HISTORY, &c. MAN is by nature a social being, and possesses an innate disposition to enter into the bonds of friendship with his fellow creatures. By a union of interests, mankind become to each other a reciprocal benefit, protection, and support. It is true, that the grace of God effects a marked change in the objects of his favour, yet it alters neither their nature nor their inclinations as creatures; it affects them only as they are fallen creatures or sinners. He who is made a new creature retains his natural dispositions, with this difference, that, by the operation of the new birth, they become renewed from their corrupted state of sinfulness, to the image of holiness by the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit of God. He has therefore as great a bent to fellowship and friendship, as he was ever wont to have; but it is now indeed, of a more excellent kind, because he becomes sociable for holy purposes, and because the Spirit of Grace makes it to be a gracious friendship. : The Church of Christ is a spiritual association, deriving its rise and progress from the union of its members in their one Head, the Lord Jesus. All the true members are inseparable in this their great Head; and the same delightful spirit of love and sympathy which exists in the Head, circulates through all the members; so that by virtue of this union, they partake in each other's joys and griefs. The Church is undoubtedly an exalted fellowship its members are united to God, as to a Father ;united to Christ, as to a Head, and as to a Husband ;-united to each other in him; and the Holy Spirit being the everlasting bond and life of this union. It is evident that the mutual enjoyment of this union will greatly enhance their happiness and joy, both here and hereafter. "I in them, and thou in me," (says Christ to his Father), "that they may be made perfect in one." John xvii. 23. Without being knit into this fellowship, there exists not, and there cannot exist any perfection. "Behold," therefore, "how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm cxxxiii. 1. A consideration of these things, together with the example of the Apostles and the primitive churches, as well as the many * That the churches of Christ, and sometimes their leader, have been used from the first ages of Christianity, to hold private meetings (apart from the public assemblies in which believers and unbelievers were promiscuously addressed) is manifestly shown, from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles to the Epistle to the Seven Churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. |