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CHRISTIAN PELLOWSHIP,
{SERM.
IX..
them, since
we
have
mutually
given
up ourselves
to
one
another
in
the Lord.
2.
"
Those
who
are united
by
such an
agreement,
ought
most usually to
attend
on
the public assemblies
and
ministrations of
that
church, where it
can
be
done
with
reasonable
conveniency
;"
for
we
have
joined
ourselves
in
society for this very purpose.
It
is
granted
indeed,
that
many
particular
circumstances in
life may
give
a
just
occasion
for persons, more
or
less,
frequently
to
join
\with`
other
churches
in
their
solemnities, which
it
would
be
top
large
at
present
to
reckon
up; but
if
upon
every trivial humour
we
absent
ourselves from
that
wor-
ship,
and those ministrations
which
we
have
agreed to
support,
it
has a tendency to
destroy
that
very fellowship
which
we
engage to
maintain
;
and
if
each
take their'
liberty
in
this
respect,
without
just
reason,
to
wander'
where
they please,
the minister
may
preach
to
the bare
walls,
nor
can any ordinances be
celebrated
with
con-
stancy and
honour.
I
might add
also,
that
the
constant attendance upon
the same ministry,
is
the
way to
obtain
a
more
uniform`
and regular
knowledge
of
the whole scheme
of christia-
nity, since
it
is
to be
supposed
that
there
is
more
uni-
formity
in
the sentiments of the
same
preacher,
upon
the
several
parts
of
the christian doctrine, and
that
in
a
course
of
years he
will
run
through
the various articles
of
faith and practice.
3.
It'
is
the
duty
of
persons thus united
"
to
maintain
their church or
society, by
receiving in
new
members
amongst them
by
a general
consent.
Now
when persons
profess
that
they believe
all
the necessary and most
im-
portant
articles
of
the
christian
faith, when they
declare
they
have solemnly given up themselves to
Jesus Christ
as
their_
Saviour and
their Lord, according
to
the require-
ments
of
the
gospel,
and
when they engage to
walk in
ali
the ordinances
of
Christ, and desire
to
join/with
that
particular
society,
it
is
the
business.
and duty
óf
the mem-
bers
thereof
to receive
such
professors," supposing
always
that
their
good
character
in life
gives a
probable
witness
to
the
truth
and sincerity
of their
profession. My
text
bids the converted Romans
"
receive one
another
in
the
Lord,
as
Christ has
received them," and
every church