rs in Christ, without reference to
any sectarian distinction, maintaining the Scriptures as our only
rule of doctrine and discipline, and affording freedom for the
exercise of any spiritual gift which the Lord may be pleased to
bestow. We thus hold out a gathering place for all who believe in the
Lord Jesus, and desire to confess His name, by obedience to His
authority. Whatever impedes us, in this our great work, can only be
suffered to continue, if the Lord Himself lays it upon us as a burden
or chastisement. Nothing but necessity can justify our putting any
obstacles in the way of the saints in this city, who, feeling the
obligation of separating from every sectarian bond of union, would
desire to meet with us.

I.

1. There seems no sufficient reason for holding our Lord's day
morning meetings, for the breaking of bread, in two different places.
See 1 Cor. xi. 20. The number is not too large to assemble in one
place, and the extent of locality is not so great as to prevent it,
except in the ease of invalids or of very aged persons: and the
disadvantages of two meeting places are very serious. In this way of
meeting the gifts are needlessly divided, as the gifted brethren are
in two places instead of one; discipline is rendered very difficult
to be executed, as it can scarcely be ascertained who absent
themselves, etc.; and impediments are thrown in the way of mutual
intercourse and acquaintance, as the saints sometimes go to the one
place, and sometimes to the other.

2. There are only four ways in which we can so arrange as to assemble
every Lord's day morning, as a church, together. a, Bethesda may be
given up, and the meeting of the saints maybe at Gideon. b, The
meetings maybe alternately at each place. c, The meetings may be held
at a third place intermediate, in respect of locality, between the
two. d, Gideon may be given up, and Bethesda alone become the place
of meeting for breaking of bread.

--In regard to the first two of these four arrangements, the size of
Gideon puts a complete obstacle in the way, as there would not be
sufficient room, were the saints and others, who would still attend,
to meet together in that place. The third plan appears to be freest
from all objections, could it be accomplished; but there is no one
other place to be obtained sufficiently large for our purpose, and
therefore, if it be granted that the profit of the saints and the
glory of Christ seem to require our ha