Divine Warrants,
ENDS, ADVANTAGES,
EV
A N D
285
62
U
L E S
OF
FELLOWSHIP-MEETINGS,
FOR
PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL CONFERENCE.
GLASGOW:
Printed by John BRYCE,
MDCCLXXXII.
DIVINE WARRANTS, &c.
quis
F OR
Tappen. Prert ikan
1-22 1922
1
FELLOWSHIP-MEETINGS.
Societies of Chriſtians, who have voluntarily
agreed to aſſemble together at ſtated times and places,
for promoting of holy friendſhip, by joint prayer and
spiritual conference. Reaſon itſelf dictates, that
perſons who are focial in their nature, and have
their valuable intereſts mutually connected, ought,
by every proper method, to cultivate the higheſt
friendſhip, and promote their moſt valuable and
laſting advantages.
The divine warrant for ſuch
meetings is ſtill more evident from ſcripture. In
It reprefents Chriſtians as fellow-citizens, who
have the ſame privileges and interefts, Eph. ii.
19 ás fellow-foldiers, who have the ſame ene-
mies, allies, and warfare, Phil. ii. 25. and i: 27;
26 fellow-fervants, who have one maſter, work,
and reward, Rev. ii. 2; as children of the ſame
Father, Gal. iii. 26; heirs of the fame inheritance,
Rom. viii. 17; brethren of the fame family, Matth.
xxiii. 8; members of the fame body, and of one an-
other, 1 Cor. xii. 52. Rom. xii. 5: Since there,
före their connections are ſo cloſe and diverſified,
and their intereſts and advantages so much the
fame, they ought to have ſtated meetings for in-
ſtructing, admoniſhing, comforting, and encou.
raging one another. 2. The Lord declares hin-
ſelf highly pleaſed with ſuch meetings, and that
he hearkens to, and hears, and honourably records,
what is ſaid ; and eſteems and fpares the conſci-
entious attenders on them, Mal. iit. 16, 17. 3.
Chrillians mutual affittance of one another is re-
preſented as exceedingly uſeful for their comfort
and
DIVIŅE WARRANTS, GA
3
and ſafety, Eccl. iv, 9.-12. They are command.
ed to teach and admoniſh one another, Col. iii. 16;
to bear one anothers burdens, Matth. xviii. 19, 20;
to exhort one another daily, left they be hardened
through the deceitfulneſs of fin, Heb. iii. 13 ;
to conſider one another ; to provoke one another to
love and to good works; to affemble together,
and exhort one another, eſpecially in the view of
death, diſtreſs, or judgment, Heb. X. 24, 25.
4. Such meetings are abundantly exemplified in
fcripture, as by David and his friends, Pfalm lv.
13, 14. lxvi. 16; by the devout Jews in Babylon,
Pſal. cxxxvii. I, 2 ; by Daniel and his compani-,
ons, Dan. ii. 17, 18; by Eſther and her maidens,
Eſth. iv. 16 ; by our Saviour and his diſciples,
John xx. 19, 26 ; by the primitive Chriſtians in
Jeruſalem, Acts xii. 12 ; by devout perſons at
Philippi, Acts xvi. 13; and perhaps by the chur-
ches in the houſes of Aquila, Nymphas, and Phim
lemon, 1 Cor. xvi. 19. Col. iv. 15. Philem. 2:
;
c
;
The important END's for which ſuch focieties
ought to be formed and conſcientiouſly attended,
are, 1. To promote and increafe the knowledge
of the truths, ordinances, and works of God, Col.
iii. 16. . Pral.cxi. 2. 2. To expreſs and exerciſe
inutual ſympathy among the members, Rom xv.
1, 2. Gal. vi. 2. 3. To provoke and encourage
one another to holineſs and virtue, in all manner
of converſation, Heb. x. 24, 25. Eph. iv. 15, 16.
