Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

The eternal relation between the first and second persons of the ever blessed Trinity especially calls for these acts of mental homage: and scarce less so doth the mystery of the Word become flesh, and dwelling among us; yet so that we might see his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. But, together with the homage of an humbled reason, we here owe yet more especially to the Father, a debt of gratitude and love: and when we pour forth our hearts towards the Son, who came to ransom us from the power of death, even by his own humiliation and sufferings; let us not forget, that as it was the Father whom man first offended, so it is the Father who can alone accept us as reconciled children; that it was the Father who did in fact originate the plan of our redemption, for God so loved the world, that while we were yet sinners, he gave his only begotten Son to die for us, that we might live through him. Thanks, indeed, may we say, thanks be to God, for his unspeakable gift!

And if it was a mark of ineffable love in the Father, that he sent his Son upon Earth, made in our likeness, that for us he might suffer; surely it is not less so, that through those sufferings, he provides a way whereby we may be made like Christ, and being in his image, being sons through him, be exalted even to heavenly places, and for ever participate in a kingdom of happiness and glory. The most effectual method of shewing our gratitude for this, is to submit ourselves to that portion of the plan of our salvation,

in which we ourselves are workers together with God, and thankfully to participate in those means of regeneration, sanctification and edification in Christ, which are made effectual by the mysterious power of God himself.

And now, brethren, how shall I conclude, but with the words in which St John urges us to the attainment of our highest perfection, by the mention of our highest title, the promise of our highest reward: Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.

56

SERMON IV.

AND IN JESUS CHRIST.

ACTS xviii. 28.-Shewing by the Scriptures that JESUS is THE CHRIST.

THE two appellatives, JESUS and CHRIST, by which we designate the Son of the ever blessed Virgin, in whom we confess our faith in the second article of the Apostles' Creed, are both of large and important, but of very different significance. JESUS is the personal name of that divine being; CHRIST is one of the titles of his office: both were imposed by God himself, and both are of such high and mysterious import, that the very combining of the title CHRIST with the name JESUS, involves no small part of the confession of the Christian faith.

To arrive at a fair notion of the importance of this name and title, thus connected, we must place ourselves in the situation of those to whom immediately Christ came, and to whom it is certain that God will

ed to intimate his purpose, when he commanded that the son of Mary should be called JESUS; and when afterwards, by the voice of inspiration, that JEsus was called CHRIST. Now, among the eastern nations, and among the Jews in particular, the names of persons were usually significant and descriptive. The man bore with him in his appellation the memorial of something which marked the circumstances of his birth, or the expression of some parental hope. Thus the first man born into the world Eve called, by a mistaken but religious anticipation of blessings, CAIN the acquired; and Rachel with her last breath called her new-born infant BENONI, the son of my Such names often received a confirmation in future events in the bitterness of his heart Esau said of his younger brother, "Is he not rightly called JACOB, a supplanter, for he hath supplanted me these two times." But often names were changed for others, more adapted to passing events, and more distinctive of the character of the individual; thus Daniel and the three children received new names in the court of Babylon; and the false prophet Shemaiah had imposed on him the contemptuous name NEHELAMITE, or the Dreamer.

sorrow.

But in many instances the names of the Hebrews derived an importance, which they shared with none other, from the truth of the Jewish religion. SAMUEL, that is, asked of God, is a pleasing remembrance of gratitude to the alone Author and Giver of every good gift and such names as ELIMELECH,

my God is king; and ELISHA, it is God that giveth help, convey with them a religious truth beyond the reach of Pagan reasoning.

When the future character or destinies of an individual singularly answered to any such significant name, it seemed to intimate a divine influence, however unperceived at the time, in the imposition of such a name. But sometimes God himself directly imposed a name, which would of course bring with it an eminence of importance and observation which nothing else could bestow. Of all names, however, those conveyed the most important intimations which were by God himself imposed upon persons, in token of their designation to some important office, or to some especial privileges. Let the names of ABRAHAM and SARAH stand as an example of this change.

But there is no name in which all these elements of importance more truly meet than in that of the holy child JESUs, the only Son of God: for, in respect of the significancy of the name JESUS, it involves a great mystery of our faith, and the chief promise of the Gospel covenant. In respect of the imposition of that name, it was imposed by God himself in the counsels of heaven before all ages; by that method of revelation, which is interpreted by the event, it was declared to man fifteen hundred years before his earthly appearance; and it was at last confirmed by the visible ministry of a herald from the world of spirits and finally, in respect of the authority which it indicated, it was a designation to an office whose

« AnteriorContinuar »