I do not know that there is anything more impressive than the sight of a congregation evidently in earnest in the service in which they are engaged.  We then feel how different is our own lonely prayer from the united voice of many hearts; each cheering, strengthening, enkindling the other.  We then consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.  How different are the feelings with which we regard a number of persons met for any common purpose, and the same persons engaged together in serious prayer or praise!  Then Christ seems to appear to us in each of them; we are all one in him.  How little do all earthly unkindnesses, dislikes, prejudices, become in our eyes, when the real bond of our common faith is discerned clearly!  There is indeed neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all, and in all.  And to look at our brethren, once or twice in every day, with these Christian eyes, would it not also, by degrees, impress us at other times, and begin to form something of our habitual temper and regard towards them?

Thus much of our meetings for prayer.  One word only on those in which we meet to read the Scriptures.  Here I know, that difference of age, and our peculiar relations to each other, make us very apt to lose the religious character of our readings of the Scriptures, and to regard them merely as lessons.  No doubt, the object here is instruction; it is not so much in itself a religious exercise, as a means to enable you to perform religious exercises with understanding and sincerity.  Still there is a peculiar character attached even to lessons, when they are taken out of the Scriptures:  and the duty of attention and interest in the work becomes even stronger than under other circumstances.  But with those of a more advanced age, I think there is more than this; I think it must be our own fault, if, whilst engaged together in reading the Scriptures, which we only read because we are Christians, we do not feel that there also we are employed on a duty belonging to the Church of Christ.

Lastly, there is our joint communion in the bread, and in the cup, of the Lord’s Supper.  Here there is seriousness; here there is always, I trust and believe, something of real interest; and, therefore, we never, I think, meet together at the Lord’s table, without feeling a true effect of Christ’s gifts to and in his Church; we are strengthened and brought nearer to one another, and to him.  But this most precious pledge of Christ’s Church we too often forfeit for ourselves.  That we have lost so much of the help which the Church was designed to give, is not our fault individually; but it is our fault that we neglect this means of strength, so great in bearing witness to Christ, and in kindling love towards one another.  What can be said of us, if, with so many helps lost, we throw away that which still remains? if, of the great treasure which the Church yet keeps, we are wilfully ignorant?  How much good might we do, both to ourselves and to each other, by joining in that communion!  How surely should we be strengthened in all that is good, and have a help from each other, through his Spirit working in us all, to struggle against our evil!