4. To communicate one anothers gifts and grace's
to their mutual édification, 1 Pet. iv. 10. Eph.
iv. 12, 13. 5. To render Chriſtians faithful and
friendly watchers over, counſellors, warners, and
reprovers, of one another, 1 Theff. v. 14. Heb.
iii. 13. and x. 24.
6. That they may join toge-
ther in prayer, praiſe, and other ſpiritual exer-
ciſes, Matth. xviii. 19, 20.
A 2
DIVINE WARRANTS, &'c.
In framing, joining or attending ſuch ſocieties,
1. Every one ought to aim fingly at the glory of
God, the ſpișitual advantage of himſelf and others,
2. None ought to be admitted as members, who
are not found in the faith, and ſtudy to have an
holy and blameleſs converſation, 3. No member
ought to be admitted without due examination of
his character, and the harmonious conſent of at
leaſt the greater part of the members, 4. All
the members ought to behave in the moſt humble
and affectionate manner toward each other, not
only in their meetings, but in their whole cona
verſation. 5. While every member ought, in
his whole converſation, to behave fo, as to be an
honour to the ſociety; all ought to watch over
one another, for promoting their mutual edificaç
tion and circumfpect behaviour. 6. No curious
or captious queſtions, tending to ſtrife or debate,
ought ever to be propoſed as the ſubject of con-
verſation. 7. No member ought to be upbraided
for his weak, or even miſtaken expreffions in pray-
er, or in anſwer to any queſtion. 8. In order to
avoid the frequent returns of the fame ſubjects of
diſcourſe, and in order to extend knowledge, it
might be beſt to proceed orderly through ſome
form of ſound words; as the ſhorter or larger Ca-
techiſms, or. Confeſion of faith, as the ground of
one or more queſtions at every meeting: 9. No
member ought ever to affect a tedious length in
prayer, or in anſwering of queſtions. 10. No
member ought to abſent himſelf from one meet,
ing, unleſs he have a reaſon, for which he could
anſwer to God himſelf; as if he abſent once for a
flight reaſon, Satan will labour to have a greater
bar laid in his way againſt the next opportunity
11. In order to render their prayers and ſpeeches
more lively and edifying, members ought, by me
ditation
for FeLLOWSHIP-MEETINGS.
5
ditation, and otherwiſe, to prepare for each meet-
ing. 12. It might be proper to admit fome fo-
ber perſons, eſpecially young ones, to attend as
hearers for a time.
The ADVANTAGes of ſuch religious fellow.
Thip are great and many. 1. Religious intimacies
are the beſt preſervatives againſt thoſe infections,
which ariſe from communication with perſons of
vicious principles, and ungodly practices. 2. Re-
ligious fellowſhip fècures all the advantages which
we can propoſe to ourſelves, by any kind of inti-
macies, ſuch as, friendly counſel, warning, Sympa-
thy, aliſtance, or comfort. 3. In ſuch focieties
men are profited themſelves, while at the ſame
time they edify others. 4. Such religious fellow-
ſhip tends to recommend religion to others around;
and to ſet forth Chriſtianity in an honourable and
amiable light. 5. It remarkably tends to antici-
pate, and prepare men for the holy and harino-
nious felowſhip of the heavenly ſtate.
In a word, the regard which we owe to the
command of God ;-to the inſtitution and example
of Chriſt ;-to the edification of his people ;--to
the good of mankind ;-and to the improvement
of our own ſouls,-in knowledge, love and obedi-
ence ;—and the duty we owe to the bleſſed Spirit,
who hath diſtributed his gifts to every man ſeve-
rally as he willeth, that theſe may be miniſtred by
the faints, one to another ;-do all combine to ftir
up Chriſtians to ihis duty.
RULES
RULES agreed upon by fortite
R
U
I
E
S
Agreed upon by fonie
PRAYING SOCIETIES.
