have reason to think that the greatest possible good would result from themd.]
2. A benevolent proposal —
[This was not a proposal for an excursion of pleasure, but for a service of great difficulty and danger. Conspiracies were often formed against their lives ; and at one place Paul had been stoned, and left for deade. In this respect Paul trod in the steps of his Divine Master, who, to the utter amazement of his Disciples, proposed to go up again to Judea, where his adversaries had just before sought to stone himf. Like him he " counted not his life dear unto him, so that he might but fulfil the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus :" he willingly endured all things for the elect's sake, that they might obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Even where his labours were less acceptable, he willingly devoted himself to the service of his fellow-creatures, and would " gladly spend, and be spent, for them ; though the more abundantly he loved them, the less he were loved." O that such benevolence were more common in the Church ! O that every minister could appeal unto God, " how greatly he longed after his people in the bowels of Christ," and even " travailed in birth with them, as it were, again and again, till Christ should be manifestly formed in them&!"]
3. A beneficial proposal —
[Unhappily the proposal was an occasion of a very fierce contention between the two apostles. Not that Barnabas was less delighted to accept the proposal, than Paul was to make it: but Barnabas wished "to take with them John, whose surname was Mark ;" which Paul could in no wise consent to do. Mark had accompanied them for some time in their for- mer journey ; but had forsaken them when he found that their work was attended with so much difficulty and danger: and on this account Paul thought him unfit for the labour, and unworthy of the honour, of attending them again11. In this matter neither of the Apostles would give way ; so that they separated from each other, and, as far as we know, never saw each other again in this world1.
To decide between the two, where God himself has not decided, is difficult : yet we apprehend that Barnabas was the
d If this were the subject of a Visitation Sermon, here would he an excellent occasion for shewing what inquiries should be made as to the spiritual state of the different churches, and the effects produced by the ministry of the ivord, in awakening the careless, in comforting the afflicted, in sanctifying the corrupt.
e Acts xiv. 5, 6, 19. f John xi. 7, 8. . e Gal. iv. 19.
h Acts xiii. 2, 5, 13. with xv. 38. « ver. 39.