more blameable of the two ; first, because he seems to have been too much actuated by partiality for his nepketv*; and next, because the Church at Antioch appear to have sided with the Apostle Paul ; " commending him with renewed ear- nestness to the grace of God," whilst Barnabas was suffered to depart without any such expressions of their regard'. Still it seems as if Paul himself was not wholly blameless, in suffering the contention to rise to such a pitch ; when, if he had proposed to refer the matter to God with solemn fasting and prayer, we can have no doubt but that God would have made known to them his will respecting it.
The separation however was overruled for good : for Paid went with Silas, and Barnabas with Mark, each to his native country"1, where they hoped to labour with most effect; and thus "confirmed and established more Churches11" than they could have done, if they had executed the plan that was at first proposed.]
We will now endeavour to, II. Fulfil the design in reference to the Church here present —
The design of their projected journey was, to in- quire into the state of the different Churches which they had planted : " Let us go and see how they do." Now if such an inquiry was necessary among the apostolic Churches, doubtless it cannot be superfluous amongst us. We will direct our inquiry then,
1. Generally, to the Church at large — [We are called a Christian Church : but are there not many amongst us who have no more of Christianity than the name ? In the Church of Philadelphia there were some who " said they were Jews, and were not, but did lie0:" and so it is amongst us : there are many who " name the name of Christ," without ever once endeavouring " to depart from iniquity," or truly to give up themselves to him as his disciples. But, to speak rather of .those who profess a love for the Gospel, and who therefore more resemble the primitive Church ; are there not many who " have a name that they live, and yet are dead ;" or, at least, " the gracious dispositions that remain in them are so weak, that they are ready to die??" Are there not many who " have left their first love'1," and are relapsed into such a lukewarm state, (neither cold nor hot,)
k Col. iv. 10. ' ver. 40. m Acts iv. 36. and xxi, 29.
" ver. 41. and Acts xvi. ">. ° Rev. iii. 9.
p Rev. iii. 1,2. n Rev. ii. 4.
1784.1 INQUIRY INTO THE STATE OF THE CHURCH. 1 Hi 7
that they are as hateful to God as if they made no profession at allr? And are there not many also of whom it must be said, that "their works are not perfect before God3:" and that, instead of having " their last works more than their first1," they have lost much of their spirituality and devotion to God? Verily, if we were to address you all, as John did Gaius, and " wish your bodies to be in health, and prosper as your souls prosper," we fear that we should be wishing the greater part of you either sick or dead u.]
2. Particularly, to different classes of Christians in the Church —
St. John divides the members of Christ's mystical body into three classes, " little children, young men, and fathers." We ask then of the " little children," in what state are you ? Are you " growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ? " and, in order to the promotion of that growth, are you " desiring and delighting in the sincere milk of the word1?" Are you sensible of your weakness and sinfulness ; and looking to the Lord Jesus Christ to cleanse you daily in his blood, and to uphold you b}r his Spirit ? And are you so diligent in every good work, as to " make your profiting appear unto all ? " To the young men, of whom it is said that " the word of God abideth in them, and that they overcome the wicked one y," we next address ourselves : Do you indeed find that " the word of Christ dwells richly in you in all wis- dom ? " that the precepts are your guide, and the promises your support? Do you go forth with that " word as the sword of the Spirit," to fight with all your spiritual enemies ? and do you shew from day to day, that you are gaining fresh victories over the flesh and all its lusts, the world and all its vanities, and the devil and all his temptations ? If there be any amongst us who, on account of their long standing and their high attain- ments in the divine life, are worthy the name of fathers, we would ask of them, are you increasingly growing in an ac- quaintance with God, so as to " walk with him," like Enoch ? and are you " forgetting all that you have attained, and reach- ing forth to still higher attainments, and pressing forward for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?"