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CHRYS?IAN BELL6tVSHIPI,
ESERM.I-R+,.
christian
eonscytation
and social prayers.
They
afford.
greater
aid
and
strength
to.
each
other against
tearawpta-
tions
and
dangers, because they are
better informed of
each other's
'circumstances. and tempers.
They know
one
another's wants and
weaknesses more, they
pity
one
another
with more
tenderness, and
they
guard each
other
against
the common injuries
and insults
of
men.
Happy
the
persons
who
are
thus
united
in
the fellowship
of
the
gospel,
and
who by
practising
these
duties, and
comma-.
nicating
and enjoying
those
advantages, cast
a
glory
upon
the
gospel
of
Christ.
The third
general head
leads
me
to
enquire
more
par-
ticularly
"
Who are the persons who
should
thus
receive
one
another
in
the Lord, or
join together
in
christian
fellowship."
The
general direction
of
the New
Testa-
ment
is
contained
in
the
words
of
my
test,
that
we
should
receive into
this
sacred communion
all that Christ
has
received to
partake of
his
salvation, and
that
we
Make
no other test
whereby to receive
persons into our
parti-
cular
congregations,
than
a
credible
profession
of these
things
which
Christ
has
macle
necessary
in
order
to
par
-
take
of
his benefits.
"
Receive
ye one
another
as
Christ
bath
us
;"
Roma.
xv. 7.
whether ye
be
Jews or Greeks,
whether
ye
be
bond
-or
free,
whatsoever different
charac-
-ter
ye
sustain
in the
civil
life,
or
whatever different na-
lions
gave you
birth. Whosoever makes a credible pro
--
fession to have
received
Jesus
Christ
and
his
gospel,
and
-$heir
practice
be
correspondent
to
their
profession, they
are
to
be
received
by-us,
though they may
differ
in
par
-
ticular
opinions, or in
particular
practices, which
are
of
less
moment
and importance.
This
is
one
great
design
of
St.
Paul's
xiv.
chapter to
the
Romans.
In
his
day
there
were some
christians
that
maintained a regard
to
Jewish
ceremonies,
there
were
others
who
thought them
-
selves
entirely delivered
from
all those
yokes
of bondage;
some
eat
meat
with
freedom,
while
others
only
eat
herbs;
some observed
particular
days
as holy,
while
others
neg-
leettd
to observe
them;
some were
weak
in
the
faith}
and others
strong; but
they
are
all called to receive one
-
another
into christian
fellowship,
and
not to
make these
doubtfuldisputat.ions,
a bar
to
their
sacred
union;
for
the
_kingdom
of
Cod
is
not
meat and drink, .but righte-
óusness
and- peace,
and joy
in the
Holy
Ghost;
and
he