TJ Who does not know what is the power of the name of father or mother, sister or brother ? What visions they bring back upon us : what a stream of memories ; of years long passed away, of careless childhood, bright mornings, lingering twilights, the early dawn, the evening star, and all the long- vanished world of happy,
ST. MATTHEW i. 21 13
unanxious thoughts, with the loves, hopes, smiles, and tenderness of days gone by. Who does not know what visions of maturer life come and go with the sound of a name, of one familiar word — the symbol of a whole order now no more ? The greater part of our consciousness is summed up in memory ; the present is but a moment, ever flowing, past almost as soon as come. Our life is either behind us or before ; the future in hope and expectation, the past in trial and remembrance. Our life to come is little realized as yet; we have some dim outlines of things unseen, forecastings of realities behind the veil, and objects of faith be- yond the grave ; but all this is too Divine and high. We can hardly conceive it; at best faintly, often not at all. Our chief consciousness of life is in the past, which yet hangs about us as an atmosphere peopled with forms and memories. They live for us now in names, beloved and blessed.1
2. There is nothing which His name has not hallowed and glorified. The commonest things of earth have now a higher and holier meaning than they ever had before, or ever could have had without Him. A virtue has flowed out of Him into every- thing He has touched. Has not labour become nobler since He sat at Nazareth on the carpenter's bench ? Has not childhood become more sacred since He took little children up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them ? Has not woman been elevated since He lay in a woman's arms, and was clasped to a woman's heart ? Has not penitence become more holy since the Magdalen fell at His feet to wash them with her tears, and wipe them with the hairs of her head ? Has not sorrow been more heavenly since the "Man of Sorrows" wept bitter tears, cried out in the agony of His bloody sweat, and suffered on Calvary ? Has not death changed its character since He died and, robbing the arch-fiend of his sting and turning the tide of battle, wrested from the last enemy the victory ? Has not the grave become brighter since He lay in the rocky tomb under linen napkin and shroud ? The very cross itself, that " accursed tree," that symbol of shame, has been transfigured into an emblem of all that is dearest to the Christian heart or that is holiest in the Christian faith. And not only things but persons also have been transfigured by contact with Jesus. Sinners have become saints ; fishermen, apostles; publicans, disciples. A persecuting and
1 H. E. Manning, Sermons, iv. 46.
i4 THE NAME OF JESUS
blaspheming Saul has been changed into a holy and loving Paul It may be recorded of all who drew near Him that "as many as touched were made perfectly whole." " As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
T| The Saviour of the world must heal not only the breach 1. ctween God and man, but the sickness of human nature itself. Ami this He does by implanting in man, through union with His own perfect nature, a supernatural principle of regeneration; a germ of new life which may destroy the cause of corruption, ami arrest its progress, and make human nature again capable of union with God. The corrupt nature struggles still, seeks fur its separate life away from God, a life that is no life. But the moment the new life is given, the helplessness, the hopelessness of the struggle is past. The cry of human nature, " I cannot do the things that I would," becomes the thankful utterance of the regenerate soul, • 1 can do all things through Christ which strengthened me."1
3. The name still works as a charm. As long as there is sin in the world, and sorrow, broken hearts and wounded spirits ; as long as there are chambers of sickness and death-beds, so long will the name of Jesus have power. The saving wonders wrought by Him who bears the name are continued to-day. They are con- tinued in the thousands of assemblies which are met in toiling cities, crowded towns and scattered villages, in solitary hamlets and on heath-clad moors, and in lonely ships ploughing the mighty deep. Everywhere where men of like passions with our- selves have gathered to worship God, Christ has thrown open the doors of heaven, and has sent down His Spirit to renew, to sanctify, to strengthen, and to console. Many shall be born again into the Kingdom of God, and be saved from their sins, and, receiving pardon, shall be given power to wrestle down strong temptations, and shall go forth inspired with a new hope and girt with a new strength, to be purer, better, wiser, more humble, more peaceful ; and all the week shall be brighter because of the worship of His name on His own day.