The principle of God

for gathering and unity

must, on no account, be surrendered.


The moment men begin to organize, to form societies, churches (assemblies) or associations, they act in direct opposition to the word of God, the mind of Christ, and the present action of the Holy Ghost. …


It is entirely a divine work. The Holy Ghost came down, on the day of Pentecost, to form the church (assembly) of God, the body of Christ; and this is the only church (assembly), the only body that scripture recognizes; all else is contrary to God, even though it may be sanctioned and defended by thousands of true Christians.


the church of God should own no center but the glorious and infinitely precious Name of Jesus. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Precious center! To this alone the New Testament points, to this alone the Holy Ghost gathers. It matters not where we are gathered, in Jerusalem or Rome, London, Paris or Canton. It is not where, but how….


But be it remembered, it must be a divinely real thing.  It is of no possible use to profess to be gathered in or to the blessed Name of Jesus, if we are not really so.


The apostle’s word as to faith may apply with equal force to the question of our center of gathering. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say” he is gathered to the Name of Jesus? God deals in moral realities; and while it is perfectly clear that a man who desires to be true to “Christ cannot possibly consent to own any other center or any other ground of gathering but His Name, yet it is quite possible – alas! alas! how very possible – for people to profess to be on that blessed and holy ground, while their spirit and conduct, their habits and ways, their whole course and character go to prove that they are not in the power of their profession…


We are bound, by the very highest and most sacred obligations, to refuse every ground of gathering but the one body; every center of gathering but the Name of Jesus; every power of gathering but the Holy Ghost; every authority of gathering but the word of God.


May all the Lord’s beloved people, everywhere, be led to consider these things in the fear and love of His holy Name!



CHM - Deuteronomy ch 14