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ORIGINAL ESSAYS.

XXIX.

THE NAME OF JESUS.

GOD in covenant engaged to save poor sinners in the Lord Jesus Christ with an everlasting salvation, as the church is informed, Psalm lxxxix. 3. "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant; thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations." In pursuance of this glorious design, God chose, appointed, and set up as the covenant head of his church, the God-man Redeemer, in his own purpose and mind, though not in substance of human nature. And to accomplish and fulfil the wonderous design, the covenant Head undertook to become man, that he might take upon him the office of Surety, and appear as the Almighty Saviour of his people. We have in the gospel of Matthew a passage which has a direct bearing on this part of the accomplishment of Jehovah's covenant designs, in giving to his church one who should do his will, redeem his people, and bring everlasting glory to his great name. In the message the angel of the Lord was commissioned to deliver to Joseph, it is thus written, Matt. i. 21. "thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins." The fulness of time was now come, according to the covenant decree, when the Lord Jesus Christ was to be made of a woman, made under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law; and for the effecting this mysterious transaction, God the Holy Ghost forms the holy human nature in the womb of the virgin mother. Here we have the master-mystery of the word of truth; and the full confirmation of a truth most deeply interesting to God's dear people, that he who came to save both the body and the soul of all his saints, was prepared of God, and formed in the womb of a virgin, by the power of the Holy Ghost, without the least taint of the defilement of man's nature attaching thereto. See also Luke i. 30-35. But we must wave all further consideration of the miraculous conception and mysterious birth of God and man in one, Christ, to dwell on the name his reputed parent was commanded to give him, and the import and signification of that name-JESUS.

On all occasions, whenever and wherever the faithful are called to speak or write in their Lord's name, Jesus must be the theme on which they dwell. If not immediately this name which he pre-eminently bears, yet the salvation of God, which is all in him, and the privileges of the church, which are all likewise secured in him: so that whether they treat on any one abstract truth of revelation or not, Jesus is the beginning, Jesus is the continuance, and Jesus is the end of their labours. Yes, indeed, the exordium must savour of the name Vol. IV.-No. 42.

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of Jesus; the different divisions into which it may be arranged must embody the name of Jesus; the discussion on each head must be of Jesus; and the close of the whole discourse must be Jesus! If they tell of what he is to his church-of what he has done for his churchor of what he possesses to be bestowed on his church, it must be all JESUS.

The name of Jesus is as "ointment poured forth;" that precious name alone can afford balm for the bleeding heart of the sufferer, under a sense of sin's malady. Its balmy virtues, applied to the wounded conscience, spread their benign influence throughout the soul, and fill it with all joy and peace in believing. The name of Jesus is "the bread of life," which is provided in richest abundance for poor, hungry, starving souls; and when partaken of by faith, the happy recipient rejoices in the name of the Lord, forgets his necessities, and remembers his misery no more. The name of Jesus is, fountain of living waters;" the only fountain of atonement, and for the refreshment and purification of poor, defiled, fainting travellers. Oh! how many of our forefathers, and those with whom we have held sweet counsel together by the way, who are now drinking at the fountain head, have found all their refreshments and consolation in partaking here of the streams flowing therefrom, proving him to be the fountain of living waters to their souls.

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The name of Jesus is, "the light of the world"—"the true light;" he alone is the light of the poor, dark, bewildered understanding. Is the reader concerned to know, and is it a source of grief to him, that he cannot comprehend the things that make for his eternal peace? Has more than Egyptian darkness spread itself over all the faculties of the soul? Our Jesus is the Goshen of his people, the true orb of spiritual day, the true light, which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. All natural light, all intellectual light, is derived from him; and all spiritual light, enlightening the understanding, and leading the mind to the fountain head of light, is the immediate effect of those beams shed abroad in the hearts of his dear people. The name of Jesus is a ground of confidence for every truly sensible sinner. Look where you will for help or relief-attend to the advice and instruction of any, yea, of every friend who may interpose his kind offices-read, and study, and pray as you will; but till the name of Jesus, by the power of the Eternal Spirit, is sounded in your soul, you must remain in spiritual darkness and ignorance.

