the desire of every saint? Or else what mean you by your hungering and thirsting after righteousness-your mourning over inbred corruptionyour exclaiming, "as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O GOD?" Is it not your ceaseless prayer to "live soberly, righteously, and godly”—to have a conscience void of offence to watch and pray lest you enter into temptation to avoid the very appearance of evil, and to cleave to that which is good. But though Barnabas was "a good man," we are very far from the supposition that he was immaculate. We have no idea that he was entirely free from those remains of a corrupt nature which we carry with us whilst passing through the wilderness. Unmixed pu ment only to be enjoyed in the heavenly world. It is unknown to us on this side the grave; for we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burthened." But though not immaculately good, in the strictest sense of the word, he was comparatively good when his present condition was contrasted with his former, while in a state of unregeneracy; or when his character was brought into comparison with the men of the world. His mind had a holy bias, his understanding was under the influence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus; he felt a holy tendency, en Now, observe for a moment how strenuously the word of God enforces this state of heart and character-What are its exhortations? "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service." "Put on, therefore, as the elect of GOD, holy and beloved, bowels of mer-rity, entire perfection is an attaincies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering.""Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." "Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new man which after GoD is created in righteousness and true holiness." With all these admonitions before them, how fervently do the inspired writers pray, that their beloved people might exemplify and feel the force of these truths. Take one or two instances as a specimen, "The very GOD of peace sanctify you wholly; and Ijoyed a holy fervour, cherished holy pray God your whole soul, and body, and spirit, may be preserved blameless until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." "Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perect in every good work to do his will." And so prays the Saviour, "Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth." And is not this : aspirations, indulged holy thoughts, words, and actions. My brethren, may we follow him as he also followed Christ! Secondly, Barnabas was "full of the Holy Ghost." This was the secret cause of all his piety and goodness; for "no man can receive any thing except it be given him from above." Here was the hidden spring of every spiritual feeling which drew him forth from the creature to the Creator-from sight to faith-from sin to holiness-from Satan to GOD. And what a treasure was this compared with all other enjoyments! To be filled with the Spirit-to have his condescending indwelling with all his gifts and graces, and saving operations and influences. -To have him in the heart like GOD in the midst of his temple; or like the beautiful and glowing sun in the midst of the firmament as the source of light and life. To feel his agency in instructing, guiding, comforting, assisting in prayer, restraining, admonishing, sanctifying, sealing, supporting, preserving, strengthening, according to our day and our need. And this is what the Lord promises to every saint. “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Jesus Christ intimated the same divine donation when he said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." And Jehovah again adds, "I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." And does not religious prosperity entirely depend on the work of the Holy Ghost? What are ordinances, however divinely appointed-however regularly attended upon-however peculiarly adapted and valuable, unless the Lord the Spirit is pleased to bless and apply them? What are our Bibles -what are our sabbaths-what are our prayers-what are our ministers-without the aid and unction of the Holy One? Is not ministerial success altogether ascribable to the Spirit of GOD? For it is "not by might nor by power;" and when the Spirit is poured out from on high, every barren wilderness will become as a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be accounted for a forest. But there is an important member of the sentence which is not to be neglected-"FULL" of the Holy Ghost. Here is repletion. The passage intimates that the Spirit dwelt in Barna. bas not partially, but redundantly— that he was not only supplied, but enriched-that he was not only fed, but filled with the Spirit. And what is this but an indication of eminent piety, of fervent, glowing, enlarged devotion? Oh, to be like him-to have that unction from the Holy One by which we may know the things that belong to our peace, and be made wise unto salvation! Oh, to feel by the aid of that good Spirit that there is a power and sweetness attending vital godliness— to enjoy more and more under his direction the life of religion in the soul -to be spiritually minded which is life to walk with GoD, and to live more than we ever have done, on the confines of the eternal world! And why, my dear friends, why should not this be the standard of your piety? Is the Spirit of the Lord straightened? Do we not need to be filled with the Holy Ghost? Is he unwilling to bestow this fulness upon us? No-but we are too worldly-too disposed to settle down upon our privileges-too inclined to rest in the form and shadow, in the mere