Luke ii. 21. And when eight dags were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, ivhich was so named of the angel before he urns conceived in the womb.
THE naming of children has often been used, not merely for distinction's sake, but also to express some expectation or wish which the parent entertained respecting his child. Of course, the name must fre- quently have ill-suited the character of the person that bore it. This was remarkably the case with the two first children that were born into the world. Adam named the first Cain, (which signifies getting,) supposing that he had gotten that Promised Seed who was to repair the ruins of the fall : and his second son he named Abel (vanity), having already had abundant evidence of the sinful dispositions of Cain. But in both he was mistaken ; for the former proved a murderer ; and the latter a distinguished saint.
But God has on several occasions condescended to give names to children previous to their conception in the womb : and the names so given have always designated the real character of the persons them- selves. We are particularly informed, that God required the child which he gave to Zacharias and Elizabeth to be called John, which means grace or favour ; because, whilst he was a favour bestowed on them, he was to be an object of God's peculiar favour, and an occasion of much good to others a.
The name of Jesus also was given by the angel to the Virgin's Child, " before he was conceived in her womb." And how significant this was, it is scarcely needful to mention. It was the same name with Joshua, and meant Divine Saviour : and was there- fore most fitly given to Him, who was " Emmanuel, God with us," and who was destined " to save his people from their sins\" The time of imposing the
a Luke i. 13, 14.
b For a fuller explanation of this, see Disc, on Matt. i. 21 — 23.