An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Secondly, Consider that it is no less glorious before men, and acceptable ¹unto God, to be a companion and an associate with those who do suffer, then if we did suffer our selves in our own person. This hath been always a very hard task for flesh and blood, to own the godly, while they are in a suffering condition. The Disciples themselves proved cowards and unfaithful in this temptation: for when the Shepherd was smitten, all the sheep were scattered. When Christ was to be crucified, all his Apostles fled from him, they dared not own him; and when Peter was charged to be one of Christs company, He curseth and sweareth, he did not know the man; he was afraid to own so much as the very knowledge of Christ. Indeed the godly women, Mary the mother of Christ, and others, they showed more grace and courage than the very Apostles, that all honour and glory may be given to God alone; but as for his Disciples, they hid themselves, and were afraid to be companions with him. Hence the Apostle, Heb. 10. 33. exhorting believers, To call to mind their enduring of a great fight of afflictions, he instanceth wherein, partly, Whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them, that were so used. Here you see, to become a companion to those that suffer, not to fly from them, or forsake them, is made a great expression of their love to God. Paul also 2 Tim. 1. 16. remembers what Onesiphorus did to him, while in bonds, he mentioneth it, as if he would never have it forgotten any more, than that woman's box of ointment poured on Christ. The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus; Why? Because he answered his name indeed, He oft refreshed me, he sought me out very diligently, and was not ashamed of my chain. What a glorious character is here given to Onesiphorus? He was not persecuted himself, ⟨p. 253⟩but he made himself a companion with those that were. Paul complaineth of Demas, 2 Tim. 4. 10. That he had forsaken him, for he was now in hands, and to answer before Nero, who was known to be nothing but clay and blood mingled together, whose cruelty would extend to all abettors and well-wishers. If any did but sigh in his time, it was a capital crime. This fear made Demas, (as it did all his other friends, vers. 16.) forsake Paul;