[4.] To be a companion with them is to own them in all conditions, and to take part and lot with them : Rev. i. 9, ' I, John, who am a brother and companion in tribulation, and the kingdom and patience
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of Jesus Christ.' We must have a fellowship with them not only in their privileges, but in their sufferings ; not only companions in the kingdom, but companions in the tribulation and patience of Jesus Christ. So Heb. x. 33, ' Partly whilst ye were made a gazing-stock by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst ye became companions of those that were so used;' in the one was their passion, in the other their compassion, in that they not only suffered themselves, but owned their brethren when they suffered, and did receive them, and comfort them, and stand by them ; so near is the union, and so dear and tender is the affection, of Christian brethren among themselves. So it is said of Moses, Heb. xi. 2.5, ' Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.' Alas! there are many summer friends to the gospel, painted butterflies, who are gone as soon as the sunshine of prosperity is gone. Brethren do almost forget that they are brethren, stand aloof, and are loath to own the afflicted.
2. Eeasons why David was a companion of all the saints. [1.] Our relation enforceth it : all that are in the church are of one kindred and lineage, descended from one common father, animated by one common spirit, and knit together in the profession of one common faith in Christ, and therefore must be companions one to another. As natural rehition enforceth natural love, so Christian relation Christian love. To make this evident, let me tell you men may be considered in a twofold respect — as men, or as Christians and believers ; and so there is a twofold love due to them, dyaTrr], and cfitXaBeXcpLa — 2 Peter i. 7, ' Brotherly kindness and charity.' Our common neighbour hath the same nature that we have, and is of the same stock, for all come of one blood ; besides our particular relation to them, either natural by kindred, consanguinity, or affinity, or political as members of the same kingdom, or other various respects of benefit, vicinity, or familiarity. As Christians and believers ; this is common to all of them that they have spiritual kindred, as they are partakers of the same divine nature, or image of God, 2 Peter i. 4, which they have from the same stock and original, Christ, the second Adam : 1 Cor. xv. 45, ' The first Adam was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit ;' and as they make but one family, Eph. iii. 15, ' Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named ;' only this difference there is between Christ and Adam — we derive our original from Adam by the succession of many intervening generations ; we are not his imme- diate children, as Cain and Abel were; but every believer doth im- mediately derive his life from Christ, hath it at the next hand ; and besides this, there is an immediate communion by which every believer is joined to one another. There are several particular respects which do vary the degree of Christian love, — as men are public and private persons ; some in remote churches, others in the same congregation ; some excel in grace, others of a lower rank ; some more, some less use- ful in advancing the kingdom of Christ. Thus you see the jmrallel between both these loves ; Christian charity supposeth natural love as the foundation of it, for grace is built upon nature, but also it subli- mateth it, and raiseth it to a higher degree of excellency than nature could reach ; for the light of the gospel doth not abolish the light of
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nature, but perfectetli it, as the reasonable soul comprisetli the vegeta- tive and sensitive. We have other objects, see clearer arguments and reasons for love : Gal. vi. 10, ' As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially them who are of the household of faith ; ' 2 Peter i. 7, ' And add to godliness brotherly-kindness, to brotherly-kindness charity.'
[2.] The new nature inclineth us to it, and this love floweth from an inward propension and cordial inclination, needing no other out- ward allurement and provocation to procure it: 1 John v. I, ' Who- soever belie vetli that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him.' The same love that inclineth us to love God inclineth us to love the brethren also : 1 John iv. 9, ' As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I should Avrite unto you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.' God's teaching is by effectual impression, or in- clining the heart : it must needs be so, because all believers live in the communion of the same Spirit. As some philosophers say there is an anima mundi which holdeth all the parts of it together, so there is a spirit of communion which uniteth all the members of Christ's mystical body, and inclineth them one to another.