131 The Gofpel=itlyietit DireE. XIII. (r ) The word and facra.rnents, ÁEta ii. 42. Ifa. ii, 3. Matth, xxviii. 19, 20. and all the minifterial of- fice and labour in watching over fouls, Heb. xiii. Y ¡. t Thef{. v. 12, 13. Ifa. xxv. 6. None of thefe helps can be enjoyed without fellowfhip of faints, each with other. And, if believers had been to have flood tingle by thernfelves, and not maintained fellowfhip with each. other, for mutual ail'iltance and common good, none of thefe things could have continued ; neither could any believer have been extant at this day, in any ordinary way, but even the very name of believers had been abolifhed. (2) Mutual prayer, which is the more forcible, when all pray together, Matti'. xviii. 19, 20. 2 Cor. 1. 10, 11. James v. 16. Rom. xv. 30. (3) Mutual admonition, inftruEtion, confolation, to help each other when they 4re ready to fall, and to promote the good work in each other, 1 Then;, v. 14. He that walketh with wife men, thall be wife; " Prov. xiii. 20. Wo to him that is alune when he " falieth." See Eccl. iv. 9 -W 12. In church feilovwfhip there are many helpers,.many to watch. Soldiers have their fecurity in company; and the church is compared to an army with banners, Song vi. 4, 1o. So, for quickening afle6lions, iron tharpeneth iron, Prov. xxvii. 17. Likewife, the counfel of a friend, like ointment and per£ure,trejoiceth the heart, Prov. xxvii. 9. Yea, the wounds and reproofs of the righ- teous are as precious bahn, Pfalm cxli. 5. (4) External fupports; which mitigate affliaions, and are to be communicated mutually, Eph. iv. 28. I Pet. iv. 9, to. The afrlieUion is increafed, when none careth for our fouls, Pfal. cxlii..4. (5) Excommunication, when offences were ex- ceeding heinous, or men obninate in fin. This ordi- nance is appcliuted for the deftruetion of the flefh, that the Spirit may be faved, 1 Cor. v. 5. Better and more hopeful it is, to be call out by the church for a perfan'a amendment, than to be wholly without
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