July 18

And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto us. Many despise it and turn from it. How do we regard it? Do we believe it? And does our life vouch for our faith? Can we say with David, "Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore thy servant loveth them." Some would consider a regard that rose to admiration and astonishment as weakness of mind. But it is more than justified by prophets, by angels, by God himself, who has magnified his word above all his name. How little and mean are other things at which we wonder! Here is enough to fix, and fill, and employ the mind for ever! But let us not be found in the number of those who "wonder and perish." Let us pray that the Holy Spirit may lead us into all truth, that we may know the excellency of it from its influence in ourselves, and recommending it to others, be able to say with John, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

JULY 18.—"And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do."—Acts 15:36.

NOTHING can be more pleasing to a Christian than to study the life of our Saviour; to follow him from place to place; to hear him preaching the Gospel of the kingdom; to see him feeding the hungry, opening the eyes of the blind, raising the dead, and going about doing good. We may feel a considerable degree of the same pleasure in reading the acts of the Apostles. The Apostles in the Church of God were next to him in order of time, and next to him in dignity, and next to him in supernatural endowments, suffering, and usefulness. But in all things he must have the pre-eminence. He is fairer than the children of men. In following him we find nothing to scandalize or to distress. No censure ever attaches to his temper or conduct; he is always in character with himself as the Holy One of God; and we exclaim with the multitude, "He hath done all things well." But it is otherwise when we follow men, good men, great men, inspired men—"The best of men are but men at the best."

An instance of which comes before us this evening in the dispute between Paul and Barnabas. It will yield us several instructive meditations.

We begin with Paul's proposal to Barnabas—"Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do." The manner in which he speaks of the persons regarded is observable: he calls them "our brethren." Our Lord had said to his disciples, Call no man master, and be not ye called masters, for one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. And they strictly adhered to the command. Paul does not avail himself of his office, talents, or success, to lord it over God's heritage. He exercised no dominion over their faith, but was a helper of their joy. The fraternal relation results from our very nature; for God has made of one blood all the nations of men, and they are all derived from one father, the first man, Adam—so that wherever I see a human being I see a brother. But the

Apostle here refers to the subjects of divine grace. They are new creatures; they are born again; but they are born of the same Spirit, they are redeemed by the same blood, justified by the same righteousness, heirs of the same glory: and while partaking of "the common salvation," a communion subsists between them, unaffected by any difference of opinion, or distinction of circumstances.

These were universally esteemed by Paul; and he could say, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." But the persons he now wished to see were known to him and Barnabas. They had been blessed under their former ministry; for they had preached to them the word of the Lord before. It is natural for those who are spiritual fathers to feel a peculiar affection for their own offspring. If we have planted a tree we feel interested in its life and growth. What wonder then that Paul should wish to water what they had planted; or that having sown the seed, he wished to see the blade, the ear, and full corn in the ear. And the state of things required their inspection. The first Churches were exposed to a thousand discouragements and dangers. How soon were the Galatians "bewitched" from the truth, and lost the blessedness they had spoken of. There were deceitful workers at Corinth, and one wretch, as specious as he was injurious, who transformed himself into an angel of light. At Ephesus from among themselves arose men, speaking perverse things, and drawing away disciples after them. Wherever the good seed was sown the enemy was sure to sow tares. It was natural therefore that Paul should be concerned to visit "every city" where they had laboured, to know their estate, to refute any error in doctrine, to oppose any corruption in practice, to warn the unruly, to comfort the feebleminded, to uphold the weak; and to help them much who had believed through grace—How well could he say, "That which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the Churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?"

See the zeal of this man of God—"Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do"—He was never weary in well-doing. He made the end of one good work the beginning of another; and considered nothing done while any thing remained to be done. What he said of himself as a Christian applied equally to his character as a preacher and an apostle: "I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." To those who were ignorant of the principle that actuated him in these "labours mere abundant, and deaths oft," he appeared like a man deranged; and he was so, when judged by the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness with God. But, says he, "Whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." Hence too when he mentions his losses and persecutions he adds, "For the which cause I also suffer