Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Sixthly, times of affliction are the especial times ¹to manifest our true love to the Saints, which are near to us in many bonds. It is an ill part of a wife or friend, to forsake husband or friend when in affliction. Josephus reports of Herodias, wife to Herod the Tetrarch, who when the Emperor had deprived her husband of his Tetrarchy, and banished him, annexing his Tetrarchy to Agrippa his kingdom, understanding that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, the Emperor gave her her husbands substance, supposing that she would not accompany her husband; but she answered the Emperor, There is a cause that hinders me from partaking the benefit of your bounty, the affection I bear to my husband, whom if I should forsake in this his misery, it would very ill beseem me, in that I have been a partner with him in his felicity: the Emperor displeased with her answer, banished her likewise with her husband: a brother, a friend, a wife, is for the time of adversity.

1. 16.

Especially hence it is recorded of Davids brethren, and fathers house, 1 Sam. 22. 1. When David was persecuted, and came to the Cave of Adullam, when they heard it, they went down thither to him; they ventured the displeasure, the rage of Saul, the forfeiting ⟨p. 231⟩all their estates, to go down to David their brother, both his father and mother was there, though very old now, as appears ver. 3. Basils forwardness ¹in appearing for his friend in danger, mightily affected Chrysostom: he tells of him, that he hazarded himself much, to deliver his friend in danger, and being blamed by some for venturing so much, he gave this answer, I have not learned to love otherwise, I know ²