There is life in that name, for the sinner who is dead in trespasses and sins; there is joy, to the sinner cast down and distressed, under a sense of sin's evil; there is consolation for him who is in agony of soul, let the source of sorrow be whatever it may; yea, there is salvation in that name for the lost and guilty. At the name of Jesus every énemy turns coward, every disease flies quickly away, every garment of heaviness is thrown off, and the soul feels itself enrobed in the clothing of righteousness and peace. At the name of Jesus, the carnal fears of the believer are given to the wind, and the soul rises from

all decrepitude, helplessness, and discouragement, and launches forth into the glorious liberty of the gospel; the poor condemned criminal receives his discharge, and rejoices in his acquittal before the eternal Judge; the soul feels and triumphs in the free, full, and everlasting pardon of all his innumerable transgressions; the prison doors of the poor captive fly open, his heavy chains fall off, and, as saved in Christ with an everlasting salvation, he goes forth into liberty, rejoicing in the privileges of the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. What shall we say of this precious, glorious name, of our most glorious Lord? Reader! have your spiritual senses inhaled the perfume of this plant of renown? It is a fragrant plant, a medicinal plant, a flourishing, fruit-bearing plant, to which you are invited to come with all your depressions and castings down; that inhaling the sweetness of this precious flower, the rose of Sharon, may cheer your souls, animate your fainting spirits, and fill the heart of every mourner with joy and peace. Finally, in the name of Jesus we behold Deity itself shine forth; in Jesus we see united the co-equal of the eternal Father, and a man in our nature! Conceive of these two natures combined, 66 very God and very man," and there you behold at once, the rightful object of his people's adoration, the sure foundation on which to rest their soul's eternal interests, and—which adds beauty and glory to the whole-one who is capable of fellow-feeling in all their infirmities! Who can recount the abundant supplies treasured up in the revealed will of God, for the nourishment of faith, for the increase of hope, for the perfecting of patience, and for the growth of every grace of the Spirit in the renewed mind?

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O man of God! thou who art strong in the grace and strength which are in Christ Jesus, again and again lay hold of " the strength of Israel and the Saviour thereof"-rejoice and triumph in his person and salvation--delight thyself in the Lord, for thou shalt assuredly go on to praise him who is the light of thy countenance and thy God. O sorrowful of heart! thou who art bowed down by the encreasing burden of soul-sorrow; whose griefs arise from a consciousness of nature's ruin and sin's defilement; see in him, thy burden-bearer, the brother born for adversity, the friend who knows all thy heart, and who in his love and in his pity helps thee in all thy infirmitiesmarks all thy way-watches over thee to do thee good-and will not leave thee nor forsake thee till he hath done all for thee that he hath purposed to do, and of which in his blessed word he hath spoken! O tempted soul! assaulted by the darts of the wicked one; whose confidence is betrayed by the numerous baits set to entrap thee; and who art in fear of being caught in the snares spread thickly around thy path; see in him who has been (though without sin!) in all points tempted as thou art, thy kind sympathizer, as well as the great deliverer from all temptations! O wanderer! who hast strayed from the presence and pastures of the good Shepherd, and art travelling in unknown paths; hear the sweet voice, " Return, O backsliding children!”—mark his divine compassion-listen to the melody of his

endearing invitations-behold his outstretched arms ready to embrace thee; and know, that when thou wert yet a great way off he witnessed thy sorrows, and he is now come, yea, he is ever present to help thee!

