Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 50
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ORDINATION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS . 43 Gentiles,and was to resultin strengtheningthe churchby a greatingatheringof souls. The apostles,in thistheirspecialwork ,were to be exposedto suspicion, prejudice, and jealousy. As a naturalconséquenceoftheirdeparture from the exclusivenessof the Jews , their doctrineand viewswould be subjecttothecharge of heresy; and theircredentialsas ministersof thegospelwould be questionedby many zealous, believingJews. God foresaw allthesedifficulties which hisservantswould undergo, and, in his wise providence,caused them to be investedwith unquestionable authority from the established church of God ,that their work should be above challenge. The brethren in Jerusalem and in Antioch were made thoroughly acquainted with all the particularsof thisdivineappointment,and the specificwork of teachingtheGentiles,which the Lord had giventotheseapostles. Theirordinationwas an open recognitionof theirdivinemission,asmessengersspeciallychosenby the Holy Ghost fora specialwork. Paul witnesses,in his Epistle to the Romans , that he consideredthis sacredappointmentas a new and important epochin hislife; he names himself, "a servant ofJesusChrist,calledtobe an apostle,separated unto the gospelof God ." The ordinationby thelayingon ofhands,was, at a laterdate, greatlyabused; unwarrantable importancewas attachedto the act.as though a power came at once upon those who received such ordination, which immediatelyqualified them forany and allministerialwork,asthough virtuelayintheactoflayingon of hands. We have,inthehistoryof thesetwo apostles,onlya