Eshcol: a cluster of the fruit of Canaan

This duty being in general made out from, and included in other former rules, we shall need to speak▪ the less into it; especially, seeing that upon consideration and supposition of our fellow-Membership, it is no more then very ⟨p. 110⟩Nature requireth and calleth for. God delighteth, as in the thankful praises, so in the fervent prayers of his Churches; Therefore he variously calleth them by several dispensations to the performance of these duties: Now this ofttimes, to spare the whole Church, he doth by the afflictions of some one or other of the Members thereof; Knowing that, that near relation, which by his institution and Spirit is between them, will make the distress common, and their prayers closely combined. Spiritual union is more noble and excellent then natural; And yet in this it were monstrous, that either any Member in particular, or the whole in general, should not ⟨p. 111⟩both suffer with, and care for the distress of every part and Member. That Member is rotten and to be cut off, for fear of infecting the body, which feels not the pain of its associates: If then any Member of the Church, do lie under the immediate afflicting hand of God, or the persecuting rage of man, it is the duty of every fellow-Member, and of the Church in general, to be sensible of, and account themselves so sharers therein, as to be instant with God by earnest supplication, and helpful to them by suitable assistance, that their spiritual concernment in that affliction, may be apparent; and that because, First, the will of God is thereby fulfilled. Secondly, ⟨p. 112⟩