March 2

That I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. - Romans 1:12.

THERE is no such thing as independence. All are needful, all are useful. We are not only one body in Christ, but “every one also members one of another.” “The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” Man is designed and formed for society. His faculties, inclinations, and exigencies all urge him to associate. In his natural state he loves sinful society; in his renewed state he loves the society of the godly. Many things may often keep the partakers of divine grace asunder; but, being let go, they go to their own company, for each of them can say, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”

No; it is not good for man to be alone, nor is it good for the Christian to be alone. Bunyan knew this; he has no solitary pilgrim. Though Christian began his journey alone, he soon enjoyed a fellow-traveller, and Hopeful was found to be his companion when Faithful was removed. Love delights in the presence of its object; and, as “iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Religion, so far from destroying the social principle, sanctifies and regulates and strengthens it. Like attracts like; and, when we become godly, our longing is for godly association. Yea, we “choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

Communion with saints falls in with our new views, and hopes, and fears, and joys, and sorrows. These are now our fellow-learners and fellow-labourers, fellow-travellers and fellow-warriors. And Christians feel themselves to be thus united to each other. Their principles lead them to “rejoice with them that do rejoice, and to weep with them that weep;” and, instead of envying and hating one another for their successes and endowments and comforts, they glorify God on each other’s behalf. They feel it to be their highest privilege to guard each other’s reputation, explore and supply each other’s wants, soothe each other’s sorrows, and soften each other’s cares, being all partakers of the same “common salvation,” and realizing that they “are all one in Christ Jesus.” Every disadvantage is compensated for; thus,-

“They share each other’s woes,

Their mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.”