of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1 Cor. xii. 8—12.

Barnabas was not only a good man, but full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and we are prepared for what follows, "that much people were added unto the Lord." Acts xi. 24. In him was no lukewarmness, but real, spiritual, heavenly life. He had not merely the witness of the Spirit, but he was filled with the Spirit. A man full of the Holy Ghost will have pity and ardent love for the souls of sinners; the word he speaks will be with power, for he will have power with God, and will prevail. All his labour will be for the honour and glory of God, and thus his motives being pure, he will greatly honour him, "for them that honour me," says God, "I will honour." O to be filled with the Holy

Ghost as the first ministers were! All such will be successful. Their humility, sincerity, prayer, and efforts will be all owned and blessed of God. Barnabas was also full of faith, in other words, he was deeply operated upon by the unseen realities of eternity. This only can sufficiently influence a Gospel minister as a labourer in God's vineyard. A man full of faith will not limit God, or the saving efficacy of Christ's blood. He will have faith in the power of truth, in the willingness and ability of God to save; and will not timorously look at the difficulties, but rely on the promises, which are yea and amen, and in fact consider nothing impossible. His faith in the power of the truth, will be as great as the case may demand, and he will consider all things as possible. And such qualifications had Barnabas-how then could he be otherwise than very successful? If there was one leading idea which operated on the Apostles more than another, it was that contained in the vision to Zechariah, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts." Zech. iv. 6. The Apostles did in truth honour the Holy Ghost, the most necessary and most important duty a minister can perform.

III. APOSTOLIC PREACHING WAS DISTINGUISHED BY INTENSE LOVE FOR SOULS.

Without this love, preaching itself honourable and ennobling as it is, will in many cases be disheartening, particularly if there is a want of immediate success; whilst love for souls will surmount every obstacle. It will lead to the most untiring assiduity and labour, the most earnest and persevering prayer, and the most constant and full devotion of all that is possessed to God. See how the Apostles laboured, "warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Col. ii. 28. However ignorant we may be of those with whom we may come in contact, of this we may be assured, each one has got a soul, for which it is our duty to care and labour. The immortality of the soul stamps it with incalculable value. It is capable of the greatest happiness, and the profoundest misery. The query, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? has never yet been

answered. Without dwelling on the immense value of the soul, and being properly influenced therewith; all preaching will be cold and heartless. See what it cost to redeem it, thence learn its worth. There was no coldness or heartlessness in Apostolic preaching. There was zeal and fire, for the zeal of the Lord, seemed to eat them up. They could say to the people, principle which will operate in thawing the frozen selfishness of men. O for more love for souls, such as the Apostles had, such as has since been possessed by many noble men, who were burning and shining lights in their day and generation, rescuing thousands of souls from the pit of eternal perdition. If the weight of souls was laid on men's hearts, they would be as flames of fire on every hand. This is what is wanting to haster on the Millennium. Intense love for Christ and souls, would produce more good in one year, than will be produced in a hundred without it. Thus Apostolic preaching was characterized by oneness of object. And what was that object which influenced the Apostles in every movement? It was the salvation of souls-incomparably the greatest object any being can have in view. Before this, all others sink in utter insignificance. And to this glorious object the Apostles bent their undivided attention. Excellence in any thing is gained by this means.

66 we seek not yours, but you, "the only

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What can be done in soul-saving work, if the attention be divided? No small part of the want of success in the ministry now-a-days, is to be attributed to this. He that will be successful, in general may be so, if that be the main object of his life. "No man that warreth," said Paul to Timothy, "entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Tim. ii. 4. Here is oneness of object, and this is particularly required of ministers. To be good soldiers of Jesus Christ they too must be distinguished for oneness of object and pursuit.

IV. APOSTOLIC PREACHING WAS PRECEDED BY AND FOLLOWED BY MUCH PRAYER.

This is strikingly exemplified in the Sacred Volume, for so far from either neglecting prayer or undervaluing it, the Apostles placed it on a par with preaching; the only legitimate place it can occupy. They would "give themselves to it," was their language. In a religious community there are various secular matters to be attended to, such as the receiving and paying of monies, keeping accounts, &c.; but the Apostles who found others capable of accomplishing these pecuniary affairs would leave them to do it, in order as they said, that they might give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Acts vi. 4. Glorious and disinterested example. Can we wonder at Apostolic success? The Apostles were neither lukewarm in their love, slothful in their work, secular in their pursuits, nor prayerless in their labours. They laboured like men bent on success, whom nothing less would satisfy; and who

employed every conceivable means to gain their object; and as they felt that success depended on God's blessing, they implored it earnestly, and desired others to aid them in the work by prayer, and thus help them mightily.

