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1. He cometh to particulars; and first, their compassion towards himself in his bonds is remembered by him. Then —

(1) Compassion with sufferers, especially when it is manifested to the afflicted party for his comfort, maketh the compassionate person a partaker with the sufferer.

(2) Such compassion should be remembered by the sufferer thankfully, and recompensed by seeking their eternal welfare who have showed them such great kindness.

2. Another particular is, their joyful enduring the spoliation of their goods. Then —

(1) When trial cometh of men's faith in Christ, such as mind to be constant must prepare themselves to quit their goods if God please so to honour them with employment.

(2) When we see we must lose our goods for Christ's sake, or suffer any other inconvenience, we ought to do it cheerfully, and count our gain in Christ more than our loss in the world; seeing there is no cause of grief, if our eyes were opened, and our earthly affections mortified.

3. Their encouragement and cause of joy was the sensible feeling within themselves of the comfort of eternal riches in heaven keeping for them. Then —

(1) It is the assurance of our heavenly inheritance which must make us ready to quit our earthly movables.

(2) Whoso getteth a heart to quit anything on earth for Christ, shall have better in heaven than he can lose here.

(3) God useth to give earnest of what He is to give, in sensible feeling of spiritual riches to such as believe in Him.

(4) When men can esteem of things heavenly, as they are, that is enduring goods; and of things earthly as they are, that is perishing movables; then shall they readily quit the earthly in hope of the heavenly.

(D. Dickson, M. A.)

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KJV: But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

WEB: But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;