Theology and Biblical Ellustration.

BARNABAS AT ANTIOCH.

"And they sent forth Barnabas, . . . . who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord," Acts xi. 22, 23.

WHEN it is said here that he had seen the grace of God, the meaning is, that he saw the effects of the grace of God-saw that the work there was a real work of grace. Grace is known by its fruits. These fruits Barnabas saw. They were so visible and so striking, that he could not fail to trace them to their source- -the grace of God. But in what did he see the grace of God? The first thing in which he saw the grace of God was, the very general attention to religion which was manifest in the city at that time. Had he been longer in the city, had he been there before the work of grace commenced, the first thing which would have struck his attention, and given token of the approaching blessing, might have been the increased prayerfulness of the disciples who had taken refuge there from the storms of persecution raging in Judea. It is usually so. When God is about to revive his work, he gives a spirit of grace and supplication to his own children. He gives them an unusual measure of the spirit of the Divine martyr, which leads them to feel more deeply for perishing sinners, and to pray more earnestly for their salvation; and then, in answer to their prayers, he brings others into the fold of Christ. Hence it is usually the case that revivals begin at the house of God; the church must first be revived. And when this is the case, there may be seen the grace of God.

Barnabas saw the grace of God in the repentance of sinners. At the first view he saw men disposed to attend to the concerns of their souls; and when he came to inquire and examine more particularly, he not only heard them inquiring what they must do to be saved, but he also saw them repenting of their sins and forsaking their idolatries. A revival may, for a season, be confined to the church. The people of God may be very much revived, and yet no sinners be converted. But conversion will soon follow. At Antioch believers were few; the work was principally among those without, and hence it was among them that Barnabas ṣaw the grace of God. He saw it in their repentance. This is a work of grace. If any repent, it is because God gives them repentance. Repentance is a fruit of God's Spirit-a saving grace. And did we see men around us repenting of their sins, confessing them to God and forsaking them, sorrowing for them after a godly manner, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience, who would not say, The Lord is in this place-his Spirit is at work-we see his grace in the repentance of many? Barnabas saw the grace of God in the reception of Christ by faith in the hearts of many. Repentance must be followed by faith. When there is genuine repentance there is also faith. As Barnabas saw the repentance of

the Antiochians, in their renunciation of idolatry and vice, so did he see their faith, in the reception of Jesus Christ and his gospel. Instead of worshipping idols, they began to worship the Lord Jesus. And this, too, is the work of God's gracious Spirit. No man ever yet truly embraced Jesus Christ but by the Spirit of God. Faith is a grace of the Spirit. And when Barnabas saw multitudes forsaking their idols, making choice of the blessed Jesus as their God and portion, and confessing him before men, he could not hesitate to ascribe it to the grace of God. And if we should see the same happy results -see men giving up the world, fleeing to Jesus Christ for salvation, casting their souls on his atoning sacrifice for acceptance with God,-we too would confess that God is here, for we should then see his grace.

Barnabas saw the grace of God in a visible reformation of manners. When there is a work of grace, there is usually a great improvement in the habits of the people; they break off their sins by righteousness, and their iniquities by turning unto the Lord. Vicious practices are broken off; vain and sinful amusements forsaken; the rights of men respected; their best interests sought; the law and institution of God regarded; and the community becomes as noted for virtue as it was for vice and immorality. Such a change Barnabas saw at Antioch. Idol temples were forsaken, and the places of social Christian worship sought. And when the temples of the idols were forsaken, the abominations of heathenism were also abandoned. Honesty took the place of fraud, purity of lasciviousness, love of hatred; all heathen vices began to be corrected, and those virtues to be practised which distinguish the reign of the gospel. And were God to pour out his Spirit in the midst of us, we should soon see an improvement in the moral aspect of society. The sabbath would be regarded; intemperance no longer prevail; profanity be abandoned; the young would no longer prefer their vanities to the worship of God; the sanctuary would be thronged; prayer-meetings attended; and everything would indicate the presence of God.

Barnabas saw the grace of God in the zeal, efforts, and prayers of those who were already disciples of Christ, and of those who became converts to Christianity. The disciples who went to Antioch preaching Jesus were devoted, zealous, prayerful. They were the instruments whom God chose to employ in beginning the work of grace in that city. By their zeal and efforts the good seed was sown, and by their prayers it was watered. In their fidelity the grace of God was seen; and they who then embraced Christ doubtless imitated the worthy example set them. They too were zealous in the cause they espoused. They communicated to others the knowledge of the Saviour, and endeavoured to persuade their friends and others to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold upon the hope set before them; and then with full hearts they sought the blessing of God upon their poor endeavours. It is so when God pours out his Spirit. The people of God are aroused from their sleep of death; new converts enter the vineyard of Christ; and the grace of God is seen in the zeal, efforts, and prayers which are put forth in the hope of bringing all around to bow at the foot of the cross.

