Such are the dispositions which belong to the Christian character; less shining indeed, but perhaps of more real dignity, than all the pomp and pride of life. At all events, whatever be their estimation among men, we know their value in His sight, who cannot err; and whose property it is to "resist the proud, and give grace to the humble." "Humble yourselves, therefore, my brethren, in the sight of God, and he shall lift you up.”—Though ye are not distinguished by worldly acclamations and applause, let not this discourage you. These are distinctions at best vain, uncertain, unsatisfactory, delusive, and disappointing; many times, and without cause, changed for hissings and reproaches; and incapable of administering a pure and solid, satisfaction through life. But should the flattering sounds continue to the last, they cannot sooth the ear of death. The voice of praise, after a short time, shall cease, and all its votaries be laid in dust. Then the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God."-Happy are they, whom these sounds shall awaken to joy, to life, and everlasting glory.

Prepare us, O God, for this awful event, by inspiring us with a just humility, and all other Christian graces, for the sake and merits of our blessed Redeemer. Amen.

LECTURE IX.

CHAPTERS XIII, XIV.

IN the

IN the 13th and 14th chapters of the Acts, we have an account of the appointment of Barnabas and Saul to their ministry, their mission upon that service, and the discharge of their duty in several places, between the time of their leaving Antioch and their return thither; which is thought to occupy a space of two or three years. "There were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas and Simeon, that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." The designation here spoken of is to a particular work or ministry; not an investing with apostolical power and authority, nor an ordination of them to be bishops in the Christian church. St. Paul declares

of himself, that he was an Apostle, not of men, neither by men, but by Jesus Christ ;" from whom he received this high commission at the time of his conversion, as is plain from the following words of our Lord, For I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, both of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send thee." Where we are to observe, that the original word, translated send, is that very word from which the term apostle is immediately derived. Accordingly we find him entering upon his office without further ceremony, preaching the Gospel at Damascus, Judea, and, without doubt, in many other places before his present appointment. And in his Epistle to the Galatians he speaks in the fullest and most explicit manner upon the subject; "For I neither received it (the Gospel) of man, neither was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

As to the imposition of hands, it was a ceremony used on various occasions, and for divers purposes. Of these the principal in spiritual matters were consecration and benediction. An instance of the former may be seen in the ordaining of persons to sacred functions of the latter, in our Saviour's putting his hands upon little children and blessing them. Now the office of Apostle, comprehending

in it all ecclesiastical power, and entitling to the performance of every religious duty, could not receive the least increase of authority from the imposition of hands, especially of those not apostolical. We are, therefore, to look upon it, on the present occasion, as nothing more than "recommending them to the grace of God for the work which they were to fulfil;" which are the very words of St. Luke, explaining the nature of their mission in the next chapter, c. 14. v. 26.

And, as it is judiciously remarked by an able and candid writer,* the account here contended for exactly suits the manner in which the other Apostles were appointed. They were Apostles from the time that Jesus Christ called them to attend upon him: Luke 6. 13. So Paul was from the beginning called, and appointed to be an Apostle and by degrees he was qualified for it, as his commission opened. And in time he was called out by Divine Providence to the full execution of it. But all along he was an Apostle, and acted and taught as such : first preaching to Jews at Damascus, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and other parts, and then to Gentiles.

As to Barnabas, it seems pretty evident that he was invested with apostolic power before this time; namely, when he was sent by the church at Jerusalem (where the chief of the apostles then were) to Antioch; and having brought Paul from Tarsus

* Dr. Lardner.

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thither, continued to preach there with him a whole year, and made a great multitude of converts. But supposing for a moment that some general power resided in those prophets and teachers, of creating apostles or bishops; yet I cannot see what use could be made of the concession, as applying to the case before us. For if we will fairly consider the circumstances, there appears not the slightest exercise of human authority. In the second verse we read, that the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul ;" and in the fourth, that they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed."-What can be more clear, to shew their commission immediately derived from Heaven? Or can language more plainly exclude all pretensions of man from the least share in their appointment, whatever it be? I can see no difference between the present mode of conveying the divine will, and issuing the command directly to Barnabas and Saul, to separate themselves for the work; unless it were to give the greater solemnity to the order, greater assurance and satisfaction to the minds of their companions, and more mutual trust and harmony among the members of the church. To these we may add their natural effect, the prayers and good wishes of the brethren for the success of their ministry; which was the very event here described.