Acts xiv. 27. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, "they rehearsed all that God had done loith them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
A VERY distinguishing feature of primitive Chris- tianity was, that, whilst it filled all its votaries with an anxiety for their own souls, it inspired them also with a love to the souls of others, and with a zeal for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom through the world. True it is, indeed, that, on the occasion before us, the separating of Paul and Barnabas to the work of preaching to the Gentiles originated, not with the people of Antioch, but with God himself, who gave a special command respecting ita. Yet it is evident, that the whole Church took a lively in- terest in it ; and came together afterwards, with great delight, to hear all that had occurred during this benevolent, but arduous, excursion.
Through the tender mercy of our God, somewhat of a similar spirit has arisen in our day : so that I can scarcely enter on a more gratifying subject with you, than to shew,
I. The interest which the primitive Church took in the work of God —
The people expressed no reluctance at parting with Paul and Barnabas —
[We cannot doubt but that the ministry of these two men at Antioch was most beneficial to the people's souls: yet we read of no reluctance on the part of the Church in surrendering up their own personal benefit for the good of others. They resembled the Apostle Paul, who, in all such cases, "sought not his own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved V ]
Nor did the Apostles manifest any backwardness to undertake this dangerous enterprise —
• Acts xiii. 2—4. b 1 Cor. x. :]:).