ly are truly saints who are striving to live godly in Christ
Jesus, and to be holy, even as He who hath called them is holy. This
clause of the Creed expresses the doctrine that Christians ought to have
fellowship one with another, and that there ought to be harmonious
relations and stimulating communion between their several churches and
congregations--such fellowship and communion as may lead the world to
believe that they are one in Christ, and that, though compelled by
circumstances to assemble in different places and to form separate
societies, they are, nevertheless, all members of one body, of which
Jesus Christ is the Head; all stones in one building, of which He is the
chief Corner-stone; all branches in one true vine, of which He is the
Stem; and all animated and directed by the same Spirit. Thus regarded,
the clause is a protest against the exclusiveness which often marks
Christian churches, and is a recognition of the spirit of charity.

The extent of this Communion of the Saints is not revealed. Much of it
is spiritual, and is therefore invisible to us. God alone marks in full
measure the fellowship of the churches, and is acquainted with the
character and conduct of all their members. He knew the seven thousand
in Israel who had never bowed the knee to Baal, and the real, though
unrecognised, communion they had with one another in their common
fidelity and prayer to Him; but Elijah did not know how much true
fellowship he had, when he denounced the idolatries of Jezebel and
pleaded with God for Israel. The ignorance of the prophet, who thought
he was the only faithful Israelite, has its counterpart in our own
times. God knows, but we do not know, how many faithful saints there are
in the world who are in fellowship with one another because they are in
fellowship with Him. We are excluded by many barriers from the knowledge
of our brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus. Natural and moral
difficulties stand in the way, hindering this knowledge; differences in
language, in environment, in habits and modes of thought, and other
limitations, disable us for truly gauging the character of those with
whom we are brought into close contact. Communion is nevertheless real
and true. The members of the Church of the living God, however they may
be scattered and divided, have communion and fellowship with the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and being in fellowship with God, they are
of one mind, and are knit together