In this matter they did but imitate their great Master and examplar. He had set them the example, and they followed his steps. Having gained the blessings they desired by prayer, they sought to retain the advantage by the same means. How earnestly they prayed for those whom they had gathered to Christ. Thus the Apostles, though endued with power from on high, prayed as though they had it not. Peter went to the house-top to pray, and was engaged in that holy exercise when the messengers of Cornelius stood at the gate, and thus he was suitably and divinely prepared to accompany them, having got a message from God to convey instanter to their master. O, to go from a throne of grace to a people thirsting for heavenly knowledge; to carry the sacred fire from God's throne to men's hearts! So it was with Peter, for while he was speaking the Holy Ghost fell on them. Acts x. 44. Let ministers ever go from the throne of grace to minister the word to the people; and the word shall not return void. It shall be prospered in the thing whereunto it is sent. The disciples continued with one accord in prayer and supplication prior to that remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Acts ii. 14. On another occasion, the disciples being threatened, appealed to the Lord God, who had made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and désired that he would grant unto his servants that with all boldness they might preach the word, by stretching forth his hand to heal; and that signs and wonders might be done by the name of the holy child Jesus. "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with all boldness. Acts iv. 24, 31. So deeply were the Apostles convinced of the necessity and efficacy of prayer, that they never failed to employ it. They considered all those who assisted in their prayers as "helpers," and in order that the "word of the Lord might have free course and be glorified,” desired the prayers of the people. 2 Thess. iii. 1. Paul sought the prayers of the Colossians, that a door of utterance might be opened to him to speak the mystery of Christ, for which he was then in bonds. Col. iv. 3. In the prison at Philippi, when Paul and Silas had prayed, the doors flew open, and every one's bands were loosed, whilst a greater moral miracle—the end of all their sufferings and prayers was accomplished, in the jailor crying out, "What must I do to be saved." Acts xvi. 30. We have heard of a minister who for several years never prayed in private, but he saw afterwards cause to regret, and deeply repented of it. To omit, or even to perform this duty negligently or coldly, is to cut off our right arm, It is partly to act the Atheist, and deprive ourselves of the aid of Omnipotence. If the Apostles with all their supernatural gifts and transcendent graces, found it needful to pray earnestly, how much more do we who come so vastly short in zeal and endowments?

Apostolic preaching being thus characterised by much prayer, carried with it unction. It distilled as the dew, or like rain on the tender grass. Whether the Word was delivered in Jerusalem, on Mars' Hill, or by the river side at Philippi, it was successful; for a Dionysius, a Damaris, a Lydia, and thousands of others, were the fruits. This unction gives a charm to preaching to which mere oratory, however fascinating, can lay no claim. Heartfelt words beget heartfelt feelings. In a word, they beget life.

V. APOSTOLIC PREACHING WAS CHARACTERISED BY SUPREME REGARD FOR THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF GOD./

The Apostles had been brought to God by faith in Jesus Christ ;-God who had so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, became the object of their supreme regard. To Him they were united, and having in a measure proper views of His nature, they sought to honour Him. They gloried in nothing but what had respect to His glory, for they felt they were indebted to Him for everything. They looked upon themselves but as messengers or instruments. "Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man ?" 1 Cor. iii. 5. "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" Acts iii. 12. This conduct must have been pleasing to God, and undoubtedly led him to give his blessing so much to their sanctified labours. "Them that honour Me, I will honour." In looking at the trophies won to the cross, it is impossible to lay too much stress upon this subject, for God will not give His glory to another, however excellent he may be. All the glory of man's salvation belongs to God. “I have planted, Apollos watereth; but God gave the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 6. The Apostles sought not human honour, preferment, or distinction; the good of man, and the glory of God, actuated them in everything. All motives are known to the Divine Being. Their motives were of the purest kind. They could appeal to Him who knows all things, in proof of their love towards Him. In ministering the everlasting Gospel, self must be altogether lost, and God be all in all.

