f this grace of
the gospel in Christ Jesus! Neither bond nor free, neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision. There is one "common salvation," (Jude, ver 3,) as
well as "common faith," Tit. i. 4, and it is common to apostles, to
pastors, to people, to "as many as shall believe in his name," so that the
poorest and meanest creature is not excluded from the highest privileges
of apostles. We have that to glory into, in which Paul gloried,--that is,
the cross of Christ. We have the same access by the same Spirit, unto the
Father, we have the same Advocate to plead for us, the same blood to cry
for us, the same hope of the same inheritance. In a word, "we are baptized
into one body," and for the essentials and chief substantiate of privilege
and comfort, the Head equally respects all the members. Yea, the apostles,
though they had some peculiar gifts and privileges beyond others, yet they
were forbidden to rejoice in these, but rather in those which were common
to them with other saints. "Rejoice not," saith Christ, "that the spirits
are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in
heaven," Luke x. 20. The height and depth of this drown all other
differences.

Now, my beloved, what can be more said for our comfort? Would you be as
happy as John, as blessed as Paul? Would you think yourselves well if it
were possible to be in as near relation and communion with Christ as his
mother and brethren? Truly, that is not only possible, but it is holden
out to you, and you are requested to embrace the offer, and come and share
with them, "He that heareth my words and doeth them, the same is my
mother, and sister, and brother." You shall be as dear to him as his
nearest relations, if you believe in him, and receive his sayings in your
heart. Do not then entertain jealous and suspicious thoughts, because you
are not like apostles or such holy men as are recorded in scripture. If
you forsake not your own mercy, you may have fellowship with them in that
which they account their chiefest happiness. There is no difference of
quality or condition, no distance of other things can hinder your
communion with them. There are several sizes and growths of Christians,
both in light and grace. Some have extraordinary raptures and ecstacies of
joy and sweetness, others attain not to that, but are rather kept in
attendance and waiting on God in his ways, but all of them have one common
salvation. As the highest have some fello