7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.



Ver. 7. Partakers of my grace] That is, ye communicate with me in my sufferings, which he here calleth his "grace;" and tells them, Php_1:29; "to you it is given," as an honorary, "to suffer for Christ’s sake." Crudelitas vestra gloria nostra, Your crulty is our glory, said those primitive martyrs. (Tertull.) I had rather be a martyr than a monarch, saith Ignatius. It is to my loss, if you bate me anything in my sufferings, saith Gordius to his tormentors. Gaudebat Crispina cum tenebatur, cum audiebatur, cum damnabatur, cum ducebatur, saith Augustine: {in Psa_137:1-9} Crispina rejoiced when she was apprehended, convented, condemned, executed.