[2.] From the communion of the Spirit, there is a secondary union by love, and seeking one another's good, as if they were but one man ; wherever dispersed throughout the world, and whatever distinctions of nations and interests there are, they may love and desire the good of one another, and rejoice in the welfare, and grieve for the evil of one another : Ezek. i. 24, ' When the beasts went, the wheels went, and when the beasts were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them ; ' and the reason is given, ' for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.' The same spirit is in one chri.stian that is in another, and so they wish well to one another, even to those whom they never saw in the flesh: Col. ii. 1, ' For I would that ye knew how great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.' What wrestlings had he with God, and fightings for their sakes, even for them that
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had not seen his face in the flesh ! So careful are the members one of another,
[3.] This love is manifested by real effects. Look, as by virtue of union with Christ there are real influences of grace that pass out to us, it is not idle and fruitless, so by virtue of this union that is between the members there is a real communication of gifts and graces, and the good things of this life one to another. If the parts of the body keep what they have to themselves, and do not disperse it for the use of the body, it breedeth disease, as the liver the blood, the stomach the meat ; the liver imparts blood to the veins, and the stomach sends the food abroad into its proper vessels and channels ; so God's children impart their spiritual or temporal gifts as the body needeth. When a famine was but prophesied, the disciples tliought of sending relief according to their ability to the brethren of Judea, Acts xi. 29. It is never right but when there is this forwardness to distribute and com- municate according to the necessities of the body.
Secondly, Why Christ valueth it so much as to make it his only request for believers in the present state ? I answer — We can never be happy till we have a share in this union.
1. Because God hath instituted the mystical union to be a means to convey all grace to us, grace to us here, and glory hereafter ; we receive all from God in it, and by it. Christ without us doth not save us, but Christ in us. Clirist without us is a perfect Saviour, but not to you ; the appropriation is by union. Generally we think we shall be saved by a Christ without us. He came down from heaven, took our nature, died for sinners, ascended up into heaven again, there he maketh intercession ; all this is without us. Do not say there is a Saviour in heaven ; is there one in thy heart ? Col. i. 27, ' Christ in you the hope of glory.' He doth not say, Christ in heaven the hope of glory, though that is a fountain of comfort, but Christ in you : 1 Cor, i. 30, ' Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' Whatsoever is imputed or imparted, light, life, grace, glory, it is still in him. Still look to Christ within you. It were a merry world to carnal men to be saved by a Christ without them, Christ without establisheth the merit, but Christ within maketh application : 2 Cor, xiii, 5, ' Know ye not your own selves, how that Christ is in you, except ye be repro- bates ? ' Unless first or last he be in you, though disallowed for the present, he will be of no advantage to you. You have nothing to show till you feel Christ within you. All the acts of his mediation must be acted over again in the heart. His birth ; he must be born and formed in us : Gal. iv. 19, ' My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you.' His death : Eom. vi. 4, ' There- fore we are buried with him by baptism into death.' His resurrec- tion: Col, iii. 1, 'If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above.' His ascension : Eph, ii. 6, ' And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' His intercession : Kom. viii, 26, ' Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities ; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered,' The acts without us do us no good unless we have the copy of them in our own hearts.
VeR. 21. J SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 29