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)
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)