externals of religion -too inclined to follow the Lord at a distance. But Thirdly, One feature more in the character of Barnabas should be noticed he was full of faith, "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." The word of GOD insists very much upon Faith. The want of it is the reason why the Gospel does not more extensively profit us-why we have not more generally embraced Christ in his offices and characters, as our wisdom righteousness, as our sanctification and redemption. Now this faith is the gift of God. It is to be sought by prayer, and it comes to us by hearing. It has very much to do with the cross of the Redeemer, and with the dispensations of our heavenly Father's providence. This "fulness of faith" must have been a very material assistance to Barnabas and his Christian friends in the ministry, in that age in which they lived. Remember the state of the world at that period. Recollect the trials they were called to endure, the opposition by which they were assailed-nor forget the greatness of the work which devolved upon them. They travelled far-they preached often -they spake from house to housemuch of their time was engaged in holding correspondence with different churches, with pastors and with private Christians at a distance-and thus their time and attention must have been wholly absorbed with the care of the church. But, oh, what a blessed thing it is to perceive, that they were so well fitted for their work by the qualifications of having goodness of principle and character, being so enriched with the Spirit and abounding in faith. It is truly cheering to witness the triumphant march of divine truth in the first ages of the Gospel. We here behold the Almighty power of GoD over the passions and prejudices of men, and perceive the facility with which he can abase the pride, confound the devices, and defeat the designs of his enemies. When he has a work to perform, every obstacle will be removed out of the way, and every agent requisite for its completion will be found. Thus it was in the instance before us. Previous to our Lord's crucifixion resurrection and ascension from the grave, the Gospel was but limited in its success; but after the mystery of redemption was fully developed, and the price of our pardon was paid, and the perfections of the Deity appeared, in all their lovely harmony, at the Mount of Calvary, in the peaceful oblation of the great Redeemer, and the mission of the Holy Spirit was granted for the diffusion of evangelical truth, such a mighty impulse was given to the efforts of Christian ministers, as rendered them fully equal to the achievements which they were to gain through the extent of their benevolent range. And when we view the heralds which it pleased GOD to employ, and recollect the opposition by which they were every where attended, and the talents which were conferred upon them for their work, we are constrained to say, "This was the LORD's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes." To see, therefore, by the ministrations of Barnabas, many turning unto the LORD, delights us when we notice the influence of religion upon the people, upon the preachers, and upon the place; it must have given quite a new impulse to those who laboured in word and doctrine. And this, let me assure you, is actually indispensable. Though you are not Apostles-though you are not public ministers of religion, yet you have to pass through an enemy's countryyour minds will often be seriously exercised-you will have trials in your families and in the world, and, therefore, you need the aid of the Holy Ghost you need to be enriched by faith. Oh, then, to be like him, to catch his spirit, to imbibe his disposition, to follow his example! cess. But we now direct your attention, in the next place, to his ministerial suc. He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith: and much people was added unto the LORD." connection which there is between Nor should you forget the intimate personal piety and ministerial usefulness. Nothing short of vital godliness in the preacher of Christianity will avail. | casion to speak of a deceased ChrisA person may enter the sacred office, tian friend, to be able to refer you to either at home or abroad, from the his life and conduct as the best comhope of secular emolument, or from ment upon his principles, as the best the love of popular fame, or under the exposition of the true state of his influence of patronage, or from any heart, in the sight of GOD and man. other inferior and unworthy motive, But as our excellent friend was a pubwhose heart, alas, is not right in lic character, and was so well known, the sight of GOD; but such induce- and so highly respected in this neighments as these will ill accord with bourhood, it may not be unsuitable the holy, self-denying, energetic and just to glance at him, whilst we bid persevering character of a good mi- him farewell until the morning of the nister of Jesus Christ. With no bet- resurrection. Let us contemplate his ter feelings than these, that person character both as a Christian and as a will never be "a workman, that needeth Pastor of the church of Christ. not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." With no better motives than these he will never be "a good steward of the manifold grace of GOD." Can that individual, however popular as a public speaker, be anxious to win souls to the Saviour, who neglects and undervalues his own? Can he say, "Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample," who is a lover of pleasure more than of GOD, and who is a stranger to the great fundamental doctrine of sanctification by the