sSYtÈf, 17ti] WITñ Yi's` bUTrt3 AtQ`Dt _aDVArfTAGát. 1.25 blessed communion which christians have both with Christ their Lord, and with one another. For this rea- son they must agree upon the place to meet in; " that the whole church may come together in one place, as 1 Cor. xi. 20. and they must agree upon one hour, or- " tarry for one another till they are come ;" 1 Cor. xi. 3:3. The second reason for such a practice is this, viz: " Without an agreement to keep up such societies for worship, the doctrines of Christ and his gospel could not be so constantly and so extensively held forth to the world, and there would be no rational hope of the con- tinuance or increase of christianity among men." Parti- cular christians die out of this world from day to day, and there would be few rising up in their stead to sup- port this religion; if there were not public assemblies ap- pointed or agreed upon : It is in these assemblies the gospel, with all the duties and blessings thereof, is pub,- lished to the world ; it is here unbelievers may attend and hear the glorious truths of the gospel set forti'i in a proper light, and the name and memory, the person and ofhces1 the grace's and glories of our great Redeemer are dis- played among men; 1 CO. xiv. " When the whole church is come together in one place, there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers," and when the portant affairs of christianity are managed with becoming order and decency, and the doctrines of our salvation are set forth in a happy light. " They that believe not are convinced, the secrets of their hearts are made manifest, they will worship God together with us, and report that God is a?náng us of a truth :" verse 2,5. Hereby those. that are convinced of their sin and danger, and have .fled for refuge to lay hold on Jesus as their only hope, are e eoùraged to came and join themselves to the church; when they beheld the beauty of the Lord in his gospel sanctuary, and the appearances of his power andglory there. In short, I might add, that there is no public - religion, o worship of any kind, can be well maintained in the World, without such an agreement among the persons that profess that religion : Even heathens, and Turks, end Jews, all sorts of worshippers in every age, think.it ndce3sarÿ to agree to Worship their God in particu r
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