The former conversation having made way for deep reflection on the mind of Junior, he longs. for the season to return, when he shall again be favored with another, intercourse with his friend, which, taking place, he addresses Senior thus: My good Sir, I have been, considering and reconsidering what you delivered in our last conversation with each other on the ordinance of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. I have certainly received much real information into the nature, use, end, and design of them. You have cast such light on these, as hath, been very relieving to my mind. I could now wish you would give me some little account of a Church of Christ, and discourse with me on, Church Fellowship. Of the one first, and of the other next,

Senior. You seem willing to keep me employed, I am not unwilling to communicate, out of my little stock, any thing you may require of me, so far as I am able.

Junior. You have been, and are, very kind. I would ask you concerning what a Church of Christ is, as considered as his own institution; and where we are to look for the first gospel church of Christ after our Lord's ascension.

Senior. I will give you an account first of the institution of a gospel church. We must look for it after our Lord's ascension: and, I conceive, we find it for the first time, in the Ist chapter of the Acts of the Apostles; where, after the account given of our Lord's ascension, we read thus Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey, And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Phillip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with, one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. These gave themselves up first to the Lord, and then secondly to each other, by the will of God. Their number were about one hundred and twenty. The foundation of their church state, with all its ordinances, together with an account of all the officers in it, and the matter of it, with the whole form and order of the same, I consider as given to these persons by Christ himself, in those conversations he held with them in his resurrection state. The evangelist Matthew tells us our Lord commanded his disciples to Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things (says he) whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the, world. Amen.

Mark says our Lord said, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he damned.. Luke tells us our Lord said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And the Evangelist begins his book concerning the Acts of the Apostles, thus: The former treatise have I made, 0 Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach; Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. From these scriptures, it appears our Lord settled the whole order of his church that the apostles, and holy men and women who assembled together, having his word for their directory; formed themselves immediately into a church, and Were the first instituted church of Christ: from them are true churches descended. This church entered not on the observance of any other ordinances but prayer and supplication, and choosing One to fill up the number of twelve apostles, which being done.. they all waited for the coming of the Holy Ghost, who descended on them; after which they had and enjoyed all the ordinances which belonged to them as a church.

Junior. What are they?

Senior. Baptism, the Lord's supper, preaching, prayer, church fellowship.- We read, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts,2:41, 42,

Junior. What am I to understand of any particular organized church of Christ?

Senior. That it is the body of Christ. The whole universal catholic church of Christ in and throughout the whole world, is the body of Christ. This is declared by, the Apostle, who says, God hath put all things under Christ's feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is, his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Ephes, I: 22, 23.

Junior. Do we read of any distinct churches at Jerusalem after the first forming the church there?

Senior. No, we. do not; but we read of distinct churches in Judea and Samaria., It is expressly said Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified; and walking, in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts, 9: 31.

Junior. What title is proper to an individual church, and such as is really scriptural?

Senior. The church, churches of saints, an holy temple, the body of Christ. Paul says to, the saints at Corinth, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are One body; so also is Christ: i.e. the church. Again, in the same chapter, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. I Cor. 12: 27. It is styled an holy temple, an habitation of God. In Christ all the, building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. It is styled the house of God, the church of the living God. I Tim. 3:15.

Junior. I confess I should like to have further light into this subject. Pray how were the apostolic epistles entitled? I understand they were addressed to congregational churches.

Senior. They are addressed to saints: To all that be in Rome, I beloved of God, called to be saints. Rom. I:7. Thus to the Corinthians, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints. I Cor. I:2. To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia. 2 Cor.I:1. The epistle to the Ephesians is directed thus, To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Chap. I:1. So to the, church at Philippi, To all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi. So the epistle to the Colossians, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, which are at Colosse Chap. I:2. The epistle to the Thessalonians is thus addressed, Unto the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I Epistle, Chap. I:1. The second epistle is just like it, Unto the church of the Thessalonians, in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Chap. I:1.

Junior. Then the matter out of which the churches of God and Christ are formed, are saints, who unite together in distinct bodies,. according to the Command of Christ, and his gospel order. These have their proper officers, which, I apprehend, are pastors and deacons, and all the ordinances of Christ dispensed amongst them. Is it not so?

