SERMON LIII. 139 The fourth head I propose, was to represent some of the duties which plainly arise from such an agreement ofchristians towalk and worship together, for the support of their religion. I. May wenot say, that, " all the duties which the disciples ofChrist owe to theirfellow-christians throughout the world, are more particularly incumbent upon those who are united by their own consent in the same religious society ?" Such as to love one another, to assist, comfort, and succour one another in things that relate to this life, or the life to come ; to watch over and warn one another, lest any fall into sin ; to admonish one ano- ther in love, and to restore those that are fallenwith holy tender- ness, and in general to fun all kind and friendly offices to each other in vindication of their common faith, and in the practice of pure religion. We are commanded to do good to all men, espe- cially to the householdof faith; Gal. vi. 10. and what is due to all the churches of Christ on earth, seems moreparticularly due to the church of which we are members, because these are with- in thereach of our notice andour assistance, and we expect the same friendly officesfrom them, since we have mutually given upour- selves to one another in the Lord. 2. 0° Those who are united by such an agreement, ought most usually to attend on the public assemblies and ministrations ofthat church, where it can be done with reasonable conveniency ;" for wehave joined ourselvesin 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 too largeat present to reckon up ; but if upon every trivial burnout' we absent ourselves from that worship, 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 wan- der where they please, the minister may preach to the bare walls, nor_can any ordinances be celebrated with constancy 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 christianity, since it is to be supposed that there is more uniformity 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 be- lieve all the necessary and most important articlesof the chris-
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