He gets the very hearts and souls of all those that belong to our Lord
Jesus to be his brethren, and the members of his own very life. For all
the children of God are but ONE in Christ, which one is Christ _in All_.
And therefore he gets them all to be his fellow-members in the Body of
Christ, whence they have all the same heavenly goods in common and all
live in one and the same Love of God, as the branches of a tree in one
and the same root, and spring all from one and the same source of life
in them. So that he can have no want of spiritual friends and relations,
who are all rooted with him together in the Love which is from above,
who are all of the same blood and kindred in Christ Jesus; and who are
cherished all by the same quickening sap and spirit diffusing itself
through them universally from the one true Vine, which is the tree of
life and love. These are friends worth having; and though here they may
be unknown to him, will abide his friends beyond doubt to all eternity.
But neither can he want even outward natural friends, as our Lord
Christ, when on earth, did not want such also. For though, indeed, the
High-Priests and Potentates of the World could not have a love to him,
because they belonged not to him, neither stood in any kind of relation
to him, as being not of this world, yet those loved him who were capable
of his love, and receptive of his words. So, in like manner, those who
love truth and righteousness will love that man, and will associate
themselves unto him, yea, though they may perhaps be outwardly at some
distance or seeming disagreement, from the situation of their worldly
affairs, or from other reasons, yet in their hearts they cannot but
cleave to him. For though they be not actually incorporated into one
body with him, yet they cannot resist being of one mind with him, and
being united in affliction, for the great regard they bear to the truth,
which shines forth in his words and in his life. By this they are made
either his declared or his secret friends; and he doth so get their
hearts that they will be delighted above all things in his company, for
the sake thereof, and will court his friendship and will come unto him
by stealth, if openly they dare not, for the benefit of his conversation
and advice; even as Nicodemus did to Christ, who came to him by night,
and in his heart loved Jesus for the truth's sake, though outwardly he
feared the World. And thus thou shalt have many friends that are not
known to thee; and some known to thee, who may not appear so before the
World.