This fitly illustrates the union which his people have with each other in and through him :
1. They are formed into one body — [Sometimes they are represented as a temple, composed
of living stones, and having a living stone for its foundation, even Jesus Christ himself; and built up as an habitation for God himself a. At other times they are spoken of as a body, of which Christ is the Head, and all the different individuals are members13. Thus whilst they are united with each other, they are united also with the Father and the Son : " the Father is in Christ, and Christ is in them; and thus they are made perfect in one," ever " growing up into Christ as their Head," and contributing to each other's perfection, till they arrive at " the full measure of the stature of Christ0."
How earnestly the Lord Jesus Christ desired this, may be gathered from the frequent repetition of it before noticed : and well he might plead for it in this manner, since the accomplishment of it was the principal design of his death d, and the great end of God the Father in the whole economy of redemption6.]
2. They are all animated by one Spirit —
[" He that is joined to the Lord," says the Apostle, " is one Spirit'." This is true of every individual, and of the whole collective body of believers. " Christ dwells in all of them ;" and " as Christ himself lived by the Father, so do they live by hiinC Hence, as there is no distraction in the body, but, in consequence of its being under the controul of one living and governing principle, its powers are all harmoniously exerted for the attainment of the same object; so the mem- bers of Christ's mystical body are one in sentiment, in affection, and in the scope and tenour of their lives.
Tn sentiment they are one : for though, in matters of inferior moment, there may be a wide difference between them, yet in the fundamental points, such as our fall in Adam, our recovery by Christ, our renovation by the Spirit, the evil of sin, the beauty of holiness, the security of believers, and many other points connected with the spiritual life, there is no difference : all that are taught of God agree in these things ; or, if they differ a little in modes of expression, when disputing for opi- nions, they agree perfectly when they come upon their knees before God; which shews that their differences are rather
a 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5. Eph. ii. 20—22. b 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13, 27.
c Eph. iv. 13, 15. 1<5. d John xi. 51, 52.
e Eph. i. 9, 10. f 1 Cor. vi. 17.
g Eph. iii. 17. Col. iii. 4. John vi. 56, 57.