him to defend, or even palliate, what is erroneous in other branches of the Catholic Church; and much less to speak disparagingly of our venerable reformers. We owe to them a debt of everlasting gratitude; and when our Church, such as they left her, becomes practically what she is in theory, she will be the glory of Christendom. It will be time enough to complain that her system is not suited to reclaim sinners, edify her obedient children, and beget saints, when it has once been fully, but unsuccessfully tried. Till then our business is, not to complain of wants and sigh for what we have not, but humbly and diligently to use what we have, in prayerful dependence on GOD'S blessing. Let the stewards only be faithful to their trust, observing the rules of the household themselves, and requiring all the members of it to observe them too, as soon as they can be made to understand their importance. Let them not confine their teaching and preaching to a few popular subjects, which are little calculated to promote holiness of life; but let them embrace in their ministry, all the articles of the Christian faith, and give due prominence to those which bear most pointedly on spirituality of mind-devotedness of heart to GOD-self-denying zeal in the cause of CHRIST-reasonable submission to those in authority -and the diligent use of all the appointed means of grace. The present unpopularity of such a ministry is to be no consideration. For, to be applauded and followed by men, to whose prejudices and love of excitement he had ministered and contributed, would be a miserable reward for one who was appointed, not only to exalt the SAVIOUR, but to humble the sinner and lead him to "perfect holiness in the fear of the LORD."

J. I.

TWO HOMILIES

ON THE

Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle.

I. (From the Epistle.) "THE SON OF CONSOLATION." II. (From the Gospel.) THE "FOLLOWER" OF CHRIST.

FIRST HOMILY.

FOR HE WAS A GOOD MAN, AND FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND OF FAITH; AND MUCH PEOPLE WAS ADDED UNTO THE

LORD. (From the Epistle, v. 34.)

A FEW days since, we were called to commemorate the Coming of the Great COMFORTER, "The PARACLETE" of the Church; and probably it is with a reference to this event that the Feast of St. Barnabas is celebrated at this time of the year. It always falls near to Pentecost-perhaps to show us in the history of him who was called "the Son of Consolation," (Пagaxλnois) the difference between Divine and human comfort. At least it seems to be the Church's intention to teach us, by the example of this holy Apostle, not to rely too

much either on the most amiable natural traits of human character, or even on our past reception of spiritual graces. St. Barnabas was a "good man"; and more, "he was full of the HOLY GHOST and of faith." By his instrumentality much good was done, “much people was added to the LORD." Still his history will discover to us abundant reason why we should pray, (as in the Church's Collect for this day,) not only that ALMIGHTY GOD would not "leave us destitute of His manifold gifts," (such as His holy Apostle St. Barnabas had,) but also, "give us grace to use them always to, His honour and glory.'

St. Barnabas, we are informed, was a Jew of the tribe of Levi, born in Cyprus; and one of the first things told of him, is, that having some property there, "he sold it and laid the price at the Apostles' feet." Whether this was the act of a newly awakened conscience, (as a convert to Christianity,) giving up property which possibly was held contrary to God's ancient Law (Numbers xviii. 20) concerning Levites, or, whether (if that law did not apply beyond the Holy Land,) it was an act of grateful honest affection to the Apostolic body, and regard for his Christian brethren's welfare; in either case, it seems clear that he thus began in Religion with an act of self-denial. The next thing which we read of him is, that he was distinguished by the Divine Providence, as the instrument for bringing St. Paul himself to a fellowship with the college of Apostles. "Saul assayed to join himself to the Apostles, but they were afraid.. Then Barnabas took him and brought him to them, and declared how the LORD had met with him in the way." In this, as well as all his other acts, his character is seen as the "Son of Consolation." Very soon we find that he was sent by

the apostles to Antioch, as is recorded in the Epistle to-day, to strengthen the converts there; after which, apparently impelled by his own feelings only, he departed to Tarsus to seek for his friend Saul; and having brought him to Antioch, he continued there with him, it is said, “a whole year." Subsequently, he devoted himself to the cause of CHRIST in a still more active course; but often (it is observable) in a way that strikingly answers to his name and character. Thus, it was St. Barnabas who accompanied Saul in the mission of benevolence to Jerusalem, to bear to the poor saints in the time of the famine, the alms of the Antiochene Church. It was St. Barnabas, again, who was one of the deputation sent by the Gentile converts, to the Council of Jerusalem. On one special occasion, we know, he was singled out even by the HOLY SPIRIT, for some peculiar work in the Churches in foreign parts. "As they fasted and prayed," the HOLY SPIRIT said, "Separate ME Barnabas and Paul for the work.' And it is on record, that, having in an arduous life of love and labour furthered the cause of His Divine Master, he "finished his course with joy," and obtained, in Salamis, the crown of Martyrdom, about the year our LORD 72.

of

Now, in the character of this Blessed Apostle, thus far considered, there seems every thing that is lovely, and even peculiarly disinterested, and that generous bearing which men are apt to honour with such willing praise. We have been looking at what may be almost called the bright side of the character of the "Son of Consolation," though as a whole doubtless it is a very "popular" character (as it would now be expressed). If a man be kind-hearted, and amiable, and disinterested, he will generally be admired, and rightly. But thus

far in our review of the Apostle's history, we have met with nothing to account for the almost warning tone of the Church's prayer for continuance in grace. Let us for a moment look a little further at the Scripture account of the life of this blessed Apostle.

St. Paul in writing to the Galatians tells us, that when St. Peter, at Antioch, began to yield to the prejudices of his countrymen concerning Gentilism, many of the brethren then began to "dissemble with him,” insomuch that "even Barnabas was carried away" with their dissimulation. Is there no lesson for us here? Do we not often see this in kind-hearted, but perhaps not always or uniformly strong minded Christians? They "dissemble," and when others about them yield in a good natured way to the follies and errors of their brethren, they, too, are “carried away by dissimulation.” They do not like to be thought stern, and strict, and severe, and singular, and will hardly ever bear to withstand error to the face, as St. Paul did, even when he found it in a distinguished Apostle, St. Peter himself.—Another painful instance occurs in the fifteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, where we are told that the "beloved Barnabas and Paul" had scarcely performed their work of consolation for the Gentile converts, when they "disputed so sharply," that the contention was only ended by their "parting one from the other"!Yes-they who had studied together, it is said, in the school of Gamaliel, and had been friends through life, in trouble and joy, up to that hour! In this contention, it seems to have been the kind-hearted and really self-sacrificing St. Barnabas, that was in fault. He wished to have his nephew "John, whose surname was Mark," to join their company. But St. Paul reminded him of Mark's unfitness for the work, because, on a