Vere, :51-39,-Contentions and separations. It is sometimes a weakness of dealing 26 TllE ACTS OF 'l'RE .APOSTLES. [oH. :I.V, 1-41. ----------------------- ------------ with Scripture charactere that " inspiration " is not distinguished from "perfection." 'l'he place of human infirmity in divinely endowed men is not sufficiently recognized. An? yet, ~or the con:cction o_f this very tendency, the frailty of good men is always Indicated m the Scripture histories. Of only one man-the Man Christ Jesus-can it he said, "In him was no sin." So when it is manifest that good men have fallen into error and sin, u1;1natural ways of explaining the fact are often resorted to, nnd men are afraid to recognize that these great men of Scripture were really "men of like passions with us;" and so, from our own experiences, we can best apprehend their failiugs. A point needing much careful thought is the rebtion of the Divine regeneration to the natu!'31 disposition and character. It is a renewal of the man if it renews his will; but it has to be followed up by e. continuous Divine work which renews the mind, character, temper, he.bits, and relations; and we must not be surprised if, at any par- ticular point of that work, there remain frailties and infirmities. Evidently no idea. of absolute perfection of character and disposition can be entertained concerning either llarnalias-" a rne.n full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost "-or of Paul, who had been called to the apostleship. .A close survey of the relations between these two mission- aries reveals a grac.ual drifting apart, a kind of widening distance between them, which J•robably neithtr of them consciously recognized or in any way encouraged. When they started ont, Barnabas, as the elder man and the elder Christian, took the leading place ; but circumstances brought Paul to the front. '!'here was force of character, power on others, natural leadership, which men soon recognized, in spite of his somewhat insignificant appearance; and as he gradually subsided into the second place, Barnabas could very naturally cherish the idea that Paul had better go alone, or with companions of his own choosing. .Actual grounds of separation usually follow on a period of secretly divided feeling, and the difficulty that arose over John Mark need not have been so serious if there had been no previous unconscious drifting asunder. Difficulties and dissensions occur only too often in family and Church life, but they seldom are mere sudden storms which cannot be accounted for; they follow on a condition of atmosphere which has necessitated them sooner or later. Olshausen says, on this contention between Barnabas and Paul, "Paul appears, although indeed this caunot be imagined, to have permanently violated the principle of love, for 011 account of a single fault he entirely threw off Mark; and of :Barnabas it might be feared that love for his relative, more than a conviction of his fitness, was the motive for taking him as a companion on his missionary journey. But on closer consideration these Slll1Illlies are seen to be perfectly groWldlese." These considerations prepare tbe way for a closer examination of the "contention" and the consequent separation of these two good friends and fellow-laboureI'B. L THE SUBJECT OF THE COlTTENTION. Give some account of Mark; his probable youthfulness ; his mother's dependence on him ; his particular office as mini~ter or attendant on the two missionaries. The difficulties and dangers of travelling in those timf:;s required that several should go together; and as men of good family and associa- tions, both Barnabas and Paul would be accustomed to, and dependent on, the daily offices of servants or attendants. Ministry to such a person as St. Paul we would count honourable indeed. IL '.!.'HE ABGU:r.[fil.'Tfl OF T!IE CONTENTION. These may easily be imagined. Tiach man took his own point of view and pressed it too hard. Each had good show of reason, but each manifested self-will in presenting it. '!'he arguments were of litlle avail towards producing satisfactory results, because the divergence was rather one of seutiment and feeling than of deliberate judgment. .Arguments seldom help the settle- ment of disputes that really a.rise from diversity of feeling. Christian piinciple and Christian charity and brotherliness can do more in such cases than the most convincing arguments. IIL THE REBULTB OP THE OONTENTION. These may be shown so far as they affected (1) St. Paul, (2) Barnabas, (3) Mark, (4) Silas. It may be sh?wn that St. Paul's i;everity with Mark did not influence his personal affection for him; and that if, as a matter of judcmient, 0 he declined his service, he did not take up a permanent prejudice against him.. In conclusion, lessons may be learut from thi~ incident concerning (1) the insidious growth of feelings that tend to separate " ve1y fncnds ; " (2) the hopeless- llCIIS of settling the disputes which arise between men b_y mere argument; (3) the hope l1lt, :lVI, 1-40.] 'l'lIE AC'l'S OF 'l'llE APOSTLES. 27
that lies in the exercise of mutnal forbearance, kindly yicldin" of our own, anxiety to find common grountl, 11ncl the true Christian brotherliness, ~ preserve us from sepa- rating contontions, and to heal them when they arise.-R. T.