Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

awaken our fears, or compel us to ftand upon our guard.

Barnabas was attached to his nephew John Mark, and very defirous that he fhould be received again as their affociate. Paul ftated the impropriety of taking with them fuch an attendant, as had fhamefully deferted them on a former occafion. Each of the difputants might urge various reafons, and, poffibly,both were influenced by right motives. But we pretend not to justify every thing even in the Apoftles. They. were men, and at times openly betrayed that de pravity, which they continually lamented in fecret. In the prefent cafe, we apprehend, the two parties felt a very blamable warmth of temper. Olet us watch, and, remembering what is in our hearts, always fufpect fome danger nigh! We are expofed in the company of dearest friends, as well as in that of our moft decided enemies.

But we admire the over-ruling providence of God, which in various ways brings good out of evil. This very difagreement became the means of enlarging the Church, and promoting the falvation of many fouls. The two preachers went different roads, but they had the fame object in view; and therefore they published the Gospel in a more speedy and extensive manner. It appears, alfo, that, what-ever refentment might be felt at the time, a perfect reconciliation was foon effected. Paul himself afterwards fpoke in the highest terms, not only of his beloved Barnabas, but of Mark alfo, whom he received as his affiftant*. Chriftians may be feduced> from the path of duty, but their fincerity will be evinced by their recovery.

The example before us does not afford any juft encouragement to fin; it furnishes the ftrongeft arguments for holiness. Well may we blush and hide

1 Cor. ix. 6. Col. iv. 10. 2 Tim. iv. 11.

[blocks in formation]

our faces in the duft, upon a comparison of ourselves with St. Paul. Do we not perceive in him an excellence of character, of which we are deftitute? If it was right for him to labour with fuch unwearied affiduity, to fpend and be fpent in the fervice of Chrift, fhall we think ourselves at liberty to lead an unprofitable and a fenfual life, to take our eafe, eat, drink, and be merry? No: we must be conformed to the spirit of the Apostles and primitive believers, and learn, like them, to "deny ungodliness and wordly lufts, and live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world, looking for that bleffed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jefus Christ *.”

Titus ii. 12, 13.

SECT. 3.

Paul circumcifed Timothy at Lyftra-came to Troas thence to Philippi, where Lydia and the failer were converted-proceeded to Theffalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth-vifited Jerufalem, and then returned, confirming the churches.

THOUGH Chriftians are indebted to the grace of God for every particle of excellence, which they poffefs, the effects of this grace are not equally confpicuous in them all. Frequently they, whofe former spirit and conduct had been moft oppofite to the Gofpel, fhine with peculiar luftre after converfion. A larger experience of their own folly and perverfeness renders them more humble and watchful: a ftronger fense of their vaft obligations to God for pardoning. and fubduing their iniquities, excites them to more lively and vigorous exertions in their holy profeffion. Such was the great Apoftle, whofe character we are contemplating. It is not spoken to the difparagement of other believers, when it is afferted, that we have known none more eminent in every Christian difpofition and practice than St. Paul: nor was it the language of vain confidence or presumption, when he faid of himself, "In nothing am I behind the very chiefeft Apostles *." Being constrained to mention his own case, he expreffed an earnest desire, that the praise of all his attainments and usefulness might be afcribed to God alone. He declared, "By the grace of God I am what I am and his grace, which was

#2 Cor. xii, 11.

bestowed

bestowed upon me, was not in vain: but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." May the confideration of his example rouse and animate our dull and inactive minds; and may the fame bleffed Spirit, which wrought effectually in him, enable us, alfo, to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things!"

Upon his feparation from Barnabas, having A. D. chofen Silas as his companion, he departed from 53. Antioch with the prayers and benedictions of the Church, and travelled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the faith of the difciples +. When he came to Lyftra, he met with Timothy, a pious and amiable youth, who afterwards attained confiderable eminence. St. Paul, being defirous of taking him as an affociate in his further progress, and setting him apart for the work of the miniftry, judged it expedient, that he fhould fubmit to the right of circumcifion. The performance of this ceremony was in itself a matter of indifference, and might in the prefent inftance prevent fome objections against them and their doctrine. Notwithstanding the liberty allowed to the Gentiles, it was ftill generally thought that all per fons of Jewish extraction should conform to the Mofaic law. Now as the mother of Timothy was a Jewels, but his father a Greek, it feemed probable that his cafe would be narrowly obferved, and that, if circumcifion were omitted, he would be unacceptable to the Jews, and Paul's intimacy with him give them great offence.

The conduct of the Apoftle on another occafion was very different, and has excited fome furprife. He firmly oppofed the circumcifion of Titus; evidently because it was infifted on as neceffary to falvation, though Titus was a Gentile. On this ground,

1.Cor. xv. 10, † Aûs xv. 40, 41. † xvi. 1, &c.

Paul

Paul would not confent to it, left the doctrine of juftification by faith in Jefus Chrift fhould appear to be denied or renounced. He had the largest views of Chriftian liberty, and was a zealous advocate for it; yet, in order to recommend the truth which he preached, he was willing to conform to the prejudices of others, in matters not effential.. The cafe of Timothy was one inftance out of feveral, in which

unto the Jews he became as a Jew, that he might gain the Jews t." We admire his meeknefs, felfdenial, and difinterefted regard to the credit and advancement of the Gofpel. Such compliances are truly honourable, and may greatly add to a perfon's ufefulness in the world. But let us take heed, left we pervert this example, by making conceffions clearly finful or of a dangerous tendency, or by yielding even in things lawful through timidity, covetoufnefs, or ambition.

While Paul and his beloved companions travelled from place to place, and scattered the good feed, they faw the bleffed fruits of their labours. Under their care the churches daily increafed in numbers, and became more and more eftablished in the faith. These meffengers of Heaven were guided in their various removals, as well as in their preaching, by the immediate direction of the Holy Spirit. They opened their embafly in one diftrict, where they were received as the Angels of God, but were forbidden to do it in another, at leaft for a feafon. Having traverfed a large part of Afia, and arrived at Troas, they collected from a vifion in the night, that they were called to cross the water into Europe, and preach the Gofpel in Macedonia. They obeyed without reluctance or delay, being prepared to pafs over lands or feas, wherever the Lord fhould mark out their course.

• Gal. ii. 3-5.

+1 Cor. ix. 20-23. See also Acts xxi. 21—24. Gal. iv. 14, 15.

The

« AnteriorContinuar »