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conscientious. He who exhorts us to ignore them rouses our contempt; but he who, recognising them, strives to bring us together on the broader basis of a common faith, in the warmer atmosphere of a personal acquaintance, deserves our gratitude. Enterprises of that kind require a world of tact, perseverance, and self-forgetfulness. There is little present honour to be reaped from them. But there is one encouragement, weightier than all besides: "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God."

It is a career open to all who have the one needful qualification of a brotherly Christian spirit. Genius we may have none; in power of speech, in practical talent, even in constitutional energy, we may feel ourselves defective; "He was a great man" will, we feel, never be said of us. We have our calling nevertheless. "Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." That is the path which our Lord Himself has trodden, and sanctified for ever. That is the life, which leaves behind it a memory, fragrant as the scent of hidden flowers, 'He was a good man,' son of consolation.'

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A MOTHER'S STRATAGEM.

CHAPTER I.

ONE sunny morning a few years | twinkling, greedy eyes, thick lips; ago Jan Kammerick came up from men with broad shoulders and stout the cabin of his barge-which his limbs; men who seem always ready men were slowly working through to get down and scramble away on a lock near the quaint and ancient all-fours like the animals they so city of Antwerp-and set his huge much resemble. No one in AntDutch feet upon the deck. His werp-not a market woman on the first act was to bellow ferociously shore of the Scheldt, nor a bargeat the goodnatured fellows who man on river or canal-liked the were doing their best to get the barge through without even so much as scraping the fresh paint on her sides. His next was deliberately and cruelly to kick a small moonfaced boy who was lying on his back and looking up at a carved wooden figure whose grotesque head grinned from a side rail.

choleric and brutal Jan Kammerick; many times the wretch had narrowly escaped a ducking at the hands of a mob because of his cruelties; and on this occasion, seeing the poor child who was kicked begin to cry and to crawl away toward a refuge under a pile of rope, every one shouted, "Jan Many of the loungers along the Kammerick! Jan Kammerick! banks of the lock knew old Jan you are a mean, bad man, and Kammerick for a mean and cruel no one will be sorry when you Flemish boor, who maltreated his come to harm! or, "Jan Kamwife, his children, his bargemen, merick! you shall be complained and who sometimes flew into such of to the judge of the district!" terrific fits of anger that he thrashed The women shook their fists at his own sides with his round fists. him, and the men muttered that You may see people just like him the boy must be taken away from in some of Tenier's paintings-men his cruel father and cared for. with low, cunning faces, small, Kammerick's poor wife, who was

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the apostolic preaching at Pentecost. Some of these, we know, were men of Cyprus and Cyrene."

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His first appearance has more of action in it than of speech. It was at the moment when, under the fresh impulses of their awakening, the disciples who had property, "houses or lands," were parting with it for the relief of their poorer brethren, suddenly cut off from the ordinary means of maintenance. Conspicuous among these was Barnabas; "having an estate, he sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet." He is the only man mentioned by name among those generous givers. Was it because what he did, he did with such heartiness and genuine humility as to serve for an example to the whole Church? It was a good beginning for a Christian ministry. "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

The interest deepens as we proceed. Six or seven years have passed, and the Church has scarcely recovered from the shock of the great persecution. Barnabas is still in Jerusalem occupying a position which enables him to take a most important part at a critical time. An unlooked-for and almost unwelcome convert has presented himself. It is Saul, the Pharisee, the notorious persecutor who has sworn to extirpate the sect of the Nazarenes, root and branch, from the sacred soil. Converted at Damascus, he applies for fellowship at Jerusalem. But he finds himself an object of alarm and undisguised mistrust. The disciples will not believe him. The apostles hesitate to move. The way was opening for a schism, the most fatal we can conceive, between them and this "last of the apostles," who seeks their sympathy indeed, but who can dispense with it, strong in his own independent authority, and in the promised approval of the Lord. There was needed some well-known and trusted leader, liberal and large-hearted enough to become surety for the former persecutor, and to stand his friend. That friend was found in Barnabas. He joined Peter's hand with Paul's. He told the tale of the wonderful conversion, in such a manner as to dissolve all doubt. The "son of consolation" appears here at his appropriate work, reconciling those opposing forces with the "sweet reasonableness" of his own gentler spirit.

