It is a holy company such as are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, sanctified in Christ Jesus, all of Him, all of one with the Sanctifier. The Lord could say of them, “Ye are clean”, and to maintain them in a practical condition suited to that which was characteristically their state. He exercises His present service of washing their feet. We are passing through a scene where everything is defiling, a world of sin and death, and are ever liable to become defiled by coming in contact with sin: hence we need this practical cleansing in order that we may enjoy communion with Him in the place where He is, as gone in to God. This defilement does not suppose the committing of any act of sin, but is the result of coming into contact with sinners, it is like touching a dead body, a bone, &c., see Num 19. At the present time the Lord carries on this service mediately through His people; we are exhorted to wash one another’s feet, which we can only do in the grace of the Lord. Where is indifference to practical holiness, we cannot enjoy the privileges of the Christian company.