N00061:233
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.
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.
V. The religious meetings of Councils, must be patterns of all meetings of all men, throughout the Nation: for they are many shining Lights met together, and all men will mark what they do, and one Inch of excess in them who are the Centre, will be an Ell in the people.