7. Thus arose, without any previous design on either side, what was afterwards called, _a society_: a very innocent name, and very common in _London_, for any number of people _associating_ themselves together. The thing proposed in their associating themselves together was obvious to every one. They wanted to _flee from the wrath to come_, and to assist each other in so doing. They therefore united themselves “in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they might help each other to work out their salvation.”
8. “There is one only condition previously required, in those who desire admission into this society, _A desire to flee from the wrath to come, to be saved from their sins_.”
They now likewise agreed, that as many of them as had an opportunity, would meet together every _Friday_, and spend the dinner hour in crying to God, both for each other, and for all mankind.¹
¹ See the rules of the United Societies.
9. It quickly appeared, that their thus uniting together, answered the end proposed therein. In a few months the far greater part of those who had begun to _fear_ God, _and work righteousness_, but were not united together, grew faint in their minds, and fell back into what they were before. Mean while the far greater part of those, who were thus united together, continued _striving to enter in at the strait gate_, and to _lay hold on eternal life_.
10. Upon reflection, I could not but observe, this is the very thing which was from the beginning of Christianity. In the earliest times, those whom God had sent forth, _preached the gospel to every creature_. And the οἱ ἀκροαταὶ, the body of hearers, were mostly either Jews or Heathens. But as soon as any of these were so convinced of the truth, as to forsake sin and seek the gospel of salvation, they immediately joined them together, took an account of their names, advised them to watch over each other, and met these κατηχούμενοι (catechumens, as they were then called) apart from the great congregation, that they might instruct, rebuke, exhort, and pray with them, and for them, according to their several necessities.
11. But it was not long before an objection was made to this, which had not once entered into my thought. “Is not this making a schism? Is not the joining these people together, _Gathering churches out of churches_.”
It was easily answered, if you mean only _Gathering people out of buildings called churches_, it is. But if you mean, dividing Christians from Christians, and so destroying Christian fellowship, it is not. For 1st, These were not Christians before they were thus joined. Most of them were barefaced Heathens. 2. Neither are they Christians, from whom you suppose them to be divided. You will not look me in the face and say they are. What! Drunken Christians? Cursing and swearing Christians? Lying Christians? Cheating Christians? If these are Christians at all, they are _devil Christians_ (as the poor _Malabarians_ term them.) 3. Neither are they divided any more than they were before, even from these ♦wretched _devil Christians_. They are as ready as ever to assist them, and to perform every office of real kindness towards them. 4. If it be said, “But there are some true Christians in the parish, and you destroy the Christian fellowship between these and them.” I answer, That which never existed, cannot be destroyed. But the fellowship you speak of never existed. Therefore it cannot be destroyed. Which of those true Christians had any such fellowship with these? Who watched over them in love? Who marked their growth in grace? Who advised and exhorted them from time to time? Who prayed with them and for them, as they had need? This, and this alone is Christian fellowship: but alas! Where is it to be found? Look _east_ or _west_, _north_ or _south_: name what parish you please. Is this Christian fellowship there? Rather are not the bulk of the parishioners a mere rope of sand? What Christian connection is there between them? What intercourse in spiritual things? What watching over each others souls? What bearing of one anothers burdens? What a mere jest is it then, to talk so gravely, of _destroying_ what never was? The real truth is just the reverse of this: we _introduce_ Christian fellowship where it was _utterly destroyed_. And the fruits of it have been peace, joy, love, and zeal for every good word and work.
♦ “wrethed” replaced with “wretched” per Errata