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such persons as would be likely, by their zeal and activity, to promote the success of the Gospel. Firmness, and industry, are qualifications at all times requisite for the faithful and effectual discharge of the Christian ministry, and never were they more necessary, than in the times of the Apostles, when the preaching of the Gospel was attended with the most formidable obstacles. In these qualifications, John, (whose surname was Mark), had shewn himself deficient, and either from fear, or from lukewarmness in the Christian cause, he had departed from Barnabas and Paul at Perga in Pamphylia, (Acts xiii. 13.) instead of continuing to share in their labours and their dangers. "No man," said Christ, "having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven." St. Paul, therefore, judged wisely, in not taking with him, as a companion, one who seemed so little qualified, at this time, " to be profitable to him in the ministry.” There is, however, an incidental mention of Mark, in one of St. Paul's Epistles, which throws additional light on this matter, and shews us what it was that induced Barnabas, who in general acted so well, to form an erroneous judgement on this occasion. This John Mark

a Coloss. iv. 10.

was a near relative to Barnabas, being his sister's son. We need not doubt, therefore, but that a fond partiality influenced Barnabas to entertain a more favourable opinion of his nephew, than that nephew's actions justified. So far from St. Paul's conduct being blameable, it is entitled to the highest praise. Christianity, by its tendency to inspire it's professors with a most noble and disinterested spirit of benevolence and philanthropy, is admirably calculated to promote virtuous friendships; and we cannot suppose, that he who has told us "to be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; to weep with them that weep, and to rejoice with them that do rejoice," was himself a stranger to the most generous sensibilities of the human heart. No! St. Paul must have been susceptible, in the highest degree, of the pure and exquisite delights of friendship, and in Barnabas he had met with one, for whom, from a similarity of pursuits, and a partnership in dangers, he must have felt a more than ordinary regard. St. Paul would not, however, suffer the private feelings of affection to interfere with the faithful discharge of his public duty. He had no corrupt objects to attain, no party feelings to influence

b Rom. xii. 10, 15.

3

his judgment. Hence, in looking out for a companion in the ministry, he naturally enquired, who was most worthy of the honourable employment, (for honourable it was, although attended with poverty and danger.) The first consideration with St. Paul always appears to have been, how he might best please, not his friend, but his God. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" was the language of his lips, and the rule of his actions, and nothing could more forcibly evince the singleness of heart, and sincerity of purpose, with which St. Paul devoted himself to the duties of his high calling, than his conduct on the above occasion. Had the author of The Acts, (as Mr. Gamaliel Smith would have us believe,) been anxious “to paint every incident in colours favourable to Paul," he might have found, in this circumstance alone, ample ground for panegyric. But St. Paul's conduct stood in no need of praise, and, therefore, St. Luke has stated facts, leaving the world to draw its inferences; and where prejudice does not pervert the judgement, such inferences will always be favourable to St. Paulc. But, according to Mr. Gamaliel Page 193.

b

a Acts ix. 6. That no lasting animosity subsisted between Paul and Barnabas, may be fairly inferred from the mention which

St. Paul

It was,

Smith, the number of Paul's enemies in Antioch, the time he had passed there, being considered, could not have been small. therefore, a matter of prudence for him "to plan and execute a new missionary excursion," and, with this view," he looked out for a humble companion, and found one in Silas," "of whom," adds Gamaliel Smith, "no character is given, except the being found in company with Paul, in some of the places which Paul visits"!!!" Surely Mr. Gamaliel Smith could not have anticipated, that any one would take the trouble to trace his numerous deviations from truth, or he would not have hazarded such barefaced assertions. This Silas, of whom he speaks so contemptuously, is acknowledged, (Acts xv. 22.) as "chief man among the brethren," and this acknowledgement is represented as publickly proceeding from the Apostles

:

a

St. Paul makes of Barnabas, 1 Cor. ix. 6. A very little reflection would probably convince Barnabas of his error, and he would find in St. Paul, every disposition to forgiveness and reconciliation and, with regard to Mark, "by St. Paul's severity he was brought," as Nelson observes, "to a sense of his former indifferency in the work of the Gospel, and became so useful a minister of Christ, that he not only deserved to be a companion of St. Paul, but received from him a high testimony of his zeal, that he was 'profitable to him for the ministry."" 2 Tim. iv. 11.

d Page 197.

and elders, with the whole church at Jerusalem. We may also infer, from the honourable testimony borne to the conduct of Silas in a subsequent part of the history, that St. Paul could not have chosen a more excellent companion". But let us look at the manner of St. Paul's

leaving Antioch. Is it like that of a man stealing away from his enemies? No! The history informs us, that the prayers and benedictions of the brethren accompanied his departure. "And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren to the grace of God." Acts xv. 40. Indeed, wherever St. Paul went, his virtues, and the glad tidings of the Gospel which he preached, appear to have acquired for him the respect of the upright and the just. Nay, even his very enemies could not gainsay the excellence of his character. "We find no evil in this man," said the Scribes". "This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds," exclaimed Festus and Agrippa. If, however, in the places which St. Paul visited, there was a corrupt sorcerer, who sought to pervert the right ways of the Lord, if there were a set of unbelieving Jews,

This Silas is supposed to be the Sylvanus mentioned by St. Paul in his Epistles to the Thessalonians, and 2 Cor. i. 19. b Acts xxiii. 9. Acts xxvi. 31.

C