6.) When the Apostle St. Peter was to be miraculously delivered from prison, “there were many _gathered together_ praying” for him. (Acts xii. 12.) The announcement of the risen SAVIOUR had been made to the “eleven _gathered together_” (Luke xxiv. 33.) And the blessings attendant on these united assemblings was not to be disturbed by Jewish or Gentile jealousies. Since, they had all been “quickened _together_, and raised up _together_, and made to sit _together_ in heavenly places in CHRIST JESUS.” (Eph. ii. 5.) And so Christians might be addressed as “heirs _together_ of the grace of life;” (1 Pet. iii. 7.) exhorted to be “followers _together_” of the Apostles; (Phil. iii. 17.) and admonished to “strive _together_” for the “faith of the Gospel.” The majestic privileges of the Saints, in Union with CHRIST and Communion with one another, if we contemplated them aright, would so overwhelm our spirits, that we could not think of the “solemn assemblies” without coveting to be there! Little as it is thought of, there is a special awfulness in the “meeting together” of the members of this Heavenly, yet earthly,—this Invisible, yet visible—Society; when GOD’S Eye is on every one, when CHRIST, though unseen, is “in the midst,”—and the “hosts of God” are encamping around! All Christians then constituting, in some sacred and lofty sense, a “kingdom of Priests;” {137}—yet ministering only through that Consecrated organ which CHRIST, the great High Priest, appointed,—the Bishop, or his representative.—“GOD is very greatly to be feared in the Council of the Saints! and to be had in reverence of all that are round about HIM.”—Well might the ancient Fathers delight to speak of the dignity of being a Christian! It is observable, however, for our instruction and warning, even in this, that Tertullian, after he embraced the Montanist heresy, carried out so erroneously the idea we have been dwelling on, as to assign to any Christian, in cases of necessity, the exercise of inherent Priestly functions. Such, even then, was the perilous rashness of Private Judgment. For though the Priestly functions are doubtless in the CHURCH, granted unto Her for Her blessedness and perfection (1 Cor. iii. 22.); and though in our Solemn Assemblies “all the people of the LORD are holy,” all the Baptized in such wise sharers of the Priesthood, that they join in our ‘sacred offerings;’ yet, we must beware of the “gainsaying of Core.” (Jude 11.) The Catholic Church has ever held that Her Priesthood cannot be effectually exercised otherwise than in conformity with the original commands and ordinations of Christ. And from HIM alone the first Ministers of the Church derived their appointment, (St. Paul speaking of HIS as “the Ministry received OF THE LORD:” See also Col. iv. 17.), and afterwards conveyed it to others, whom they had chosen, and on whom they “laid their hands.” And thus St. Paul, while anxious to _vindicate and