Senior. Yes; it is even so: and these as variously subdivided into separate bodies, are so many distinct churches of Christ; each of them having, their own proper order and officers, appointed for them by Jesus Christ. Each church is the seat of worship. AN ordinances are administered in the name, of Christ unto them; and whilst they walk in Christ, with Christ, and according to his rule, peace is on them, and on the Israel of God. I think I have given you a general idea on these subjects, from whence you may form some conception of them. As to entering particularly, and to discuss the whole minutely, concerning the matter, form, order, government of a true gospel church of Christ; and to treat of the laws, ordinances, officers, rules, and commands given by Christ, the king of saints; with their use, end, and design, would not suit our present conversation; therefore, I would wish you to consider what you first proposed at the opening of the present. Was it not to give you an account of a church of Christ, and then discourse concerning church fellowship?

Junior. It was. I think you have answered my request in this first particular; and, on looking over what you have related concerning the first gospel church at Jerusalem, I conceive it must be saints who only can befit matter to constitute a particular church of Christ; that they must be first united in the truths of the everlasting gospel, before they can be united in the order of the gospel; that they ought to see eye to eye concerning the ordinances of it, that they may worship the Lord with one consent in their observation of these; that they should be united in heart and affection to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to each other in him.

Senior. All you have spoken is most certainly what should be the case. It is of, great consequence to an individual church of Christ, to be favored with spiritual and judicious members, with such as shine like lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. It is a real blessing to be favored with a fit and judicious pastor, who preaches Christ, and rightly divides the word; and with deacons, men agreeable to the description given of them, and qualified for the discharge of their office, so as to suit with what the apostle says to Timothy, Such as are grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. I Epistle, 3: 8, 9.

Junior. My good, Sir, I do request you would proceed to that part of the subject, Church Fellowship.

Senior. You have heard that it is saints and faithful brethren in Christ, who are members of' churches; at least you have had it recited to you, that the churches of God and Christ at Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica, were thus addressed: and most assuredly, if such were only fit to be the body of Christ then; most certainly such only can be fit to be the body of Christ now. I am speaking of the church which is Christ's body. On this Very same subject, I say church fellowship is a fellowship of saints. The Apostle says to the members of the church at Corinth, God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. I Epistle, I: 9. Church fellowship is a communion of saints; hence in the creed, commonly called the Apostles Creed, (I now refer to the Church of England Common Prayer Book,) it is therein said, I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church the communion of saints now this which is made a matter of faith in the creed, is what we have in conversation before us. God's called ones are saints; they have fellowship one with another; it is concerning spiritual things ; they are united to one and the same eternal, life-giving, and life-maintaining head; they are partakers of him and his great salvation; they have all one and the same spirit: so says the Apostle, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. I Cor. 12: 13.

Junior. But as it is a fellowship of saints, called and knit together by the order and bonds of the gospel, I want to know what this fellowship consists in. I know the Apostle, says to the members of the Corinthian church, Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be. no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. I Cor.I:10. No church can beat peace amongst themselves, and enjoy the peace of God ruling in their hearts; nor can any church state be secure, where there is not an unity in judgment concerning the truth as it is in Jesus; yet I conceive there must be some peculiar way in which this fellowship is kept up, and by which it is expressed. I know it is said, And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Acts, 4:32, What should hinder it from being the same now?

Senior. The same knowledge of Christ, and the same faith exercised on him, must produce the same effects then as now, and now as then; but such as are members of what we style churches, are swerved from the apostolic faith, as they are also from the old apostolic practice. We receive persons as members, into the churches of Christ now, on a declaration of a work of grace on their souls; whereas, they were admitted into the ancient churches of Christ, upon a profession of their faith on Christ, and every article of faith connected with him and his salvation. If we are born of God, the work of God upon us must be equal and alike the doctrine of faith professed by us; yet in the way persons are admitted in our day into the real churches of Christ, a devout and sincere Arminian may as easily become one with us, as the soundest predestinarian in the world.

Junior. How so? I understand all who call them, selves Christians, of the Baptist, the Presbyterian, and Independent, or, as you otherwise call them, the congregational churches, and which, I think, they should be always called, will admit none into membership with them, nor sit with them at the table of the Lord, but such as declare, or have declared, a work of God wrought on their souls. I think the term which they all express it by is,. a work of grace wrought on their souls.

Senior. What you say is true; yet as there is an obscurity in the phrase, a work of grace wrought in or upon their souls; so a profession of Christ and the truths contained in his blessed, glorious, and everlasting gospel, is too much neglected. As to the expression, a work of grace wrought on my soul, does it not take off from faith in Christ entirely? Does it not lead the mind to conceive thus, The Lord hath wrought so und so on my heart, I am a changed person, I shall never want any thing now but to look to myself, to be very careful and watchful. I ask you, my friend, if it does not tend to think very little of Christ, and to substitute this work of grace inherent in me, in the room and stead of Christ and his salvation? If it does, must it not be substituting the work of grace, in the room and stead of Christ, his righteousness and grace? and, if so, is there not cause for complaint?