cross of Jesus Christ? Barnabas, however, was a man of a very different character and spirit, and so were his excellent colleagues; they were men taught of GOD; and it is on this ground alone that we account for their extended success. Having thus glanced, as we proposed, at the PERSONAL CHARACTER AND MINISTERIAL SUCCESS OF BARNABAS, allow me, in the SECOND place, to draw your attention to THE RESEMBLANCE TO THIS PIOUS MODEL, WHICH WAS BORNE BY THAT VENERABLE MINISTER OF CHRIST, WHO IS NOW NO MORE. You are aware, my friends, that we are not partial to funeral eulogies of a personal nature. We would, at all times, very much prefer, when we have oc 1st. As a Christian, you will have no hesitation in saying with me, he was truly exemplary. He seems to have imbibed very much of the meekness and gentleness of his Divine Master, and, as these graces were formed and grew upon the vital stock of personal piety, they became not merely moral virtues, but were Christian fruits, which derived all their nourishment, savour, beauty, and strength, from union to Jesus Christ. No person in the neighbourhood in which he resided was more deservedly beloved. This was very publicly avowed by the sympathising and weeping multitudes who followed him to the silent tomb, and who seemed to feel the loss of a father, and will long revere his pious memory. With his heart thus right with GOD he was prepared to sustain those trials both in the family, in the church, and in the world, through which he was called to pass. Affliction is the com-mon lot of believers, and of that bitter cup ministers are called to drink as well as yourselves; and, my brethren, this is very wisely ordered. It tends materially to keep us humble; for there is that in our office, without these visitations, which is calculated to inflate the native pride of the heart. But it is with us as it was with the Apostle Paul, who acknowledged, "Lest I should be exalted above measure there was given to me a thorn in the flesh." Ah, when we meet with these visitations of our Heavenly Father's providence, we become more experimental in our public discourses, more sympathetic with the mourner, with the meek and the afflicted, and can speak to them of what we have tasted and handled of the good word of God. We can tell them of the utility of prayer and of restraining grace, and as companions in tribulation we can sit down together at the Saviour's feet, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ. But our departed friend though tried as a saint, knew where to apply for succour and support. He knew the value of the throne of grace, the preciousness of the promises of the Gospel, and what it was to confide entirely in Jehovah's faithfulness and power. Nor did he tarnish that character which he sustained so honorably to a good old age. Now this is of high importance to those of us who are public persons, that labour in word and doctrine. Your ministers are but men like yourselves; we are not beyond the reach of temptation-we are not beyond the fiery darts of Satan; others have fallen, and it is only by the grace of God that we are what we are, and that grace, conferred on our dear venerable friend, was exceeding and abundant-thus he was enabled to shine as a bright star until he set amidst the clouds of death. Or if we turn our attention to our departed friend as a minister, we find him equally beloved. When he came to this neighbourhood, forty-six years ago, there were few ministers of the Gospel, both in the church and among our dissenting communities. Basil Wood, I understand, was the first minister in this neighbourhood that instituted a Sabbath-evening lecture; and notwithstanding the opposition with which he had to contend, it has been much blessed both to saints and sinners. And during this period of his ministrations, forty-six years (oh, what a season in which to be found preaching the Gospel!) during that period, I say, how many must he have been made instrumental in turning from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto GOD! And we do not derive this conclusion merely from what he had the happiness to witness, as we firmly believe that every minister who preaches the truth in its native simplicity, plainness, and force, is more extensively successful than he has any knowledge of, on this side of the grave. I have no hesitation, therefore, in believing, that much of that good seed which our dear venerable friend scattered, will bear fruit unto holiness, the end thereof being eternal life, perhaps for years hence, after he has been numbered with the dead. Nor will the savour of his public discourses be forgotten by those much attached friends and followers who were accustomed statedly to sit under his ministry;-they found them refreshing, edifying, and strengthening, as in all other places where the truth is revealed. There persons went frequently, no doubt, up to Zion's hallowed gates with their spirits depressed, with their minds cast down by reason of the way; but then, here, by the agency of his dearly beloved servant, Christ was pleased to meet with them and impart to them joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. Nor was his attention confined to his own flock, he looked upon the church at large with a benevolent gaze. For the Jews and the Heathen he was devoutly anxious, the publication and diffusion of religious tracts occupied an appropriate share of his kind attention; and the rising generation, especially those connected with his own fold, shared in his warm paternal zeal. The children will miss him; they will often think, and speak of him. May they improve by his fatherly instructions and |