are the particular objects of inspiration, should be carefully guarded against, for the Scripture gives no warrant to such an expectation. This notion has too frequently produced visionaries and enthusiasts in the Church of Christ. But that God's Spirit continues, in the most powerful manner, to influence the hearts of believers, is an invaluable, and most incontrovertible, truth. Let the infidel deride; but the Christian knows it to be true. And every man who has prayed for this direction, who has "crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts," who has "put off the old man and his deeds, and has put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,”” will experimentally be persuaded, that "the Father hath given us a Comforter, that he may abide with us for ever 3."

"O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostles with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord 4. Amen.

1 Gal. v. 24.

3 John xiv. 16.

2 Ephes. iv. 23, 24.

* Collect for St. Barnabas's day.

LECTURE VII.

ACTS IV. 32.-CHAP. V.

Community of goods in the Church-Fraud and punishment of Ananias and Sapphira-Miracles of the Apostles-Their imprisonment and release. Jerusalem, A.D. 33.

THE early history of the Church, as we have already seen, presents before us such a picture of purity and simplicity of manners, as affords a striking reproof, a severe condemnation, of the decaying piety and bold immorality of the modern professors of the same religion. It would hardly be believed, that both were directed by the same sacred law, if the Providence of God had not preserved to us the original records of our faith, and said to us, as well as to them, "This is the "This is the way, walk ye in it '.'

If there be one principle, more conducive than another, to public, as well as private, happiness, it is the principle of unity. It is God who maketh men to be of one mind in an house; it is God who maketh men to be of one mind in a state, or form of civil government; it is He who joins them together in their temporal and spiritual affairs; and when they

Isaiah xxx. 21.

deviate from this divine principle, they are led, not by Him who makes them friends, but by him who would disunite them; and thence arise, both in families, governments, and Established Churches, "confusion and every evil work 1.”

An example of perfect unity appears in the society of the primitive Christians." The multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul!" Can language be more expressive of that blessed harmony in faith, and practice, which then prevailed? As the holy doctrine which they professed was the same, so there was one system of conduct common to them all. But in every age and situation, there will always be something which requires a variation in arrangement, to accommodate it to the general circumstances of the times. This was the case, when the Church of Christ, as yet confined to one city, thought it adviseable, for its preservation and advancement, to recommend a community of goods. "Neither said any of them, that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." It does not appear that this determination had respect only to the maintenance and support of the poor, though this doubtless was one great advantage gained by it. It was a general measure; that neither the poor might shrink from suffering on account of poverty, nor the rich from a love of worldly prosperity; but that both, by joining their goods in one common stock, might

'James iii. 16.

mutually support each other in the midst of expected persecutions, and particularly in that season, which the prophecy of Christ led them to imagine near at hand, the destruction of the Jewish nation 1"

199

Such unanimity of conduct was a convincing argument in their favour; and by these means the Church multiplied greatly. While "the Apostles with great power gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, great grace," great respect and reverence, as well as that. heavenly grace which passeth all understanding, "was upon them all." Upon whomsoever the abundance of God's grace descends, great power will attend his preaching, not indeed the power of working miracles, which is here principally intended, but the power of persuading, the power of delivering the written word with confidence and boldness; and if the other sense be allowed, which seems probable, as in another place it is said, they had "favour with all the people," the approbation of the hearers will attend his well-meant endeavours; an happy circumstance, as evincing their benefit and his success;

1 The learned Joseph Mede says." They were Jews, and Jews only, that sold their possessions, &c. The Gentiles did not follow the example when the Gospel came amongst them; neither did St. Paul recommend it. This explains the motive for their present conduct. Those who believed in Christ, believed also in the expected destruction of their own nation within a short period; they therefore adopted this method of turning their worldly goods to the greatest spiritual advantage."-Mede's Disc. 28.

for Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but both will be in vain without God, who giveth the increase1.

of

Among the principal believers, the custom became general of relinquishing all kinds of private property for the public benefit2; not only that the poor members might be supplied with necessaries, but that the rich themselves might receive great stability by their union with, and dependence upon, one another. "Neither was there any them that lacked," for they made this voluntary surrender of their possessions, that " distribution might be made to every man according as he had need." A particular instance is given us in the person of Barnabas, a man of amiable and excellent manners, a son of consolation, as he is emphatically called, a native of the island of Cyprus, of the tribe of Levi, then resident in Jerusalem. The produce of his estates, which no doubt were very considerable, as he is selected as a contrast to another less amiable character, this man voluntarily brought, and offered to take his share in the general distribution. Not so another disciple, equally noted for his wealth, but not for his liberality. "Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and

"The Jews acted thus, though not by the command, yet doubtless by the approbation, of the Apostles." Jortin's Rem, on Eccl. Hist. vol. i. p. 80.