Together. Most beautifully blended are the various elements which make up the Christian life. The link which binds each of us to the Lord is, first of all, individual; but because the link, in life and by the Holy Spirit, is with Him, it is necessarily with one another also. This is indicated by the word " together." We are "quickened with Him" (Eph. 2:5); but it is also "together." That is, the life which we have is common to all believers. Similarly, we are "raised together," and seated together. The reconciliation of those once afar off, the Gentiles, and those nigh-the Jews, is in "one body," the access we have to the Father is for "both;" and we are "builded together" for a "habitation of God" (Eph. 2:16,18,22).

The individual walk. Necessarily we must care for the maintenance of our personal relation with the Lord. No one can come between the soul and the Saviour. All that we need is in Him; His Word is our food, His Spirit dwells in us; we must live a personal life of prayer, faith, dependence upon Himself. Nothing can take the place of this. No matter how sweet the fellowship of one's brethren, how great the help we receive from one another, it must not displace private prayer and personal communion with the Lord. Indeed, it will serve to increase our enjoyment of each other's fellowship, if we give the Lord ever the place of supreme importance in our lives. Without this, fellowship would be empty and fruitless, a mere human companionship or power.

As to doctrine. This applies to our grasp of divine truth as well as to our personal walk. We would be surprised to find how much we hold at secondhand.

We believe as we do because we have heard it from others, have read it in some book, or have heard it from some teacher in whom we have confidence. The result is that in time of stress we are unable to give a reason for our faith, and to maintain it in the face of opposition. This entails a personal study and meditation upon the Word, and a seeking of the Lord's mind in prayer. May the Lord stir our hearts as to the importance and privilege of this personal relationship with Himself. If this is lacking, our fellowship will be but an association which He must often shake, or break, to teach us the absolute need of having Himself first in our souls.

Tendency to differences. We need not be surprised if this individual intercourse with the Lord may, owing to our weakness and personal characteristics, result in outward differences. In one sense these are to be -welcomed, for truth is too large to be entirely within the compass of one mind. That which escapes one may be prominent with another; what seems of minor importance to one may to another seem to be the hinge of the whole subject. This tendency to divergence may become so acute that it produces alienation, suspicion and, alas, division.

Here is where we need one another. "That which every joint supplieth," shows how God has intended that we should assist one another in our walk, faith and testimony. The one who walks closest with God will value most highly the counsel and instruction of his brother. How good it is that this is so. How often has light been shed on some difficult passage of Scripture, by sharing with one another what God has given to each of us. How often has some doctrine been tempered by the admission of the light afforded from another.

The Word of God the perfect standard. It is not that the opinions of another will modify our opinions, but that we both will be brought under a fuller enlightenment from what each has gathered from the word of God. Church history abounds with illustrations of how great doctrines have been brought before councils for adjustment or settlement. These have been of value in just the measure, and no further, that the authority of God's truth, as revealed in the Scriptures, has been brought to bear upon the question. Eloquent addresses, cogent arguments, animated discussions, have been valueless save when they were but the channel for the mind of God as unfolded in His precious Word. Most abhorrent to the subject mind would it be to decide grave questions by a formal vote, or to let the majority take the place of the Scriptures.

Of universal application is this truth. Matters of doctrine, questions relating to the daily walk, to public testimony, to the order and government of God's house, to the principles of fellowship and their practical application, are all provided for in the word of God, which will be unfolded to us in just the measure in which we are in a lowly, dependent, subject state of soul. We should be distrustful of ourselves, our sole confidence should be in the Lord; but, as has been said, this will lead us to value every help He affords, and chief among these will be our brethren. "In the multitude of counselors there is safety."

Practical illustrations of this. The local assembly is the home of true fellowship. It is the divine safeguard against the dangers to which we are exposed. In the Bible reading and other meetings we study Scripture together, and thus avoid the danger of one-sided views.

We mingle our prayers together, and are thus melted down at the feet of our Lord. Strife is avoided, conflict gives place to brotherly love, and we are drawn together over the very matters which the enemy would use to put us asunder.

A wider circle. While the local assembly is the divine unit of responsibility, the center for the consideration of all questions moral and ecclesiastical, yet its doors are ever open to all help and counsel from brethren at a distance. While matters affecting the local gathering should not be needlessly spread before the saints at large, yet all who have an exercise, and whose help is desired, are ever welcome to share in the deliberations of the local gathering.

Questions affecting all, while coming up for decision in the local assembly, are properly made the subject for mutual conference wherever brethren may be gathered. Thus in the "fellowship meetings" held at various places it is desirable that a part of the time should be given to prayer and brotherly counsel regarding any subject upon which help may be needed. It will be understood that this cannot refer to anything like an appeal from a decision of a local gathering, or to questions of fact about which witnesses should be heard. We will all recognize the need of adhering to Scripture limitations here. But especially in matters of doctrinal difference, or of the understanding of Scripture, brotherly counsel is of the greatest importance.

Special meetings for conference are also indicated. While the normal activities and interests of the saints give character to the ordinary conferences to which allusion has been made, there arises from time to time a necessity for some more definite consideration of questions than would be appropriate to such meetings. Provision for these should be made in the endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. To illustrate:If questions as to a doctrine have arisen, or principles of church order and fellowship need to be examined afresh-such consideration calls for a special conference, to be attended by those who have the care of the saints, or who are exercised, and ample time should be given for a complete examination of the matter at issue. See Acts 15.

A representative meeting. There is such a thing in Scripture as representation. This is often abused, but the apostle speaks of a brother "chosen of the churches" to act as their representative in the matter of ministering to the needy saints (2 Cor. 8:18-24). When the men of Israel came to make David king it is said of one tribe, "The children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…. and all their brethren were at their commandment" (1 Chron. 12:32). That is, a comparatively few represented their brethren. When important matters arise, and a general conference is indicated, there must of necessity be such representation. Let it be borne in mind that such a conference is not for decision, which is the responsibility of the local assembly, but for deliberation and fellowship. There are many assemblies at a distance who would profit by the presence of one or more in their vicinity being at such a conference, and who would willingly have fellowship in meeting the expense of sending one who could report to them the results of the meeting.

May the Lord lead His beloved people in all these matters, giving us increasingly a spirit of prayer, brotherly confidence and true fellowship, to His praise.