things he always acted with unerring wisdom. When men have attempted to give significant appellations, they have only manifested how ignorant they were of futurity 'i. But (jod sees all things from the beginning to the end. And his desig- nation of Christ's name was a prognostic of his character.]
The appellation given to the Virgin's son was pecu- liarly suitable —
["Jesus" simply means a Saviour^; and was a common name among the Jews. It was sometimes assigned to those who were great deliverers f. It had been given in a peculiar manner to the son of Nun p. He was eminently a Saviour, as leading the Israelites into the promised land, which Moses was not permitted to do^ But Christ, whom he typified, is a far greater deliverer. He " does that for us which the law could not do'." He leads the true Israel of God into the heavenly Canaan.]
So remarkable an event may justly lead us to inquire into, II. The reason of that appointment —
Waving all other reasons, we notice two before us :
1. To fulfil a prophecy —
[Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah should be called Emmanuel''. From the event it appears, that God did not intend this prophecy to have a literal accomplishment. We may expect however that the spirit of it should be accom- plished. Now the name "Jesus" was in fact equivalent to Emmanuel. "Jesus" means "Divine Saviour;" and Emma- nuel, God with us^ A?id the Evangelist himself tells tis, that the imposition of that 7iame was in order to the fulfilment of THIS prophecy™.]
2. To declare the infant's office and character — [The virgin's child was to be the Saviour of the world.
He was to save his people by price, and bt/ poiver. They were
^ Eve named her first child " Cain," which signifies (jettincj : thinking perhaps that she had now gotten the promised Seed : having probably soon discovered her mistake, she called her second son " Abel," which signifies vanity. But how misnamed were both ! This proved a martyr for his God ; and that, a murderer of his own brother.
^ Acts xiii. 23. f Neh. ix. 27.
g Numb. xiii. 16. Which name is precisely the same with " Jesus," and is so translated, Acts vii. 45. and Heb. iv. 8.
h Dent. i. 37, 38. i Rom. viii. 3. Acts xiii. 39.
^ Isai. vii. 14. ' See Bishop Pearson on the Creed, p. 70, 71.
"» Matt. i. 22, 23.
1278.1 IMPORT OF Christ's names. 3
under sentence of eternal condemnation. His life was the ransom to be paid for their souls". Hence they are called his purchased possession". They were also in bondage to sin and Satan P. And he was to make them a peculiar people, zealous of good works*!. Yea, he was ultimately to place them beyond the reach of all the penalties and pollutions of sin. It was of importance that this great work should be represented in his very name. And the text informs us that the name was given him for this very purpose.] III. The interest we should take in it —
[Surely most precious should the name of Jesus be to all his followers. What benefit can be bestowed like salvation from sin ? A deliverance from its dominion is an unspeakable blessing. The godly desire it no less than deliverance from hell itself. Deliverance too from its i^enalties is an incon- ceivable mercy. O, how delightful is pardon to a burthened conscience ! How sweet is a sense of God's favour in a dying hour ! What joy must the glorified soul possess in the day of judgment ! Yet Jesus has bought it all for us with his own most precious blood, and has bestowed it freely on all his faithful followers. He will impart it liberally to all who will believe on him. Is there not reason then for that divine anathema"^ — ? Will not the very stones cry out against those who refuse to praise him ? Let Jesus then be precious to us all. Let us adopt the grateful strains of that sweet Psalmist of Israel^ — .]