A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

5. Is it the meeting of divers neighbours together (distinct from Church-meetings) that you question? Why, if it be Schismatical in opposition to the public meetings, or to do any unlawful work, we are against it as well as you. But if it be but for the redeeming of their time, for their spiritual advantage, and orderly, ⟨p. 89⟩peaceably, and soberly observed, by some that have more time, or care of their souls, then the rest of their neighbours; sure you will not for shame imagine, that neighbours may lawfully meet to make merry, and feast, and sport, and confer about their worldly business, and yet may not meet to pray, and praise God, and repeat what instructions they have received of their Teachers, and prepare for and improve the public Ordinances? Hear what the Spirit saith also in this. In the text here you find just such a meeting, where Christ was teaching, and Mary and his Disciples hearing, and Martha cumbered with providing for the company, and blamed for neglecting the advantage for her soul. Acts 12. 12. Peter came out of prison to the house of Mary, where many were gathered together praying.] Acts 10. 24. [Cornelius called together his kinsmen and near friends] to hear Peter; who there preached to them, converted and baptized them. I need to instance in no more, because this was the ordinary practice of Christ and the Apostles. If you say, Those were times of persecution: I answer, True: But, 1. yet such times in which public Assemblies were ordinarily held, and public preaching used. 2. And as the good of mens souls required it in times of persecution, so when the good of souls requires it, in times of liberty, it is from the same general reason a duty; but never forbidden by Christ in any times of greatest prosperity and peace.

5. Is it the meeting of divers neighbours together (distinct from Church-meetings) that you question? Why, if it be Schismatical in opposition to the publick meetings, or to do any unlawful work, we are against it as well as you. But if it be but for the redeeming of their time, for their spiritual advantage, and orderly, ⟨p. 89⟩peaceably, and soberly observed, by some that have more time, or care of their souls, then the rest of their neighbours; sure you will not for shame imagine, that neighbours may lawfully meet to make merry, and feast, and sport, and conferr about their worldly business, and yet may not meet to pray, and praise God, and repeat what instructions they have received of their Teachers, and prepare for and improve the publick Ordinances? Hear what the Spirit saith also in this. In the text here you find just such a meeting, where Christ was teaching, and Mary and his Disciples hearing, and Martha cumbred with providing for the company, and blamed for neglecting the advantage for her soul.