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SERMON IX.

ST. BARNABAS THE APOSTLE.

ST. BARNABAS was of Jewish extraction, though born in the island of Cyprus, being descended from parents of the house of Levi, who had settled in that country (Acts iv. 36). He was sent to Jerusalem to perfect his studies, in the Jewish Law, under the tuition of Gamaliel. He is supposed to be one of the seventy disciples sent out by our Saviour to preach the Gospel. He readily complied with that injunction of the Apostles for throwing all their wealth into a common stock, for the better propagation of the Gospel, by selling "his land, and laying the money at the Apostles' feet; which, some authors say, was a large estate in Cyprus.. His first public employ was to settle a Christian Church at Antioch, several Jews in that city being well disposed to the faith in Christ, by the conversation and preaching of some Christians, who were scattered abroad upon the persecution which arose about Stephen, and had fled to that city. Here his labors had great success; and, the converts multiplying upon him very fast, he went to Tarsus to bring Paul thither, to be his fellow-laborer in that great work of the conversion of so populous a city. Here God blessed their joint labors with wonderful success, the number of the faithful growing so considerable, as to be distinguished by the name of Christians first in that city (Acts xi. 22). After continuing some time here, Paul and Barnabas were separated to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles at a more remote distance. Which they accordingly did, planting

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many Churches in Asia Minor, for the space of three years, travelling and preaching together. At last there happened a contention between them, which occasioned them to part asunder, and preach separately; which God ordered for the good of the Church, and the Gospel being further propagated by their preaching singly, than it would have been by the joint labors of two such eminent Apostles. After this, he is said to have settled the Gospel in his native country of Cyprus; and, sailing from thence into Italy, to have planted Christianity in Milan, not being suffered to come to Rome, by reason of the edict of Claudius, which had prohibited all Jews to come into that city.

JOHN XV. 12.

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I bave loved you.

'HE design of our Blessed Saviour in coming into

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the world was first, by his Atonement and propitiation to restore lost mankind to the favor of God; and then to offer to us a sublime Religion, the observance of whose precepts is the express condition on which we shall be entitled to the participation of the happiness He had, previously, but conditionally, purchased for us.

Among the several virtues comprized in that divine code, I shall, at this time, direct your attention to one in particular, which, justly, claims to be engraven on every heart-it is, the love of one another.

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The command delivered in the text, implies, that we wish every good to others, and that in their several capacities and relations of life; in the same manner as Justice compels us to wish no harm to them: and, as faith is to shew itself by its works, so our love must not only have a willing mind, but hold out an helping hand, to promote their welfare, and contribute to their comfort. It is the loving, not in word, but in deed, which must "approve our hearts before God." The great and eternal Being designed the happiness of mankind; and He has enjoined his moral creation, as the emblem of His authority, and the evidence of their allegiance, to love one another.

It behoves us then to enquire, by what means we are to fulfil the precept, at once obeying the command of God, and conducing to the benefit of man.

Is the credit and reputation of our neighbor wantonly attacked, or injuriously sullied? Is his property insecure, or his person endangered? It is our duty to acquaint him, should he be ignorant of it, with his situation; and to contribute our advice and assistance -if he require them-as far as prudence admits, and expedience warrants. Do we know him to be guilty of acts, which would, if divulged, occasion him personal loss, or disparage him in general estimation? Instead of, maliciously, displaying, we are, industriously, to conceal them. But this caution is to be received with certain limitations. His misconduct may threaten the peace, or involve the ruin, of others. The concealment of his fault might, in such case, be injustice in us. Where, however, things are dubious, charity will dispose us to speak with reserve, and to judge with partiality, it being a property of evangelical love, "to

"think no evil." Need I add, that the words of the text comprize an absolute prohibition of all slander and detraction, of all harsh surmizes, and false reports? We are to consider ourselves as placed, in our several stations, for the very purpose of extending general good, and of promoting each others' comfort. When we meet, as the Samaritan did, with a fellow-creature oppressed by calamity, and incapable of exertion, we are to pour oil into his wounds, and restore him, as far as we have the power, to that state, from which he can derive credit to himself and support to his family. If we see an unfortunate being, bereft of the necessaries of life, exposed to hunger, nakedness, and cold, instead of" shutting up our bowels of compassion from him," we are to make his situation ours-not knowing how soon it may be so and supply him with those comforts which his necessities claim, and our means allow.

There is a stronger expression of love implied in the evangelical precept of our Saviour, and that is, the loving of the soul of our neighbor, it being of as much more consequence, as the one is more valuable than the other. What is in itself of the most intrinsic worth, men, usually, take the greatest pains to secure, and preserve in safety. Now, our love to the soul of our neighbor is to be shewn in a higher degree, and in a different manner; inasmuch as one is of greater value than the other, and the wants of each are different. The soul being capable of, and subject to, grief and sorrow, such comfort is to be administered, as will assuage and remove them. "A word," says the Wiseman, "spoken in due season, how good is it!" To suggest, with feeling and compassion, to a man, when she hand of God is heavy upon him, that " whom the "Lord

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"Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every one "whom He receiveth," may, by God s blessing, blunt the sharpness of the arrow, and extract the venom from the wound. To set before him the declaration of the Psalmist," that it was good for him that he had been "in trouble, because he, thereby, learned God's "commandments," may, through the concurrence of divine Grace, impart support in difficulties, and resignation in afflictions. To urge to the desponding, God's mercy and compassion; and to the impenitent, His patience and long-suffering, accompanied with His own declaration, that "He will repay them that hate "Him to their face, to destroy them," may administer consolation to the one, and awaken repentance in the other. To shew him, who satisfies himself with a mere attendance on the ordinances of Religion, without amendment of life, and sanctification of heart, that it is not the offering of the lips, but the "worshipping of "God in spirit and in truth," which is alone an ac, ceptable service; may lead him to represent the Almighty to his mind as a Being, who exacts of all that draw nigh unto Him, clean hands, and pure hearts. To encourage us all to fulfil, in this sense, the commandment delivered unto us; let us remember the declaration of an Apostle, that "he that converteth a "sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul "from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you."

Christian charity extends itself further than to the Church, even to the whole race of mankind; not merely to Christians, but to the very enemies of Christianity. Every man bears the image of God, and par

ticipates,

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