TA
AT the important ends of religious fel-
lowſhip may be more effectually obtained,
we underfubfcribers, having formed ourſelves in-
to a SOCIETY, engage t?rough grace to ſtudy the
obfervation of the following RULES.
I. That we ſhall meet together weekly, on
fuch days, and at fuch places, as the Society ſhall
agree upon; and ſhall not abfent ourſelves, with-
out neceffary cauſe, Heb. X. 24, 25.
2. THAT one of our number Ihall always open
the meeting by ſinging a part of a pſalm, reading
a portion of the ſcriptures, and praying ; -after
which ſuch queſtions thall be propofed as ſhall be
thought proper ; and then the meeting conclud.
ed with prayer and praiſe, Phil. iv. 6.
3. That every member ſhall, both in pray-
er and conference, ſtudy all plainneſs and brevity
as far as can be attained; and thall carefully thun
every word, which is not eaii:y underttood, or
that tendeth to ſtrife, 1 Cor. xiv. 40.
4. THAT, in all our meetings, we ſhall endea-
vour to avoid all idle and triſing converſation,
curious queſtions about matters of ſmall moment,
and
PRAYING SOCIETIES.
and not plainly revealed ;--allo all diſcourſe up-
on things of doubtful diſputation, of affairs, in
which the Society hath no immediate concern,
Tit. iii. 9.
5. THAT in all our reaſonings we ſhall guard
againſt anger or contention, poſitiveneſs in our own
opinions, and reflections on the fenciaients of ca
thers. And if, at any time, heats or paſſions, be
like to ariſe among the members, he, who laſt
officiated in worthip, ihall interpore, by deſiring
him whoſe turn it is, to pray, Jam. i. 19.
6. That we ſhall carefully ſhun every thing
that favours of vain-glory;--not aſſuming fuperi-
ority over our brethren not undervaluing what
was ſaid by any of them :
-or pretuming ever to
interrupt others when ſpeaking. And if any
member ſhall uſe expreſſions, which ſeem to fa..
vour of error, he ſhall be asked to explain his
meaning, and, in the ſpirit of meeknets, deſired
to forbear fuch for the time to come, Phil. ii. 3.
7. Jf any of our number fall into ſome crime,
fuch as, drunkenneſs, profanation of God's name,
&c. the meeting thall appoint a member private
ly to admonith the offending brother.-If this
hath not the defired effect, two ſhall be appointed
to ſpeak with him.-If he ſtill remains obitinate,
the Society ſhall cauſe one of their number to rea
prove him in preſence of the meeting.–And if,
after much Chriftian dealing with him, he ac-
quieſce not in the cenfure of the Society, he hall
be excluded from it, Pfal. cxli. ...
8. THAT every perſon in the Society ſhall bea
ware of divulging, or ſpreading abroad, any thing
this
8 RULÉs agreed ispoñi &c.
that is faid or done, in the meeting, to the pre-
judice of any of the members of it, Pfal. xv.
3:
9. THAT no perſon ſhall be admitted into our
Society without the content of the majority of
members : nor ſhall any particular member pre-
ſüme to bring one along with him, until the mind
of the Society be thus known, 1.Cor. xiv. 26, 40.
10. THAT once a quarter of a year, or
racher
when any remarkable providence calls for it,
the Society ſhall fet apart a night for faſting and
thankſgiving ;--and that on this night, if poſſible,
they ſhall meet an hour ſooner, and occupy the
time, eſpecially in prayer and praiſe, Eſth. iv. 16.
11. That we ſhall keep a correſpondence
with other Societies in the neighbourhood, by
appointing one or two of our number to join their
MEETINGS, on fome occafions, in order that
brotherly love may be promoted ; and that all
inay be edified.
12. That we ſhall endeavour, in our ſeveral
ftations, to have a converſation becoming the
goſpel ;--and to uſe every mean in our power to
raiſe up a feed to ſerve our glorious LORD JESUS
CHRIST
FINI S.