I. C. 12. A. The Particular Time is uncertain, though by Eufeb. lib. the Ancients he is generally efteemed one of the Seventy Difciples chofen by our Saviour. And he gave an early Proof of his Christian Zeal, in felling his Lands for the Support of his Chriftian Brethren. And though he was of the Tribe of Levi, to whom the Mofaic Law allowed no particular Poffeffions; yet we may reafonably fuppofe this Eftate was his patrimonial Inheritance at Cyprus, where the Jewish Conftitutions did not take place. A&s ix. 27. A six.22. Ver. 23. Ver. 25. 26. Asix. Q. What Affiftance did St. Barnabas give St. Paul after his Conversion? A. When the Chriftians at Jerufalem were not thoroughly fatisfied with St. Paul's Change, apprehending it might be only a fubtle Art to enfnare them, St. Barnabas introduced him to the Apoles, and declared to them the Manner of his Conversion, and what Evidence he had given of it at Damafcus in his bold Difputations with the Jews. Q. What was his firft Employment in the Service of the Church? A. News from Antioch being brought to the Church at Jerufalem, that many in that City had embraced Chriftianity, St. Barnabas was fent to fettle this new Plantation. Upon his Arrival he rejoiced extremely to fee what Progrefs the Gospel had made among them, and not only exhorted them with Purpofe of Heart to cleave unto the Lord, but by his Labours added many to the Church; and the Work growing too great for a fingle Hand, he went to Tarfus, and engaged St. Paul to return with him to Antioch, where they both laboured together a whole Year in the Eftablishment of that Church. Q. When were the Followers of Jefus called Chriftians? A. About this Time at Antioch. They who firft 26.14 embraced the Faith were ftyled Difciples or Believers, the Brethren, or Men of the Church, or Callers upon V. 3. X11. 5. 24. xix. 9. the Name of Chrift, or Men of that Way, or by their Aftsix. Enemies Nazarenes and Galilæans. But Chriftians xxiv... was the Name they afterwards gloried in fo much, 7that before the Face of their Enemies they would acknowledge no other Title, though hated, reviled, tormented and martyred for it. Q. What Obligation doth that holy Name lay upon us? A. To believe and practise what Christ taught, to imitate his Example, who was made perfect Heb. 11. through his Sufferings, to cleave with Purpose of Heart 10. to the Lord, and to avoid all Manner of Evil, which we folemnly renounced when we took upon us that Name. Q. What was the next Piece of Service St. Barnabas did the Church? A. He, with St. Paul, carried a charitable Supply from the Chriftians at Antioch, to relieve the A&s xi. Brethren in Judea, who were reduced to great Ne- 3o. ceffities by a fevere Famine that afflicted the Provinces of the Roman Empire, and particularly Judæa. Q. How was St. Barnabas called to the Converfion of the Gentile World? 2. A. By the particular Defignation of the Holy Ghoft, A&s xiii. who by Revelation made to the Prophets and Teachers of the Church of Antioch, when they were engaged in Fafting and Prayer, and other public Exercifes of Religion, commanded that he fhould be fet apart with St. Paul to that Purpose. Q. In what Manner was this Defignation to the Service of the Church performed? A. Fatting and Prayer preceded,and then Impo- Ver. 3. fition of Hands: An ancient Ceremony transferred from the Jews into the Chriftian Church, in ordaining Guides and Minifters of Religion, and which hath been so used through all Ages to this Day. Q. Where did St. Barnabas, being joined with St, A. At 4. A&s. xiii. A. At Cyprus, his Native Country, where at Pa phos, a remarkable City of that Island for the Worthip of Venus, the Governor Sergius Paulus was converted. They failed from thence to Pergia in Pamphylia, where Mark, his Kinfman, and their Companion, left them, difcouraged by the Dangers they met with. After three Years Travels through the Leffer Afia, with various Success, preaching the Gospel to feveral Cities, they returned again to Antinch in Syria. A&ts xiv. 12. Q. Why is it fuppofed that the Men of Lyftra compared St. Barnabas to Jupiter their fovereign Deity? A. Either becaufe of his Age, or for the Gravity and Comelinefs of his Perfon, being, as Antiquity reprefents him, of a very venerable Afpect. Q. How did St. Barnabas carry himself in the Controverfy between the Jewish and Gentile Converts? Acts xv. 2. A. He at first oppofed the Judaizers with great Vigour, and went with