Who shall describe the blessedness of living ON Jesus? Who can tell, as they ought to be told, the sovereign and saving effects of his unmerited grace, even in their general manifestations in the experience of the new born? And who can show forth, as it is his privilege and duty to do, the praises of him on whom he lives on whom he has founded all his hope-and in whom he finds all his salvation ? But to live To Jesus-patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and others (says the humble soul) might and did, but how can I? To the ear and the heart of one stedfast in the faith, this is an enquiry pregnant with interest. What is it the earnest longing of the subject of grace to live to the glory of his Lord? fear, while living on him, that he does not live to him? This, this indeed is the character, the only character, who lives to Christ on earth-and he it is who shall shortly live with him in glory!" God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

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ON FREE ACCESS TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

"And they came and told Jesus."-Matthew xiv. 12.

SURELY the conduct of John's disciples, in this particular, is worthy the imitation of all the children of God! They had lost their friend and fellow traveller, and they came and told Jesus; they could tell no one so able to make up their loss, to fill up the chasm made by death. Jesus is a most blessed substitute, as many can testify. Many a mourning widow has found him to be a better husband than those they have followed to the silent tomb; many widowers have experienced him to be a faithful and an affectionate companion; the fatherless and friendless orphan have enjoyed his parental care, providential supplies, and frequently his abounding mercy. His Israel in the wilderness had the pillar of a cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, and so have all his children in covenant relation with him; and it is their privilege to go and tell him their troubles, temptations, family afflictions, soul sorrows, church trials, losses of friends and property, the mental darkness and distress they are the subjects of and frequently exercised with.

These words hold forth great encouragement to those who have lost all their earthly comforts, who have no friend left to consult or to converse with; and to those who have all manner of evil said of them -falsely for Christ's sake, who are under great soul trouble, who want

an almighty Saviour, an atoning priest, a justifying righteousness, a sympathising friend, and a consoling companion. These words, first, imply, that these disciples had heard of Jesus, of his almighty power, of his abounding grace, of his willingness to receive and save sinners; and this should constrain the saints and servants of the Lord to spread abroad the savour of Christ's name in every place, to publish the glories of his person, the wonders of his love, and the completeness of his work; or, as the apostle did, preach the unsearchable riches of Christ among the gentiles, in hope that many may hear what an almighty Saviour he is, that they may be encouraged to go to him with their every sorrow, and pour out their hearts before him.

Secondly, these disciples were believers in Jesus, they did not stumble at his Godhead, nor call in question his mission; they were satisfied of his all-sufficiency, and came to him. We have many proofs of his power recorded in this chapter: when these men came to him he departed into a desert place, and many followed him, and the bowels of Jesus yearned over the multitude, he was moved with compassion, he healed their sick; his own disciples were desirous that the people might be sent away to buy victuals, but he told them they need not depart; he was about to put forth a beam of his deity to shew that he was the great proprietor of the world, and that he could feed a large multitude with a small quantity of provisions. There is no need for any to depart from Jesus, at any time, in any place, or under any circumstances; but there is an absolute necessity for us to come to him at all times. If ministers want sermons to preach, they had better go and tell Jesus; if saints want a spirit of prayer, who can bestow it but Jesus? The hearing ear he gives, and the Lord's dear people should go to him with their poverty; and they may see from this chapter how he loves and feels for his poor; he will not have them sent away, but orders his disciples to give them to eat. And this he does to try their faith, and to shew them what his almighty arm can do; that he can spread a table in the wilderness, make temporal cups run over, and satisfy the hunger of his creatures. But they reply, "we have here but five loaves and two fishes:" their unbelieving buts would fain close the royal hand of heaven, and lock up the heart of God; but Jesus gave the order, "bring them hither to me," and commands the multitude to be seated on the grass; then he takes the provision, looks up to heaven, blesses and breaks it, and delivered to the disciples, and as they carry it to the hungry people, it multiplies, increases, and that to such an extent, that all are supplied and an abundance left. Like the glorious gospel, all its publishers receive their commission and their matter from Christ; they make it out to their hearers, and it often multiplies and increases while they are preaching; and although so many of the servants of the Lord have preached so many sermons, and laboured so many years in word and doctrine, yet there is an abundance of subjects left; and as long as the dear Redeemer finds hungry sinners

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