neither by persuasion nor threatenings keep them from owning themselves to be Christians, further praying his Majesty's advice in that affair: hereupon he gave command, that no inquisition should be made after the Christians, though if any of them offered themselves, execution should be done upon them. So that the fire which had hitherto flamed and burnt out, began now to be extinguished, and only crept up and down in private corners. There are that tell us that Trajan having heard a full Martyr. Ig account of Ignatius and his sufferings, and how unCoteller. P. dauntedly he had undergone that bitter death, repented of what he had done, and was particularly moved to mitigate and relax the persecution: whereby, as Metaphrastes observes) not only Ignatius' life, but his very death became the procurer of great peace and prosperity, and the glory and establishment of the Christian Faith.

Sim. Met.

nat. apud.

1002.

THE LIFE

OF

ST. BARNABAS,

THE APOSTLE.

THE proper, and (if I may so term it) original name of this Apostle (for with that title St. Luke, and after him the Ancients constantly honoured him) was Joses, by a softer termination familiar with the Greeks for Joseph, and so the King's and several other manuscript copies read it. It was the name given him at his circumcision, in honour no doubt of Joseph, one of the great patriarchs of their nation, to which after his embracing Christianity, the Apostles added that of Barnabas; Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, either implying him a son of Prophecy, eminent for his prophetic gifts and endowments, or denoting him (what was a peculiar part of the Prophet's office) a son of Consolation, for his admirable dexterity in erecting troubled minds, and leading them on by the most mild and gentle methods of persuasion: though I rather conceive him so styled for his generous charity in refreshing the bowels of the Saints; especially since the name seems to have been imposed upon him upon that occasion. He was born in Cyprus, a noted Island in the Mediterranean Sea, lying between Cilicia, Syria and Egypt.

2. He was a descendant of the Tribe of Levi, and the line of the Priesthood, which rendered his conversion to

Monach. En

nab. inter

taph. extat.

Jun. xi. p

n. 4, 5, 6.

Christianity the more remarkable, all interests concurring to leaven him with mighty prejudices against the Christian Faith. But the grace of God delights many times to exert itself against the strongest opposition, and loves to conquer, where there is least probability to overcome. His parents were rich and pious, and finding Alexand. him a beautiful and hopeful youth (says my author, com. S. Bar- deriving his intelligence concerning him, as he tells us, vitas 8. Me- from Clemens of Alexandria, and other ancient writers) ap. sur. ad they sent, or brought him to Jerusalem, to be trained up 170. vid ib. in the knowledge of the Law, and to that end committed him to the tutorage of Gamaliel, the great Doctor of the Law, and most famous master at that time in Israel, at whose foot he was brought up together with St. Paul; which if so, might lay an early foundation of that intimate familiarity that was afterwards between them. Here he improved in learning and piety, frequenting the Temple, and devoutly exercising himself in fasting and prayer. We are further told, that being a frequent spectator of our Saviour's miracles, and among the rest, of his curing the paralitic at the pool of Bethesda, he was soon convinced of his Divinity, and persuaded to deliver up himself to his discipline and institutions and as the nature of true goodness is ever communicative, he presently went and acquainted his sister Mary with the notice of the Messiah, who hastened to come to him, and importuned him to come home to her house, where our Lord afterwards (as the Church continued to do after his decease) was wont to assemble with his Disciples, and that her son Mark was that young man, who bore the pitcher of water, whom our Lord commanded the two Disciples to follow home, and there prepare for the celebration of the Passover.

3. The Church being dispersed up and down after St. Stephen's Martyrdom, we have no certain account what became of him, in all probability he staid with the Apostles at Jerusalem, where we find him not long after St.

Paul's conversion. For that fierce and active zealot being miraculously taken off in the height of his rage and fury, and putting on now the innocent and inoffensive temper of a lamb, came after some little time to Jerusalem, and addressed himself to the Church. But they not satisfied in the reality of his change, and fearing it might be nothing but a subtle artifice to betray them, universally shunned his company; and what wonder if the harmless sheep fled at the sight of the wolf that had made such havoc of the flock: till Barnabas presuming probably upon his former acquaintance, entered into a more familiar conversation with him, introduced him to the Apostles, and declared to them the manner of his conversion, and what signal evidences he had given of it at Damascus, in his bold and resolute disputation with the Jews.

4. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth: the dispersion of the Church by Saul's persecution proved the means of a more plentiful harvest, the Christian. Religion being hereby on all hands conveyed both to Jews and Gentiles. Among the rest some Cyprian and Cyrenean Converts went to Antioch, where they preached the Gospel with mighty success; great numbers both of Jews and proselytes (wherewith that city did abound) heartily embracing the Christian Faith. The news whereof coming to the Apostles at Jerusalem, they sent down Barnabas to take an account of it, and to settle this new plantation. Being come he rejoiced to see that Christianity had made so fair a progress in that great city, earnestly pressing them cordially and constantly to persevere in that excellent Religion which they had entertained; himself like a pious and good man undergoing any labours and difficulties, which God was pleased to crown with answerable success, the addition of multitudes of new converts to the Faith. But the work was too great to be managed by a single hand: to furnish himself therefore with suitable assistance, he went

to Tarsus, to enquire for St. Paul lately come thither. Him he brings back to Antioch, where both of them continued industriously ministering to the increase and establishment of the Church for a whole year together; and then and there it was that the Disciples of the Holy Jesus had the honourable name of Christians first solemnly fixed upon them.

5. It happened about this time, or not long after, that a severe famine (foretold by Agabus a Christian Prophet that came down to Antioch) pressed upon the Provinces of the Roman Empire, and especially Judea, whereby the Christians, whose estates were exhausted by their continual contributions for the maintenance of the poor, were reduced to great extremities. The Church of Antioch compassionating their miserable case, agreed upon a liberal and charitable supply for their relief, which they intrusted with Barnabas and Paul, whom they sent along with it to the Governors of the Churches, that they might dispose of it as necessity did require. This charitable embassy the Greek Rituals no doubt respect, when in the office at the promotion of the Magnus Oeconomus, or High Steward of the Church (whose place it was to manage and dispose the Church's revenues) they make particular mention of the Holy and most famous Barnabas the Apostle, and generous Martyr. Having discharged their trust, they returned back from Jerusalem to Antioch, bringing along with them John, surnamed Mark, the son of Mary, sister to Barnabas, whose house was the sanctuary, where the Church found both shelter for their persons, and conveniences for the solemnities of their worship.

6. The Church of Antioch being now sufficiently provided of spiritual Guides, our two Apostles might be the better spared for the conversion of the Gentile world. As they were therefore engaged in the duties of fasting and prayer, and other public exercises of their Religion, the Spirit of God by some prophetic Afflatus or revela