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1 All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith,
although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death,
resurrection, and glory;1
and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and
graces,2 and are obliged to
the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good,
both in the inward and outward man.3
11 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5, 6 2Ephesians 4:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 3:21–23 31 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17, 18; Galatians 6:10
2 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;4 as also in
relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and
necessities;5 which
communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation
wherein they stand, whether in families,6 or churches,7 yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of
faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion
one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his
goods and possessions.8
4Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 3:12, 13 5Acts 11:29, 30 6Ephesians 6:4 71 Corinthians 12:14–27 8Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28
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