St. Paul to confult the Church at Jerufalem, where that Matter was determined by a Synodical Decree of the Apostles and Gal. ii. 13. Elders; but afterwards, being drawn afide by the Conduct of St. Peter, he diffembled his Christian Liberty, to please the Jewish Converts; which his Companion St. Paul reproved him in. A&s xv. 37, &c. Acts xv. 39, &c. Q. What was the Occafion of Contest between St. Paul and St. Barnabas? A. These two holy Men having agreed to vifit the Churches they had planted in Afia, St. Barnabas propofed the taking his Kinfman Mark along with them; St. Paul refufed to confent to it, because in their former Travels Mark had confulted too much his own Eafe and Safety, and had left them at Pamphylia. What was the flue of this Difpute? A. That after a joint Labour in their Ministry, for several Years, the Contention was fo fharp between them, that they parted. St. Paul, with Silas, went went to the Churches of Syria and Cilicia, and St, Barnabas, with Mark, to his own Country, Cyprus. Q. How did the Providence of God make the Separation of thefe Apostles turn to the Benefit of the Church? A. By making Chriftianity thereby become more diffusive than if they had ftill continued together; and that Mark, by St Paul's Severity, was brought to a Sense of his former Indifferency in the Work of the Gospel, and became fo useful a Minister of Chrift, that he deserved not only to be a Companion, of St. Paul, but received from him a high Testimony of his Zeal, that he was profitable to him 2 Tim. iv. for the Miniftry. Q. What became of St. Barnabas after this? A. The Scriptures are filent concerning it. Some Writers fay he went into Italy, and preached the Gospel at Rome, and founded a Church at Milan; though it is moft probable he spent the Remainder of his Life at Cyprus, in converting his own Countrymen the Jews; as may be gueffed from the Epiftle he writ, which feems manifeftly defigned for their Benefit. Q. Where did be fuffer Martyrdom? 11. A. It is thought at Salamis, a City in the Island of Cyprus; whither fome Jews, being come from Syria, fet upon him as he was difputing in the Synagogue; in a Corner whereof they fhut him up till Night, whence they brought him forth, and after exquifite Tortures ftoned him to Death: He was buried by his Kinfman Mark in a Cave not far diftant from the City. The Remains of his Body are faid to be discovered in the reign of Zeno the Emperor, A. C. 458; and St. Matthew's Gofpel, written in Hebrew by St. Barnabas's own Hand, lying upon his Breast. Q. What Writings did St. Barnabas leave behind bim? Hieron. Eccl. A. Only one Epiftle, which all the Ancients attributed to him as the Author. And though St. Jer de Script. rome calls it Apocyphal, yet by that is to be understood only that it was not admitted into the Canon of the Church. The main Design of it is to fhew, that the Chriftian Religion had fuperfeded the Rites and Ufages of the Mofaic Law. The latter Part of it contains an useful and excellent Exhortation, managed under the Notion of two Ways, the one of Light, the other of Darkness; the one under the Conduct of the Angels of God, the other under the Guidance of the Angels of Satan. The Way of Light is a Summary or what a Christian is to do, that he may attain eternal Happinefs; and the Way of Darkness reprefents thofe particular Sins and Vices which exclude Men from the Kingdom of God; he closes the whole with preffing Chriftians to live fo, that they may be blessed to all Eternity. Q. What may we learn from the Obfervation of this Festival? A. To defpife Ease, and even Life itself, when we have any happy Opportunity of propagating Christian Knowledge, and to rejoice in any Succefs of that Nature. To compaffionate the Infirmities of our Brethren, whofe Zeal moves in a low Sphere. To be ready to contribute to the Relief of our Fellow-Chriftians; and when their Neceffities are great and preffing, to abridge ourfelves of fome Conveniencies, rather than fuffer them to be oppreffed with Want. To remember what Belief and Practice is implied in the venerable Name of a Chriftian, and to depart from all Iniquity, left we forfeit our Interest in that Faith. To have a greater Regard to the Rule and Measure of our Duty, than the Example of the beft Men, by whom we ought not to be influenced to do any Thing we think bad. That fince Men are fubject to different Thoughts in particular Matters, to avoid all Subjects of Strife and Con tention; |