Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above
the mercy-seat" (Ex. 25 : 21, 22) . "Jerusalem
is builded as a
city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the
tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks
unto the name of the Lord" (Ps. 122:3, 4). Only where the
ark was, and the altar, and officiating high priest, could God
be worshipped.
Our Lord taught that worship is not confined to time or
place : "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in
this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
. . . But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipper
shall worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:21, 23).
"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20). Paul wrote to "all
that call upon the name of the Lord in every place" (1 Cor. 1:2).
Whilst worship in all places is acceptable to God, it is His
wish that we should worship Him in the assembly of His
people. There, devout souls may thrust aside the world's cares
for a season, enjoying fellowship with each other, and, whilst
singing praises, offering united petitions, reading and expounding
the word of life, may feel that the Lord is truly in their midst.
Christians should forsake not the assembling of themselves
together, "as the custom of some is" (Heb. 10:25).
946. Oh ! must it not be a sight at which angels rejoice—to
see crowds of worshippers pressing into the courts of the Lord?
Rank is, or ought to be, forgotten ; disagreements are laid aside
the world thrust back for a season. We meet as brethren, to
pray together, to pray for each other, to kindle the flame of
devotion in one another's hearts, to confess our sins as with
one voice, to put up our petitions together to God's throne, to
sing the praises of Him whom we love, and to receive that
message from heaven which God is pleased to send us. Let us
pray heartily; respond heartily; sing heartily; receive the Word
into our souls heartily. Oxenden.
947. "Prayer-meeting and lecture as usual on Wednesday
evening, in the lecture-room. Dear brethren, I urge you all to
attend the weekly meetings. 'Forsake not the assembling of
yourselves together.' " Some of the "dear brethren" deported
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