exhausted, and, in the terror of his justice, he shall appear against the enemies of the cross, then ruin and dismay shall seize the guilty rebels of his throne, and justice long insulted justice, will demand the execution of the penalty of violated law: "Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I, also, will laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore, shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices." O, it is a fearful

thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Better that a man had not been born-better to lie at the mouth of a burning volcano, or be rocked on the bosom of an earthquake, than to meet the insulted majesty of heaven and earth, with guilt uncanceled and unforgiven. It has been said that the terror sitting on the brow of a tyrant made a nation quake; but, believe me, there sits a terror enthroned on the pages of this peaceful volume, that can fill a guilty world with dismay. And yet it is not the terror of tyranny, but the terror of God's immutable justice-that justice which links vice and misery together-which hurled the rebel host over the battlements of heaven, and consigned them to hell, "reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day." And if God, at any time, has given such fearful proofs of his displeasure toward those who violated his law, what reason have we to suppose that he will relax his claims, or fail to vindicate his honor or the integrity of his throne? None at all.

When did God fail to execute his threatenings? Did he fail when Adam put forth his impious hand and plucked of the forbidden fruit? Did he fail when he destroyed the world with a flood? or when he overthrew the cities of the plain? Did he fail when he poured out his judgments. on his own chosen people, and wrath came upon them to the uttermost? No, no; "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth, also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" Let the threatenings, the forbearance, and patience of God, move you to obedience, repentanee, and faith: For how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" O, sinner, why will you persist in rebellion against your rightful Sovereign? why will you still pursue sin's destructive way? why will you rush on the thick bosses of Jehovah's buckler, and plunge naked into "the blackness of darkness," rather than bathe in the perennial streams of peace, and enjoy the smile and benediction of Heaven? Can you measure arms with the Almighty? Can you dwell in everlasting burnings? Can you endure the wrath of God for ever and for ever? Pause-pause. Hearken thou unto the commandments of God. This moment lay down your

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weapons of rebellion, and sue for mercy in the name of Jesus. Behold, he now waits to be gracious. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." May God move you by his Spirit, and may you haste to the mountain before it is everlastingly too late! Amen.

SERMON XXIX.

BY REV. THOMAS THOMPSON.

MINISTERIAL PIETY ATTENDED WITH REVIVAL INFLUENCE.

"For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord," Acts xi, 24.

IN the character of the man of God, referred to in the text, and whose labors were so signally crowned with the divine blessing, we have essential qualifications brought to view, which cannot fail, through the same attendant influence, to be equally successful in our own times.

That we may profit by this narration, let us consider, I. THE MINISTERIAL QUALIFICATIONS OF BArnabas. The natural qualifications of Barnabas for his holy calling, are not particularly brought to view in the text. Whether a Cephas, or an Apollos, we are not told; but his moral qualifications are exhibited in the following order:

1. "He was a good man." By the appellation good, or goodness, we may, first, understand that personal piety, so conspicuous in the temper and general deportment of this man of God. Here we have the proof of regenerating grace of a heart emptied of self and sin, and rendered the source whence emanates practical virtues. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are

passed away; behold, all things are become new;” “A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good;" "Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." Goodness-what an excellency! Eloquence and knowledge are important; but what do they avail where piety is wanting? We have heard the fame of some ministers, for rare gifts, trumpeted abroad on every breeze; but where little of intellectual greatness is found, we often hear it said, he is a "good". a holy man; and here we look for and find the golden fruit-the real success; and here the Savior's sayings are truly applicable, "Ye are the salt of the earth;" "Ye are the light of the world;""Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." And though the private Christian needs this heavenly adorning, yet how important in the minister of the Lord!

(2.) By a "good man," we may understand, a benevolent man. Commenting on Romans v, 7, Dr. Adam Clarke renders the expression, "good man,' a benevolent man. This definition is strictly applicable to Barnabas. Born in Cyprus, an island of the Mediterranean, visiting Jerusalem (as some suppose) at the feast of Pentecost, by the preaching of the apostles he is converted-sells his land, and brings the sum thus obtained and lays it at the apostles' feet-not a part, Ananias-like, but the whole sum—thus, at once, commiserating and supplying the necessities of the poor, persecuted followers of his Lord. The benevolence toward a suffering and perishing world, begotten in the heart of this converted Levite, is needed by every minister of the Gospel, that he may be prepared to leave "father and mother, wife and children, brethren and sisters, houses and lands, for Christ's sake;" and, bidding farewell to earthly honor, emolument, and ease, employ his energies in promoting the temporal, spiritual, and eternal interests of

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Charity seeketh not her own."

his fellow-men. Who, that has claims to true piety, has not learned this lesson? Who is fit to administer in sacred things, who makes not, cheerfully, this sacrifice? "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

2. He was "full of the Holy Ghost." Allusion is not so much made, we apprehend, to the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, as the indwelling of the Spirit-happifying the soul, illuminating the understanding, correcting the judgment, subduing the will, hallowing the affections, purifying the conscience, and captivating the thoughts; thus sanctifying the whole man: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;" "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." The Divine Spirit directs him in the path of duty, and inspires him with wisdom to confound gainsayers: "Settle it, therefore, in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist." Who can successfully preach Christ till he is called and anointed from on high? who can fully preach Christ till he is filled with the Divine Spirit? enabling him to say,

"What we have felt and seen,

With confidence we tell;
And publish to the sons of men,
The signs infallible."

3. He was "full of faith." 1. He had full trust and