Acts xi. 22, 23. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, ivas glad, and ex- horted them all, that with purpose of heart they ivould cleave unto the Lord.
TO see men converted unto God is a source of very exalted joy : still, however, that joy is by no means unmixed. In viewing a tree full of blossoms, we almost irresistibly contemplate the dangers to which they are exposed, and the probability there is that many of them at least will never come to matu- rity. Our blessed Lord, in the parable of the Sower, has taught us to expect a similar issue in relation to the fruits produced by the Gospel : and experience confirms the truth of his representations. Hence, whilst we rejoice over young converts, we are con- strained to " rejoice with trembling." Agreeably to this observation, we find the Apostles invariably labouring " to confirm the souls of the Disciples3," and " persuading them to continue in the grace of GodV Such was the conduct of Barnabas towards the Disciples at Antioch : " He was glad when he saw the grace of God" manifested in their conver- sion; but, being "jealous over them with a godly jealousy," he " exhorted them all, without any distinc- tion, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." This exhortation of his leads us to contemplate the dangers and the duties of the Lord's people. I. The dangers —
Had the new converts been in no danger of depart- ing from the Lord, they had not needed such an earnest exhortation to cleave unto him. But the truth is, that all Christians are in danger.
1. From the ungodly world —
a Acts xiv. 21, 22. b Acts xiii. 43.