150 CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, (SEAM. IX. .91 enlarge, nor too much narrow the principles of christia- nity, that he does not make any article of faith or prac- tice more or less necessary than scripture has made it, and that he does not raise needless scruples in his own breast, nor in the hearts of others, by too great a separa- tion from such as our common Lord has received." I proceed now to consider " how great the number of persons should be, which mayproperly form such a chris- tian society ;" and in answer to this question, I must say, it is left very much to the liberty and prudence of men. In general there should be so many as to give it the name of a public assembly : And yet if there are but a few Christians within the reach of one another, who can con- veniently meet once a week at the same time and the same place for religious purposes, I think these may join themselves in christian fellowship, and the promise of our Saviour belongs to them, " Where two or three of you are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them ;" Mat. xviii. CO. We might also observe, that no more should usually join together in one society, than can frequently meet together in one place at one time, and be edified by the mouth of one preacher, or lift up their joint prayers and praises to God by the lips of one minister : And perhaps the very words of my text may include that meaning, " Receive one another, that with one mind and one mouth you may glorify God the Father." The Corin- thian church met together in one place ; 1 Cor. xiv. 23. And while one spoke in prayer, prophecy or exhorta- tion, the others were called to silence and attention, verse Si.. Now a company of christians thus agreeing in the most important articles of faith and practice, and con- senting to unite together to worship God through Jesus Christ in all his ordinances, and to keep up the christian interest in the world, are properly a church of Christ. Such was the church of Corinth, such the church at Philippi, such the several churches of Galatia, and the churches of Asia, of which mention is made in the New Testament* ; and their agreement to worship and walk It is granted the scripture sometimes speaks of a church in the house, which is smaller than that of á public assembly, unless it mean that the
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