Communion of Churches, Title page – Preface
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 Iohn Eliot, Teacher of Roxbury in N. E.
Psal. 1. …0
That ye may try the things that are excellent.
1 John 4 1.
Try the Spirits.
Cambridge: Printed by Marmaduke Iohnson. 1665.
PREFACE.
ALthough a few Copies of this small Script are Printed; yet it is not published, onelyonly committed privately to some Godly and Able hands, to be Viewed, Corrected, Amended, or Rejected, as it shall be found to hold wright in the Sanctuary Ballance, or not. And it is the humble Request of the Author, That whatever Objections; Rectification, or Emendati…ns may occurre…, they may be conveyed unto him; who desireth nothing may be accepted in the Churches, but what is according to the Will and Minde of God, and tendeth to Holiness, Peace, and Promotion of the holy Kingdome of Iesus Christ.
The procuring of half so many Copies Written and Corrected, would be more difficult and chargeable, then the Printing of these few.
I beg the Prayers, as well as the Pains of the precio…s Servants of the Lord▪ that I may never have the least singer in doing any thing that may be derogatory to the Holiness and Honour of Iesus Christ and his Churches. And to this I subscribe my self,
One of the least of the Labourers in our Lords Vineyard, JOHN ELIOT.