If any godly minded Christian, out of a love unto, and zeal for the honour of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ, should desire to give, and annex Maintenance unto any of these forenamed Councils, more then conveniently to bear their Charges (as Noble Constantine did for the worldly splendor of the B•shops) it ought not to be permitted, but religiously opposed: for it will certainly prove an Inlet of great Corruption▪ Ambition, Avarice, and Strife unworthy and unfit persons will endeavour to Br•be themselves into Places▪ more for the Wages, then for the Work.
III. The honour of the Service, and the glory of Christ that is upon the Messengers of the Churches, these are inseparable from the Work and are as suc• as flesh and blood (we being in the flesh, and state militant) will be able ⟨p. 37⟩to weather, and keep from running aground upon.
III. The honour of the Service, and the glory of Christ that is upon the Messengers of the Chur•hes, these are inseparable from the Work and are as suc• as flesh and blood (we being in the flesh, and state militant) will be able ⟨p. 37⟩to weather, and keep from running aground upon.
But Revenue and Profit are separable from the Work, and must be religiously and earnestly kept off: It being a Worm that will surely corrupt this blessed Work, and glorious Service of Jesus Christ
IV. A small Revenue will maintain the government of Churches by Councils, even in a great Nation, in comparison of the vast revenues which the Antichristian Hierarchy have fatted and enriched themselves withal: which also hath advantaged them to arrogate unto themselves, and usurp civil Authority. And by these carnal A•ditta•ents unto the Church, Religion hath been corrupted, most men have been damned, and few saved. Therefore the Church ought now, in our reformation and resurrection, to despise the World, and not to suffer great revenues to be annexed unto this part of the kingdom of Christ especially.
IV. A small Revenue will maintain the government of Churches by Councils, even in a great Nation, in comparison of the vast revenues which the Antichristian Hierarchy have fatted and inriched themselves withall: which also hath advantaged them to arrogate unto themselves, and usurp civil Authority. And by these carnal A•ditta•ents unto the Church, Religion hath been corrupted, most men have been damned, and few saved. Therefore the Church ought now, in our reformation and resurrection, to despise the World, and not to suffer great revenues to be annexed unto this part of the kingdome of Christ especially.
