This, also, they farther manifest by their delight in
every thing that peculiarly belongs to Christ, as his, in this world.
This is an evidence of delight, when, for his sake whom we delight in, we
also delight in every thing that belongs to him. Christ’s great interest
in this world lies in his people and his ordinances, — his household and
their provision. Now in both these do the saints exceedingly delight, for
his sake. Take an instance in both kinds in one man, namely, David,
Ps. xvi. 3, “In the saints and the
excellent” (or the noble) “of the earth is all my delight; my delight in
them.” Christ says of his church that she is “Hephzi-bah,” Isa. lxii., “My delight in her.” Here
says David of the same, “Hephzi-bam, — “My delight in them.” As Christ
delights in his saints, so do they in one another, on his account. “Here,”
says David, “is all my delight.” Whatever contentment he took in any other
persons, it was nothing in comparison of the delight he took in them.
Hence, mention is made of “laying down our lives for the brethren,” or any
common cause wherein the interest of the community of the brethren doth
lie.