b A CHRISTIAN CHURCH. tained, the light of reason teaches us, that several persons, who profess the same religion, must sometimes meet together, to celebrate the solemnities, rites, and ordinances thereof, and to worship God according to the rules of it. When this religion is professed by great multitudes, or by whole nations, it is not possible they should all be convened togeer in one place, so as to join frequently in the same acts of worship, to offer their united prayers or praises to God, in a regular and rational man- ner, and with conveniency and edification to such a vast assem- bly. In such a case therefore, it is necessary, that they should be separated into distinct societies, for the same purpose. And does not the New Testament sufficiently indicate these things to us, as relating to the social religion of christians ? Do we not find them frequently met together in the history of the Acts of the Apostles ; "that with one mind and one mouth they may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;" as in Rom. xv. 6. Are not such assemblies continually mentioned and encouraged in the epistles ? And are not christians exhorted to maintain this custom, and " not to forsake the assemblingof themselves together ?" Heb. x. 25. Do wenot find theChris- tian converts of the same country divided into particular congre- gations, which are called churches, who meet together for this purpose ? "The church at Corinth ; the church at Phil- lippi ; the churches of Galatia ;" 1 Cor. xvi. 1. " The seven churches of Asia ;" Rev. i. 11. " All the churches of the saints;" 1 Cor. xiv. 33. II. The light of nature and reason teaches, that where persons join together for any religious service, they must be agreed in the main and most important points that relate to it. " How can two, walk together except they be agreed !" Amos iii. 3. For otherwise perpetual jarring and confusion of opinions and practices would arise in the very worship itself, which would destroy all the delight, the harmony, and decency of it. A wor- shipper of the true God cannot join in natural religion with a worshipper of idols. And yet, it is not every little difference in sentiment andopinion about the true God, or his worship, that is sufficient to exclude persons from the same religious society, where their agreement is so great, as that the chief ends of public worship may behappily maintained. Therefore Abraham and Melchisedec mightjoin in the same worship of the one true God, though Abrahamwas taken into a peculiar covenant with special promises, and Melchisedec practised religion upon the ancient principle and dispensation of his father Noah. Gen. xiv. 18, 19, 20, 22. So Abraham worshipped God with Abime- lech, thekingof the Philistines, upon the same general principle, "and they made a covenant, and sware together by the true God ;" Gen. xxi. 22--31.
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