CHAP. III. Of the Constitution of Four Orders of Councils.

I. WHen Twelve Churches, or any other Number un∣der Twenty •…our▪ shall agree to hold Communion in a Council for Mutual Help, and shall send forth Messen∣gers at least two from every Church, and they of both Or∣ders of Elders, or in defect of Ruling Elders, Brethren emi∣nent in Piety and Wisdome, who are as Elders, to manage the Ordinance of Counsel in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches herein combined.

These do constitute the first Order of a compleat Coun∣cil; the first Ascent of the glorious Temple; the first Row in compacting the New Ierusalem. These are the Twenty four Elders before the Lord, representing all the Congregations which sent them. It is both needful and at∣tainable, that these Councils should meet once every Moneth.

II. When Twelve of the first Order of Councils, or any other Number under Twenty four, shall, with the express consent of all their particular Churches, agree to hold Com∣munion in a Council for Mutual Help, and for the benefit of all the Churches combined; and to that end, shall send forth from among themselves, at least one principal and eminent Teaching Elder, and one Ruling Elder, to manage the Ordinance of Counsel, in a Provincial Synod, in the be∣half, and for the benefit of all the Churches herein com∣bined: These do constitute the second Order of Councils. These are a Provincial Council; these do represent very many Churches, and all the people in them, with their ex∣press consent, and yet they are but Twenty four Elders, so denominated by their least and constituting Number, though the Numbers represented be very great▪ according to Rev. 5. 8, 9, &c. These all are Church-Messengers, sent forth to manage the Ordinance of Counsel, though immediately sent forth by the first Councils, with the express consent of all the Churches combined. These are the second Row of Churches compacted by the Number Twelve; the secondPage  15Row of 〈◊〉 in the Temple, of equal dimensions to the▪ first, and built upon the first, standing upon the same bot∣tom and foundation, the Twelve Apostles. It is both need∣full and attainable▪ that these should meet quarterly▪

III. When Twelve Provincial Councils, or any other num∣ber under Twenty four, shall, with the explicite consent of the first Councils, and with the explicite consent of the Churches, who are in this Combination▪ agree to hold Com∣munion in a Council for Mutual Help; and to that end, shall send forth from among themselves at least one principal Teaching Elder, and one Ruling Elder, both eminent in ho∣liness, wisdome, and all fitting abilities, to manage the Or∣dinance of Counsel in a National Synod, in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Provinces, first Councils, and par∣ticular Churches herein combined: These do constitute a Third Order of Councils. These are a National Council; these do represent a whole Nation of Churches, and all the people of the Land; and yet they are but Twenty four El∣ders, as Rev. 5▪ 1•…, 13, 14. though all Creatures concurre, and are combined in the work; all are represented before the Lord in Twenty four Elders. These are all of them Church-Messengers, sent forth to manage the Ordinance of Counsel; but they are immediately sent forth by the Provi•…iall Councils.

IV. As the first Councils consist of the most choyce persons in all the Churches; so the Provincial Councils do consist of the most choyce Instruments in the respective Provinces; and the National Council doth consist of the most choyce persons in all the Nation: who pass through so many Ec∣clesiastical Elections, before they arrive unto this high and •…oly Service. They pass under an opportunity of being called out from among all the Choyce Iewels of the Nation, who are in •…n Ecclesiastical Order and Capacity. It will be both needful and attainable, that these should meet once in a Year.

V. When Twelve National Councils, or any Number un∣der Twenty four, shall agree, with the explicite consent of all the Churches, passing and arising through all the Orders of Councils, to hold Communion in Councils for Mutual Help; and to that end shall send Forth, at least one Teach∣ing, and one Ruling Elder, men eminent in Holiness and Abilities for so high a service, to constitute an Oecumenical Council▪ and there to manage the Ordinance of Counsel▪ in the behalf, and for the benefit of all the Churches and Coun∣cilsPage  16 herein combined: These do constitute a Fourth Order of Councils. They are an Oecumenical Council, and repre∣sent all the Churches in those Nations before the Lord

