CHAPTER 26
Of Communion of Saints.
I. All saints, that are united
to Jesus Christ their head by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with
him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory.a
And being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s
gifts and graces;b
and are obliged to the performance of such duties, publick and private, as do
conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.c
a John 1:3; Eph.
3:16-19; John 1:16; Eph. 2:5,6; Phil. 3:10;
Rom.
6:5,6;
2 Tim. 2:12.
b Eph. 4:15,16; 1
Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; Col. 2:19.
c 1 Thess. 5:11,14;
Rom. 1:11,12,14; 1 John 3:16-18; Gal. 6:10.
II. Saints, by profession, are
bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and
in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual
edification;d as
also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their
several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity,
is to be extended unto all those who in every place call upon the name of the
Lord Jesus.e
d Heb. 10:24,25;
Acts 2:42,46; Isa. 2:3; 1 Cor. 11:20.
e Acts 2:44,45; 1
John 3:17; 2 Cor. chap. 8, 9; Acts 11:29,30.
III. This communion which the
saints have with Christ doth not make them in any wise partakers of the
substance of his Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any
respect: either of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous.f
Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away or infringe
the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.g
f Col. 1:18,19; 1
Cor. 8:6; Isa. 42:8; 1 Tim. 6:15,16; Ps. 45:7, with Heb. 1:8,9.
g Exod. 20:15; Eph.
4:28; Acts 5:4.
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