July 19

these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

But Paul's zeal was always according to knowledge. Like the healthful heat of the body, it made him glow, but did not like a fever burn up his brain. No person of so much natural sanguineness of temper, and so much spiritual fervour, ever had so much prudence, or was so authorized from his own example to say to others, "Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the fear of the Lord is"—Hence his wish here not to go alone, but to take Barnabas with him as before. He knew that two were better than one. If one fell, the other would lift him up again. If one was tempted, the other could warn him. If one was distressed, the other could comfort him. If one was perplexed, the other could counsel him. He remembered that his Lord and Master, in the mission of the Seventy, had "sent them forth two by two, into every city and place whither he himself would come." He also had said, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

JULY 19.—"And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work."—Acts 15:37, 38.

We have heard Paul's proposal to Barnabas to revisit together the scenes of their former travels and labour. Here we see the difficulty that occurred in the execution of it. The occasion of it was Mark, not Mark the evangelist, but John Mark. He was the son of the sister of Barnabas. When Barnabas and Paul carried alms from Antioch to Jerusalem, they brought this young man back with them: and when they were sent forth from Antioch to spread the Gospel, they also took him along with them. But when they came to Perga in Pamphylia, he left Paul and his uncle to pursue their journey, and returned to Jerusalem.

On the present occasion Barnabas wished to take him again: but Paul was unwilling. Both had their reasons. Barnabas hoped he had been humbled for his fault, and that in this second excursion he would wipe off the disgrace of the first. Besides he was his nephew; and relative affection will often plead very hard. Paul reflected on our Lord's words; "No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." He felt a very different spirit in himself; and deemed it right to notice a misconduct which, if tolerated in a public character, might be injurious by example. Perhaps both these good men erred a little; the one being too partial, and the other too severe. But with regard to the young man himself, we may observe two things. First, though we know not the particular reason for his delinquency, whether it was the attraction of home, (for he had a mother living in Jerusalem,) or the dread of difficulties and dangers in such a missionary life; he had done wrong in going back; and his declension not only affected his own reputation, but laid the ground of this disagreement