SERMON IX: CHRISTIAN FELLOWSIIIP, WITH ITS DUTIES AND ADVANTAGES. noie. xv. 6, 7. That we may with one mind, and with one mouth glorify God, even the- Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Receive ye one another, as Christ also hath received us to the glory of God. FOR christians to join themselves in particular societies or congregations; in order to carryon the great interests of religion, appears to be both a duty and.a privilege: It stand's upon just foundations as a duty, and as a privi lege it is attended with excellent advantages. I confess the words of my text chiefly design to teach us -what ,is the particular rule wherebythis practice should be con- ducted, and who should be the persons thus joined toge- ther in holy fellowship, even the gentiles who are con- verted to Christ, as well as the Jews : Yet the general duty is plainly intimated, viz. that those who profess the name of Christ, and have reason to hope that Christ has received them, should also receive one another into mu- tual communion in all_ the social parts and privileges of the christian religion, " that with one mind and with one mouth they may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." In my discourse on this subject, I_shall endeavour to set before you these several things. I. The reasonableness., of this practice: II. Some special advantages that arise from it.. III. The characters of the persons more particularly, ofwhom this is required, and-in-what numbers they should unite together to make a christian church. IV. The duties of persons thus united in christian. societies or churches. V. I shall mention the officers which' Christ has ap- pointed- in his churches to perform peculiar services therein.. .First, We are to consider. the " reasonableness of this . practice,. whereby .it will.appear to be the duty of those
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