We have considered what Barnabas saw at Antioch; we are now to consider what he did. And in the first place, he rejoiced. When he had seen the grace of God, he was glad. And why should he not be glad? How could he avoid rejoicing when he saw such evident marks of the grace of God? Is there not joy in heaven among the angels over one sinner that repenteth? and could Barnabas, a good man, restrain his joy when he saw that a great number believed and turned unto the Lord? Barnabas was willing to acknowledge the grace of God wherever he saw it; for he knew that they who are not against Christ are for him. And where he saw the grace of God he would

not only acknowledge it, but rejoice in it. He felt as Paul did, and as every good man should feel-whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and therein do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Barnabas did not find fault with the brethren for what they had done; he did not censure their measures, as being too new or too old; nor did he seem disposed to introduce any peculiar measures of his own. Being a good man, and more concerned for the welfare of souls than for measures, it mattered little to him whether the measures employed were new or old, so long as the work of God went on. Nor did his joy lead him to stand still and look on, as if nothing more were to be done; but he entered heartily into the work himself. And this is just what we should expect from him, as a good man. It is no mark of goodness to stand idle at such a time; for Christ says, Go into my vineyard and work. One may stand in doubt for a time whether what is so called is really a work of God; and until he is satisfied he cannot be expected to enlist in it. This seems to have been the case with the church at Jerusalem when informed of what was going on at Antioch. So they sent Barnabas to inquire into the matter. And when he arrived there, it was not till after he had seen the grace of God, became satisfied that it was a work of grace, that he was glad and rejoiced. When satisfied as to the genuineness of the work, he was filled with joy; and what did he do next? He did not stand still; he introduced no peculiar measures; but it is observable that he went on in the same old way that was pursued before his arrival. And what was that? Why simply preaching the gospel. All the means and measures seem to have been preaching, and exhortation, and prayer; and these Barnabas continued. Thus in the 19th verse we read, "preaching the word;" and in the 20th verse, "preaching the Lord Jesus." These means, being of God's appointment, were abundantly successful; for the 21st verse declares, that "a great number believed." And Barnabas seems to have thought these means sufficient; for the text declares he " was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." And it appears that these means continued to be successful; for in the 24th verse it is written, "And much people was added unto the Lord." Let us look, then, at the next thing which Barnabas did. First, he rejoiced; and then, secondly, he exhorted them all. He "exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."

The converts there were exposed to many trials and temptations. If faithful, they must expect to meet with opposition, and persecution might also be waged against them. And if those who have had a good moral and religious education, and are surrounded with holy and happy influences, and have nothing to fear from persecution, find it difficult to live so as in all things to adorn their profession, and are in danger of being led astray by the world, the flesh, and the devil, how much more critical and trying must have been the situation of the new converts at Antioch! Hence the propriety of this exhortation. They needed to cleave with purpose of heart unto the Lord. They must be firmly resolved to serve God. It must be the unwavering purpose of their hearts to live to the glory of their Lord. Regeneration is not a mere change of purpose. Good resolutions are not a new heart. Yet it is a great thing, and a necessary thing, to have the mind for God. The heart must be enlisted in the purpose of new obedience. It is not enough that the head be enlightened; not enough that the understanding be illuminated, and the judgment convinced the affections must be enlisted; the will must bend; all the powers of the soul must be turned heavenward, and combine against their enemies in the walk of holiness. Without depending on our resolutions, we must, in the strength of Divine grace, resolve with Joshua, that, let others do

as they may, as for us and our houses, we will serve the Lord. We must be firmly resolved; cleave with purpose of heart unto the Lord. So Barnabas exhorted the converts at Antioch; and so must converts now be exhorted. And not only did Barnabas exhort them to be firmly resolved for God, but also to live near to God, as a means of keeping their resolutions. Our resolutions, if made in our own strength, are but a rope of sand; more easily broken than formed. It requires some effort to form a good resolution, but little or no effort to break it. Our resolutions, our firm purposes, are nothing without the grace of God. This grace is to be had in answer to prayer. Hence we must live near to God; be much engaged in prayer to him, if we would carry out the purposes of our hearts to serve him. We must cleave to the Lord-live near to him-live with him--never forsake him. So Barnabas exhorted; the same exhortation is appropriate now. All young converts should be exhorted to follow close after Christ; to go to him for grace and strength; to cleave to him in the hour of danger and difficulty, of trial and temptation.

Thus you see what Barnabas did at Antioch; what more or better could he have done? He acted the part of a wise as well as of a good man. And were God to pour out his Spirit in our midst, and many should believe on the Lord Jesus, Barnabas, were he to visit us from the abode of blessedness above, would doubtless rejoice when he saw the grace of God, and exhort all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Yes, aged disciples, as your years increase, cleave still more closely to the Lord. And ye younger disciples, in the midst of the dangers which beset your path, cleave nearer and nearer to the Lord. In your necessary avocations, in all the trials and conflicts of life, ye followers of Christ, cleave to the Lord. And when the hour of death comes, and you enter the dark valley, and set your feet in the cold river, and trembling seizes you, and you shrink back with dread, then, O then, cleave unto the Lord!