Junior. I must confess, your conversation is such, as constrains me to say, I am very greatly indebted to you for conveying light and instruction to my mind' What you have just delivered, would never have been thought of by me, concerning the phrase, a work of grace in and upon the soul. As you have opened it, I freely acknowledge I have thought it a very good and most important expression. In your explanation of it, I see it altogether wrong. It takes off from Christ: I will not deny it, for sure. I am, I have been more concerned about this work of grace within me, than, about Christ who hath died for me. I have been always setting up my rest and confidence therein. But you will acknowledge there are many young persons who are admitted into the open visible church of Christ; do not you therefore think such an expression suits them, and is more and far better suited for them, than it would be to require a confession of their faith?

Senior. I confess I do not. When the eunuch wanted to be baptized, the question whether he believed in Christ or not, is to be answered. See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. When the Jailor said Sirs, what must I do to be saved? the reply, was, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. When our Lord Jesus Christ himself met with the man who was born blind, and, whose eyes he had opened, he put this question to him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? Here is no enquiry concerning any thing wrought internally within him. No. He is asked concerning an act of his mind: did he, or did he not; believe on the Son of God? He knew not whether he did or did not; therefore he puts this question, saying, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? Our Lord rejoined, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. John, 9: 35,36,37, 38.

Junior. I have observed throughout all your conversation with me, that you speak a good deal concerning Christ the object of faith, and the exercise of the mind on him. You do, as I understand, state it as utterly impossible, without a revelation of Christ be made to the mind, that there should be any outgoings of the heart after him; therefore you conceive a real spiritual apprehension of Christ to be necessary, ere a person be admitted a member into the visible church of Christ; as without it they can have no actual fellowship with him.

Senior. These are precisely my thoughts of the Subject.

Junior. I cannot doubt but you are right in your judgment herein; but let me, if you please, know wherein church fellowship consists.

Senior. It consists in loving each other in Christ for Christ's sake, and as lie hath loved us. This is expressed in receiving each other, as Christ also hath received us, to the, glory of God. It is evidenced in bearing each others burdens, in feeling for, and sympathizing one with the other. It consists in a mutual communication to each other, of what the Lord hath done for our souls; in a communication of the gracious experiences he hath given us from time to time of his love to us; in bearing and forbearing with each other.

Junior. All this seems very consistent with a church state. I remember the Apostle says, Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honored, all the members rejoice in it. I Cor. 12: 26.

Senior. Church fellowship consists very much in mutual prayers and praises offered up for each other, and in mutual meetings and converses in church assemblies. In a very particular manner, church fellowship Consists in the communion of saints, who belong to the same particular church or body of Christ, when they come together to celebrate the Lord's Supper; and to hold fellowship with each other, and Christ their head, by sitting at the same table together with him. The Apostle hath very special and particular reference to this most blessed fellowship of saint congregated into one body, and Christ as their one most complete saviour, when he says, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. I Cor.10:16,17. The Lords Supper is a family feast; to which all the members of the church are expected. They should all be present at it, because it is a church ordinance; and one grand design of it is to unite and cement each of the members more closely to each other in the bowels of Christ and bonds of the gospel. This is very beautifully expressed in these words, For we, being many, are one bread, mid one body: for we are all members of that one bread. Here we, who were sometime afar off, being brought nigh by the blood of Christ, sit down together, being made kings and priests unto God, to feed on the commemorative emblems, symbols, and memorials of the one complete sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which he hath reconciled all things unto himself, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven. The Apostle shews how our Lord reconciled all his people in himself, by his most precious blood. In every age and period, elect saints have had their bickering, and, if I may so say, their animosities one with another. For some ages the Jews were against the Gentiles, and the Gentiles against the Jews. The Apostle on this subject, speaking of Christ, says, For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephes. 2: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

Junior. I am greatly pleased with the information you have kindly given me concerning what church fellowship consists in. Surely a gospel church, walking in the faith and order of Christ, as given in the sacred word, must be a most noble sight; and to belong to such an one, must be to be blessed indeed.

Senior. It is so; yet at present, the churches of Christ are in a kind of deranged state. Our Lord threatens the whole of them, saying, Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard; and hold fast, and re pent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Rev. 3: 2, 3.

Junior. I am very greatly obliged. I know I have detained you beyond your seasonable time for retirement; I therefore bid you, Farewell.

Senior. May the Lord bless you, by giving yon a sound judgment in all things. Peace, mercy, and truth, be with you. Amen.