Christ dwelleth really and essentially in the faith of those that wholly
yield up themselves to him, and giveth them his Flesh for food and his
Blood for drink; and thus possesseth the ground of their faith,
according to the interior or inward Man. And a Christian is called a
Branch of the Vine Christ, and a Christian, because Christ dwelleth
spiritually in him; therefore, whatsoever good any shall do to such a
Christian in his bodily necessities, it is done to Christ himself, who
dwelleth in him. For such a Christian is not his own, but is wholly
resigned to Christ, and become his peculiar possession, and consequently
the good deed is done to Christ _himself_. Therefore also whosoever
shall withhold their help from such a needy Christian, and forbear to
serve him in his necessity, they thrust Christ away from themselves, and
despise him in his members. When a poor person that belongeth thus to
Christ asketh anything of thee, and thou deniest it him in his
necessity, thou deniest it to Christ himself. And whatsoever hurt any
shall do to such a Christian, they do it to Christ himself. When any
mock, scorn, revile, reject, or thrust away such an one they do all that
to Christ, but he that receiveth him, giveth him meat, and drink, or
apparel, and assisteth him in his necessities, doth it likewise to
Christ, and to a fellow-member of his own Body. Nay he doth it to
himself if it be a Christian; for we are all one in Christ, as a tree
and its branches are.