SERMON LIII. Christian Fellowship, with its Duties and Advantages. Roof. xv. 6, 7.That ye may with one mind, and with one mouth glorify God,even the Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ, Receiveye one another, as Christ also bath received us to the gloryof God. FOR Christians to join themselves in particular societies or congregations in order to carry on the great interests of religion, appears to be both a duty and a privilege : It stands upon just foundations as a duty, and as a privilege it is attended with ex- cellent advantages. I confess the words of my text chieflydesign to teach us what is the particular rulewhereby this practice should be conducted, and who should be the persons thus joined toge- ther in holy fellowship, even the Gentiles who are converted 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 mutual 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, of whom 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 appointed in his churches to perform peculiar services therein. First, We are to consider the " reasonableness of,this prac- tice, whereby it will appear to be the duty of those who profess the religion of Christ to agree together, and form themselves into particular societies." The first reason is this, That " without such an agreement to unite together in the practice of christianity, there can be no such thing as public worship regularly maintained among Christians,
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