Thus we have viewed Barnabas at Antioch, considered what he saw and what he did; and in view of the whole, we may remark,

1. A revival of the work of grace is desirable. It secures a general attention to religion-the refreshing of Christians-the repentance of sinners-the reception of Christ by faith-the reformation of manners-the zeal, efforts, and prayers of many in the cause of religion. Is not such a state of things desirable? And if desirable, should we not seek it? For,

2. The cause of Christ depends for success upon the grace of God. Barnabas saw the grace of God at Antioch. A revival is solely a work of grace. Means must be used, but success must come from God. It was because the hand of the Lord was with the disciples, that many believed. The cause of Christ cannot advance without the Divine blessing. We need the grace of God-the Spirit of God. Let us seek it; for he will be inquired of, and give his Spirit in answer to prayer. Again,

Barnabas

3. Every good man rejoices in the success of Christ's cause, rejoiced, and so do all Christians now when the work of God is revived. Then we should labour and pray for its revival, and rest not till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high. Finally,

4. Good men feel solicitude for the eternal interests of others. They feel solicitude for young converts. Hence they are disposed to encourage and exhort them, and to take them by the hand and lead them on toward heaven. And they feel solicitude for the impenitent. Hence they warn and entreat them, and say, "Flee from the wrath to come!" W. J. M.t

CAUSES OF DECLENSION IN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

BEFORE entering on the subject of the present inquiry, it may be proper to state what is to be understood by a Christian church in the following discussion, and what is intended by the declension of such a society.

By a Christian church is intended a company of visible believers, that is, of people giving evidence by their conduct that they have believed the truth-coming regularly together in the name of Christ, to obey his laws, and to observe all his institutions. Such, I am persuaded, with all their imperfections, were the churches collected and superintended by the apostles; and such the Lord intended his churches should be to the end of time. For such only the laws of Christ could have been, with any propriety, intended, because such only could or can obey them.

The declension of a church may be taken in a threefold point of view: 1. Departing from or adding something to the Divine atonement as the ground of acceptance with God. This was the case with the churches of Galatia; which made Paul stand in doubt of them, and say that they had fallen from grace, Gal. i. 6-10. 2. Accommodating the public institutions of the gospel to the prevailing taste and fashion of the world, by increasing or diminishing their number, or new-modelling them after the pattern of the popular profession of the age. Moses says to Israel, "Ye shall not add unto the word that I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandment of the Lord your God which I command you ;" and Paul praises the Corinthians for keeping the ordinances as he delivered them, even though they had introduced some irregularities in the observance of them. parting to the right hand or to the left, from the system of ordinances delivered by the apostles to the first churches, must be decided declension. 3. Falling off as individuals from practical godliness from personal religion-from spirituality of mind.

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The gospel is intended to renew men after the image of God, and all the institutions of the gospel are intended to carry forward the conformity of the soul to that image. When a church is profiting by the ordinances to which they are attending, there must be a growing progress in personal religion, in vital godliness among the members. When, on the other hand,

the ordinances of the gospel are not answering their end in the spiritual improvement of those who enjoy them-when they are, in the midst of all their advantages, getting cold-hearted, carnallyminded, sinking into conformity to the world in their spirit and their conduct; then the church, though, perhaps, attending regularly and scripturally to all the public institutions of the gospel, is rapidly declining. It is thus that a church may have a name among the living, and yet be in a great measure dead.

It is the causes of this first and radical species of declension, that is the principal object of the following inquiry:

SECTION I.-A defective system, or neg ligent conduct in the admission of Members.

The churches of Christ are composed of mortal men-they must all die, and slip away one after another; and the churches must die too, if they do not receive a regular supply of new members to fill the places and do the work of those that are removing. It is in this way that the Lord promises to perpetuate the kingdom of Christ in the world to the end of time: "The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee."-"If the ordinances of Heaven depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever." Here, then, two questions of considerable importance occur:r:-What sort of characters ought to be admitted to fellowship with the churches? and how are they to ascertain whether applicants possess the requisite character?

If the object be to raise an interest, as it has been called,-to increase a party, -to collect a body of people together that, in number and circumstances, will make a decent and respectable appearance in the world; then it is easy to see what sort of characters will answer the end, and to obtain them is not difficult. But if the object be, to gather a Christian church, such as has been described above, -a church that will be to the Lord for a name, and a praise, and a glory,-that will show forth the praises of him that has called them out of darkness into marvellous light, that will, as a body, shine as a light in the world, holding forth the word of life; and that will, as individuals, and as families, scattered among the neighbouring population, display the