Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain.

The Duties of others: and how they ought to behave themselves towards such who are afflicted and persecuted.

To sympathize with them, visit, help, comfort, and pray for them: take heed they add not to their trouble.

When Abram heard that his brother Lot was taken captive, he armed (or, led forth) his trained (or, instructed) servants, &c. and pursued those who took Lot: and he smote them, &c. and he brought back all the goods: and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, Gen. 14. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

When Nehemiah had heard that the Jews were in great affliction and re∣proach (though he were then a servant to the king): he sat down, and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, &c. Nehem. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, &c.

Thou shalt not vex a stranger, &c. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless-child, Exod. 22. 21, 22.

When Jobs three friends heard of the evil which was come upon him, they came every one from his own place, &c. for they had made an appointment to∣gether to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him, &c. They wept, Job 2. 11, 12, 13.

Thou hast strengthned the weak hands: thy words have upholden him who was falling, and thou hast strengthned the feeble knees: But, &c. Job 4. 3, 4.

To him who is afflicted, pity should be shewed from his friend, Job 6. 14.

Job said to his friends, Ye are forgers of lyes, ye are all Physicians of no value: O, that you would altogether hold your peace, &c. Will you speak wickedly for God, &c? Job 13. 4, 5, 7.

Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all (or, trouble some comforters are ye all)? shall vain words have an end, &c? I also could speak as ye do, if your souls were in my souls stead; I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you: but I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief, Job 16. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily e∣stranged from me: my kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgot∣ten me: they who dwell in my house, and my maidens, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight, Job 19. 13, 14, 15, 16.

Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me: they have also let loose the bridle before me, &c. Did not I weep for him who is in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? Job 30. 11, 25.

God is said to be afflicted in the afflictions of his people, Isa. 63. 9.

Wo to them who are at ease in Zion, &c. Ye that put far away the evil day, &c. that lie upon beds of ivory, &c. but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, Amos 6. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a litte displeased, and they helped forward the affliction, Zechar. 1. 15.

When Jesus saw the multitude, he had compassion on them, because they fain∣ted (or, were tyred, and lay down), &c. Matth. 9. 36.

I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye cloathed me: I was in pri∣son, and ye came unto me: I was sick, and ye visited me, &c. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, Matth. 25. 35, 36, 37, 40.

When Jesus had put forth the parable of a man falling among thieves, and was wounded, and the Priest and Levite passing by, and looking on: but the Samaritan had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, and took care of him; he said, Go, and do thou likewise, Luke 10. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.

Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art con∣verted, strengthen thy brethren, Luke 22. 31, 32.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing (or, earnest and instant prayer was made) of the Church unto God for him, Acts 12. 5, 12.

Rejoyce with them who do rejoyce, and weep with them who do weep: be of the same mind one towards another, Rom. 12. 15, 16.

The members should have the same care one of another: and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honoured, all the members rejoyce with it: now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular, 1 Cor. 12. 24, 25, 26, 27.

Blessed be God, &c. who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our •…•…lves are comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1. 3, 4.

Bear ye one anothers burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ, Gal. 6. 2.

Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, Eph. 4. 32.

Ye have done well that ye did communicate with mine afflictions, &c. Ye sent once and again to my necessity, Phil. 4. 14, 15, 16.

Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercy, Col. 3. 12.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel, &c. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very dili∣gently, and found me: the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day, &c. how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest, 2 Tim. 1. 8, 16, 17, 18.

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge, 2 Tim. 4. 16.

Ye endured a great fight of affliction: partly, whiles ye were made a gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions: and partly, whilst ye became compa∣nions of them who were so used; for ye had compassion on me in my bonds, &c. Heb. 10. 32, 33, 34.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares. Remember them who are in bonds, as bound with them: them who suffer adversity, as being your selves also in the body, Heb. 13. 2, 3.

Pure religion, &c. is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their afflicti∣on, James 1. 27.

See Duties in common Calamities, Chap. 23.

See Duty of Christians one to another, Chap. 17.