He was selected, shortly afterwards, for a mission in which the same spirit would find scope. Tidings had reached the apostles of strange successes attending the gospel in Antioch, the famous Greek city in Northern Syria. Some of the scattered brethren had been "preaching the Lord Jesus" to the heathen population there, and the number of conversions had been surprising. The Church at Jerusalem was not prepared for such an event. The baptism of Cornelius had indeed opened the door to heathen men; but that was in obedience to a direct vision from heaven to the chief of the apostles, and this larger movement appeared unauthorised, and might prove unwarranted. Barnabas was accordingly chosen to visit the spot, and make inquiry:

Now it is not altogether easy for any man

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and to Antioch he went. to give a thorough and hearty commendation to a work in which he himself has had no share. The critic's habit is likely to be too strong. He will expatiate on the objectionable incidents of the awakening rather than on its solid success. He will point out what might have been done better, rather than what has been done well. Finely in contrast with that tendency stands out the candid and generous behaviour of Barnabas. He saw the grace of God; a divine work, which none could overthrow, which none might overlook. He " was glad," with an unmingled delight, and expressed himself in terms of warm congratulation and approval. Nay, he threw his own energies into the glorious enterprise, and "exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord." When he departed he left many further converts added to the Lord, and an impression which the historian preserves in the memorable words, "He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith." The son of exhortation has proved also the son of comfort, of edification, of strength.

There is no room to enlarge upon the weighty controversies, and the perilous missionary journeys, in which, shortly after the incidents last noticed, Barnabas became associated with Paul. But from that hour, the lustre of his name begins to pale beside the fervent and forward energy of his incomparable companion. He is no longer "the chief speaker." The practical command passes gradually into the stronger hands of Paul. While Paul is represented on a conquering march through heathen lands, Barnabas retires into the obscurity of his native island, and is heard of no more. Some would even see in the account of their separation the evidence of growing envy on the part of Barnabas, unable longer to endure his inferior position. I read that account in another light. I find in the history no trace of any jealousy; but traces rather of a noble modesty, akin to that of the Baptist when he drew back into the shade before the perfect light of Christ. This man, who when others shunned Paul had been his patron and protector, laying him under no common obligation, is now content to yield the precedence, and to walk loyally and lovingly at his side. There was no backwardness on the part of Barnabas in the perils and enterprises which he shared with Paul. He too lifted up his voice at Paphos, in the synagogue at Antioch, in the towns of Lycaonia. He ran his risks at the hands of the unbelieving Jews, He stood stedfast at his comrade's side in the face of the fierce opposition from the bigoted Pharisees at Jerusalem. When at length they differed-if we have to choose between the two-surely it was Barnabas who erred upon the generous side; for what he did was to take a faint-hearted brother whom Paul was too impatient to endure, and to give him that fresh chance of honourable service which made Mark “profitable ever afterwards to Christ and to His Church.

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Now we may understand, in some degree, the type of character which Barnabas represents. It is one which will be variously estimated, according to the disposition of the valuer. "He had not the

genius of Paul," says one writer, "but in the true hierarchy of souls, in which goodness is the rule of merit, may he not occupy even a loftier rank?" That is perhaps an unduly favourable comparison; but all will acknowledge the peculiar charm which attaches to the true "son of consolation." There are men who everywhere leave behind them a sense of irritation, like winds that blow dust into face and eyes. They are the opposites to Barnabas. There was sunshine where he came. His was the influence that heals, like wine and oil from the flasks of the Good Samaritan. At his approach, the feeble gathered strength, and trembling souls crept out of their hiding toward the light. Hard words were hushed in his company; the sternest grew gentle, and the very churl tried to be liberal. Yet it would be a mistake to suspect him, and men like him, of moral weakness and irresolution. The sunshine has its strength, as well as the wind, though it makes much less noise. Barnabas was once "carried away by the dissimulation" of others, to Paul's great wonder; but the very wonder -"even Barnabas !"-shows how unusual the symptom was. For sons of consolation" are also sons of strong encouragement, who can themselves burn against injustice or hypocrisy, and inspire others with a kindred zeal. It is significant that heathen men "called Barnabas Jupiter," the name that embodied their poor conceptions of what was greatest and best, most fatherly, most benignant.

