with more than ordinary severity. Immediately the Church at Antioch, feeling their obligations to those at Jerusalem, to whom they were indebted for all the spiritual benefits they enjoyed, and justly conceiving that this was a peculiarly proper season for requiting them with temporal benefits, which on account of their comparative opulence they were able to do, immediately raised a collection among themselves, for the relief of their brethren at Jerusalem when the season of their trial should arrive.
Now from hence we learn some very important lessons ; the first of which is, That every ivord of God should be regarded by us as a ground of action. The event predicted did not come to pass for some time : yet was the provision made for it in- stantaneously, as much as if it had existed at that very moment. The prediction itself was to them a sufficient pledge that the season would arrive, whether at an earlier or more remote period : the times and seasons were in God's hands ; but their duty was to provide for the occasion beforehand ; and there- fore they exerted themselves without delay. How happy would it be for us, if we regarded every declaration of God with similar awe and reverence ! O let us not think that remoteness of time will make any difference as to the certainty of future events ; for every thing that God has spoken in reference to the eternal world, will as certainly take place, as if the events were close at hand ; and it is our duty now to act, as if we were assured that a few hours only would intervene between the prediction and the accomplishment.
Another lesson which their conduct teacheth us is, That benevolence is essential to the Christian character. Their benevolence was altogether spontaneous, the effect of a prin- ciple universally operative among them. That principle is altogether inseparable from the Christian character ; for, " if we love not our brother whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen?" We should consider "all, but especially the household of faith," as "brethren;" and should regard our property as a talent committed to us by our common Father, for the benefit of the whole family. " We should not seek our own things, but the things which are Jesus Christ's " ]
2. The manner in which it was exercised —
[Behold their zeal ! all were animated by the same spirit; and "every one" exerted himself " according to his ability." Had they been disposed to indulge a selfish spirit, they might have found excuses enough for withholding present supplies. "The occasion had not yet arrived: they themselves would be subject to the same calamity, and were more bound to provide for their immediate neighbours than for others at the