LECTURE III.
THE ASSEMBLY, AND MINISTRY.
Assembly and ministry alike flow from the accomplished work of Christ; “Assembly,” rather than “Church;” the Rock upon which it is built; Christ the Son of the living God; building of the assembly future in Matt, xvi; the baptism of the Spirit; consideration of the term “invisible Church;” no church till the death of Christ; the congregation of Jehovah; position of “such as should be saved;” critical remarks upon Acts ix, 31; authority for the same; the case of the trespassing brother; grace in action instead of law; a mistake often made about what love is; the ordering of the assembly by the Holy Ghost; tests—not as to who are Christians, but what is of the Holy Ghost; two things maintained by the Holy Ghost—the glory of Christ as to His Person, and the Lordship of Christ as to His place; assembly not dependent upon age or country; the infant Church at Corinth; their new-born exuberance; how to use a gift; the meaning of the term “prophesying;” all to be done to edifying; a revelation not possible now; the canon of Scripture closed; the presence of the Holy Ghost in the assembly; a member of the Church of God a member everywhere; difference between a Church and the Church; letters of commendation; our duty not to form a new Church, but to cleave to the old; Jesus in the midst; where were you last Lord’s Day? how God can bless even Roman Catholics; what the faithful are to do who meet on God’s principles; unintelligence of those who have never felt the cost of separation from the ruin around; duty of a Christian in the event of an assembly departing from the word of God; action to be taken slowly, and with much waiting on the Lord; Ministry; the Lord calls, sends, and controls, not the assembly; preachers sent by men an usurpation of the Lord’s prerogative; the case of Philip; Paul and Apollos; difference of judgment recorded without censure; case of Barnabas and Saul; co-operation in ministry allowed so long as there is no bondage; subjection to chief men; review of the two lines of truth sketched; fluctuation in the Church, none in Christ; conclusion.
