of men to Christ, even in the remotest quarters of the globe, is a matter of deep interest to the real saint : and the declen- sion of any is with him a source of grief and pain. And if he can administer to the welfare of any, he accounts it a high privilege to exert his influence for that end. A true believer has no interest compared with that of the Redeemer's king- dom : and if he may be an instrument of promoting that, he accounts it a call from God to put forth all his powers, yea, and, if need be, to sacrifice his very life in so good a cause ^.]
From this subject we may see,
1. How far we have profited by our baptism —
[Many will lay an undue stress on baptism, as though it of necessity changed and renewed the soul. I grant it does change the state, because by it we are made members of Christ's mystical body : and this change is properly ascribed, in our Liturgy, as in our text, to the Spirit of God. But we must experience an inward change besides, and must "drink into one Spirit," having our whole soul renewed and sanctified by the Spirit of God. This is absolutely indispensable to the salvation of the soul. The Israelites in the wilderness " were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea ; and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and all drink the same spiritual drink : and yet God was angry with them, and overthrew them in the wilderness. And these things happened to them for ensamples''." The outward form never did, nor ever can, suffice: if we would be the Lord's people indeed, we must ** be one spirit with him'," and have really, as the governing principle of our lives, " the mind that was in him''."]
2. What benefit we may hope for in communicating at the table of the Lord —
[The expression, "drinking into one Spirit," has a re- ference to the sacramental cup, of which all communicants partake. And though, where baptism is duly received, it is doubtless accompanied with the richest blessings to the soul, yet is the Lord's supper, as being often repeated and received in communion with the whole Church, generally productive of the greater benefit. This seems intimated in the language of our text : for hy the one we are brought into one body ; and hy the other, are " made to drink into one Spirit^." At all events, we can have no doubt what God intends by this ordinance : for, in " eating the flesh of Christ, and drinking his blood," we shall "grow up into him in all things, as our living Head,"
« 2 Tim. ii. 10. Acts xx. 24. ^^ 1 Cor. x. 1—6.
i 1 Cor. vi. 17. ^ Pliil. ii. 5.
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