VI. APOSTOLIC PREACHING WAS CHARACTERISED BY FAITH.

There was strong faith in the truth the Apostles preached. They firmly believed it to be the truth of God. There was faith in the power of God which they believed would be exercised in saving sinners. There was strong faith in the blood of Christ which they believed could cleanse the vilest sinner; hence, when the jailor cried out, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas instantly replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," having not the slightest doubt of it, though of the jailor, and of his manner of life, they had received no information whatever. And on the day of Pentecost, when so many being pricked to the heart, cried out, "Men and Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter at once replied, "Repent and be baptised every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts xxii. 37, 38. Here was unshaken faith "in the truth as it is in Jesus." Nothing seems to have been too difficult for the faith of the Apostles. That faith placed them above the fear of man. They boldly preached the Gospel to magistrates, princes, and monarchs, offering salvation to them all. They believed it to be God's will that none should perish, hence why should they doubt? O, why should there not be faith in a preached word. It is the Gospel of the grace of God. Yes, free unmerited grace. It is the word of eternal truth. It is a message of mercy through what Christ hath done for

a sinful world. Will not God fulfil his word? Will he not be gracious and merciful? Faith exclaims he must, he will. Such faith the Apostles had. And was it dishonoured? Let Paul's words show-"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."

VII. APOSTOLIC PREACHING WAS CHARACTERISED BY EARNESTNESS. No one can see the self-denying labours of the Apostles without feeling they were in earnest, for they were "in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." They neither could nor would have undergone such herculean labours had they not been in earnest. Nor was their zeal without knowledge or design. They had a gigantic work before them, being nothing less than the conversion of the world to God. Could anything less than earnestness have done? These men it was said, "that have turned the world upside down are come hither." Acts xvii. 6. Earnest religious men are required to create moral revolutions. Earnestness begets attention, and attention to religion, religious concern. The earnest man imbues others with his spirit. An earnest minister will in general beget an earnest people. This earnestness must never relax in a minister, for if it does, it will have a withering influence; for like priest, like people, and vice versa. This earnestness is as essential in building up churches, as in planting them. In the Apostles we see it exemplified in both respects. What earnestness in watching over the flock which Christ had bought with his own blood! What care for the young; what mourning over the fallen; what efforts to restore them; what tears; what sounding of the bowels, so that those with whom they came in contact, or to whom the Epistles were written, must have felt the Apostles were indeed in earnest. This is a point of incalculable importance, and happy indeed will the day be, when everywhere there is an earnest ministry. Without it we shall continue to see as John Foster remarks, "comparatively little of the Gospel as a deep spiritual power, kindling heavenly life and energy in the bosoms of men individually."

VIII. APOSTOLIC PREACHING WAS CHARACTERISED BY GREAT PLAINNESS OF SPEECH AND UNCOMPROMISING FIDELITY.

Paul could declare that to spare the Corinthians, he had not come to Corinth. 2 Cor. i. 23. See in his Epistles with what faithfulness he dealt with them. And it was the same generally, for the Apostles spared neither rich nor poor, Jew nor Gentile. It is true they risked their lives thereby; but what of that? They counted not their lives dear to them. How different was this to the conduct of the ministers in France prior to the great Revolution, of whom we read that "they filled their sacred office with a degree of fear and reserve; they were afraid of clashing with the prevailing mode, and strenuously endeavoured to gain indulgence both for their profession, and their discourses. Conforming themselves to the taste of their audiences, they carefully avoided whatever approached the positive doctrines and principles of religion, whilst they dwelt with more complacency on whatever is connected with mere human morality. They employed religion as a convenient assistance only, which it was necessary to disguise with all possible dexterity, in order to escape derision, and they were ashamed of the Gospel, instead of boldly confessing it." Need we to wonder at the inevitable result of such timidity-licentiousness, infidelity, anarchy? Now in Apostolic preaching there was nothing of this weakness and time-serving prostitution of a sacred office. In their preaching they were courteous but plain; deeply affectionate, but pointed and faithful. If in anything fidelity is required, it is in the ministry. Eternal things and destinies are there handled. To daub a man with untempered mortar, from a motive of kindness and tenderness, is to prove the greatest traitor on earth. It is to act the part of a physician who possesses a sovereign