VI. Twenty three Nations met in one Council, will be a great glory to Christ, and by what hath yet been in the world▪ may be called Oecumenical. Yet when the Kingdomes of this world, shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Christ, I know not but there will be Councils above this. Nay; why may there▪ not be Twelve Ascents in combining all the World? Rev. 21. 16, 17. But I leave it to the Lord. At present this is the top, and uppermost Order of Councils▪ and somewhat higher then we can yet well descry: but Faith in the Promise can see all the world in the Gospel Order of Iesus Christ. And now the Lord Jesus is triumphing in his Militant Glory upon earth, with his Twenty four Elders about him, in Ecclesiastical visible Order. And now the whole Militant Body, fitly joyned together, and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth, according to the effectual working of the measure of every part from Christ, maketh in∣crease of the body, unto the edifying of it self in love, Ephes. 4. 16.

VII. Furthermore consider, that though I have proposed but Three Orders of Councils within the Nation; yet in po∣pulous Nations there may be a 〈◊〉 of Provinces, into chief Provinces and sub-Provinces. If a Nation be divided into (at least) Twelve Ecclesiastical Provinces, and every one of these divided into (at least) Twelve Sub-provinces, and every one of these into (at least) Twelve Precincts of first Councils; then they will have Four Orders of Councils within the Nation.

And three such Ascents will combine all the world into the holy Breastplate of our great High-Priest the Lord Je∣sus, in an Oecumenical Council; or three Ascents in one Na∣tion, and four such Ascents in the Combination of all the World, doth in li•…e manner make up the holy Breastplate of Christ: Which Council may meet in Ierusalem, if the Lord will; and if that be so literal a meaning of sundry Texts that way looking. And when that Council shall agree of Universal dayes of Fasting or Feasting before the Lord, upon iust occasion; Oh! what glorious dayes will those be, when all the World shall appear together before the Lord in such acts of Worship!

VIII. And as an eminent Preparatory to these glorious dayes (when Christ shall be King over all the earth, when Page  17there shall be one Lord, and his Name one, Zech. 14. 9. And when the Lord shal accomplish that Prophesie E•…e. 34. 23, 24. And I will set up one Shepherd over them, and he shall feed them even my servant David, he shall feed them, and he shall be their Shepherd; and I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a Prince among them: 〈◊〉 Lord have 〈◊〉 it. When Christ shall rule all the World, both in Civil and Ecclesiastical affairs, by the Word of his mouth▪〈◊◊〉 by the hand of Saints, even holy and religious Kings, Prin∣ces, and chief Rulers) Oh that the Lord would p•… it into the heart of some of his Religious and Learned Servants, to take such pains about the holy Hebrew Language, as to fit it for this Universal glorious use! Considering, that above all Languages spoken by the lip of man (by reaso•…•…f i•…Trigra•…macall Foundation, and other regular Cons•…era∣tions, for the multiplications of all sorts of words) it is most capable to be enlarged, and fitted to express all things and action•…, all motions and notions that our Human•… Intel∣lect is capable of (to speak no higher of i•…). in this •…ortall life. Considering also, that it is the Invention of God him∣self, and it is the purest Language on earth, not as yet defiled with the scurrilo•… froth and some of carnal Wits in wri∣tings. Considering also, what is promised to be in th•…se dayes, that way looking, Zeph.•…. •…. I will turn to the people a pure Language: And when Egypt is converted, it is ex∣pressed by this, that they shall speak the Language of Cana•…▪ Isa. 19. 18▪ When all the World do obeisance to Christ disjunction, then all Languages shall see my glory. Isa. 66. 18. but when they do it conjunctim, in what Language better then in it, in which God first spake unto man? How shall all flesh see the glory of the Lord together, Isa. •…0. 5. unless there be an Universal Language? And what one fitter then that, which it pleased our Lord Jesus to make use of, when he spake from heaven unto Paul•…o his first Conver•…ion, Acts•…6. 13▪ •…. I saw a light from heaven; and heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew Tongue, Saul, Saul, &c.