How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Ver. 2. In a great trial of affliction] For affliction tries what metal we are made of. Alchemy gold will not endure the seventh fire as true gold will. Affliction (the trial of our faith) is more precious than gold, 1 Peter 1:7. What then is faith itself so tried? Revelation 3:18 .
The abundance of their joy] While the spirit of glory and of God rested upon them, 1 Peter 4:14. Well may grace be called the divine nature; for, as God brings light out of darkness, riches out of poverty, &c., so doth grace: it turns dirt into gold, &c. The world wonders (said that martyr) how we can be so merry in such extreme misery. But our God is omnipotent, which turneth misery into felicity. See Trapp on " 2Co 7:4 "
Their deep poverty] Gr. η κατα βαθους πτωχεια, their poverty being now at the very bottom, and having little left beside hope; they were even exhausted, and yet gave liberally. Giles of Brussels, martyr, gave to the poor whatsoever he had, that necessity could spare, and only lived by his science, which was of a cutler. a Some he refreshed with his meat, some with his clothes, some with his household stuff. One poor woman there was brought to bed, and had no bed to lie in; to whom he brought his own bed, himself content to lie in the straw.
Unto the riches of their liberality] Gr. απλοτης, of their simplicity, in opposition to that crafty and witty willingness of the covetous to defend themselves from the danger of liberality; wherein also they are utterly mistaken; for not getting, but giving is the way to thrive. See Trapp on " Mat 6:4 "
a One who makes, deals in, or repairs knives and similar cutting utensils. ŒD