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We recognise the presence of such men in our own generation, and among the fathers and brethren in our own Israel. The temper of the moment does not tend to exalt them, or to press their example on our imitation. The sterner gifts are mostly in request; sons of thunder, sons of fire, are called for, with power to clear the air and to consume the adversary. We watch with mingled awe and admiration, as some impetuous missionary spirit sweeps by, rousing the dull church to a measure of its own activity. We applaud the controversialists, who, on one side and the other, contend for separate sides of truth, or for principles which they reckon overlooked. No doubt there is great need of them. Is there not need also of "the son of consolation," and may he not do as good a work as they? Surely it is not below the ambition of the strongest to play the part of Barnabas among the churches of to-day. He must be content to be comparatively unnoticed, and to leave a fainter impression on the general world. He will appear not among the heroes, like Elijah; but rather like Elisha, the homely and holy man of God, passing by on his daily errands of duty. But as long as so many timid, undecided souls remain, needing the tenderest touch, and a patience almost motherlike to bring them to decision; as long as there are little children to be drawn into the Saviour's arms; as long as the Church has her backsliders to reclaim, and her doubters to direct and encourage: so long there will be ample occupation for such a man, and abundant reward. Nor will he live in vain, but rather to the highest purpose, if he be made instrumental, like Barnabas, in dissipating suspicions, and confirming friendships, between Christian brethren. Differences must exist where men are

conscientious. He who exhorts us to ignore them rouses our contempt; but he who, recognising them, strives to bring us together on the broader basis of a common faith, in the warmer atmosphere of a personal acquaintance, deserves our gratitude. Enterprises of that kind require a world of tact, perseverance, and self-forgetfulness. There is little present honour to be reaped from them. But there is one encouragement, weightier than all besides: "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God."

It is a career open to all who have the one needful qualification of a brotherly Christian spirit. Genius we may have none; in power of speech, in practical talent, even in constitutional energy, we may feel ourselves defective; "He was a great man" will, we feel, never be said of us. We have our calling nevertheless. "Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.' That is the path which our Lord Himself has trodden, and sanctified for ever. That is the life, which leaves behind it a memory, fragrant as the scent of hidden flowers, "He was a good man,' solation."

A MOTHER'S STRATAGEM.

CHAPTER I.

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ONE sunny morning a few years twinkling, greedy eyes, thick lips; ago Jan Kammerick came up from men with broad shoulders and stout the cabin of his barge-which his limbs; men who seem always ready men were slowly working through to get down and scramble away on a lock near the quaint and ancient all-fours like the animals they so city of Antwerp-and set his huge much resemble. No one in AntDutch feet upon the deck. His werp-not a market woman on the first act was to bellow ferociously shore of the Scheldt, nor a bargeat the goodnatured fellows who man on river or canal-liked the were doing their best to get the barge through without even so much as scraping the fresh paint on her sides. His next was deliberately and cruelly to kick a small moonfaced boy who was lying on his back and looking up at a carved wooden figure whose grotesque head grinned from a side rail.

choleric and brutal Jan Kammerick; many times the wretch had narrowly escaped a ducking at the hands of a mob because of his cruelties; and on this occasion, seeing the poor child who was kicked begin to cry and to crawl away toward a refuge under a pile of rope, every one shouted, "Jan Jan Kammerick!

come to harm!" or, "Jan Kammerick! you shall be complained of to the judge of the district!"

Many of the loungers along the Kammerick! banks of the lock knew old Jan you are a mean, bad man, and Kammerick for a mean and cruel no one will be sorry when you Flemish boor, who maltreated his wife, his children, his bargemen, and who sometimes flew into such terrific fits of anger that he thrashed The women shook their fists at his own sides with his round fists. him, and the men muttered that You may see people just like him the boy must be taken away from in some of Tenier's paintings-men his cruel father and cared for. with low, cunning faces, small, Kammerick's poor wife, who was

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