Ver. 2.-The Mighty One of Jacob. Every man has-should have-his own appre- hension of God, and name for him. (For this name, see Gen. xlix. 24.) It does not appear that Jacob called him "The Mighty One." 'l'his is the name which those find for Jacob's God who can read aright the story of God's dealings with the great patriarch. But it is more than probable that there is poetical allusion to the revelation that was made to Jacob at the Jabbok. The nameless one who wrestled with him prevailed to leave on him the permanent mark of his power. So he may properly be figured as tho "Mighty One." 'fhis name for God is also found in Isa. i. 24; xlix. 26; Ix. 16. I. A MAN MUST USE THE NAMES THERE ABJl: FOB Goo UNTIL HE CAN MAKE ONE FOR HIMSELF. Mothers give the first conceptions of God, and teach the first name fur him. .As the boy unfolds into the man, he will have changing, enlarging, ideas of God, and want other names for him. Israel fixed e. variety of nnmes in association with particular incidents. The earlier names chiefly embody the idea of power, Presently they enlarge to express character. But only refined minds need names that express personal relations. It may be well to illustrate what o. variety of names there nre in the Old Testament for God, and further, to show what differences of conception o.re embodied in the nnmes for God in different nations and religions. 'l'eut, Allah, Theos, Deus, Buch, A.J?,, Istu, Rain, Magatal, Pussa, Goezur, Yannar, etc. It may bo that o. man can never really get to fill the Divine name Father with its proper meaning until ho realizes his own paternity; but this is getting a name out of nu experience. II. A MAN MAY GET HIS OWN NAMJl: FOR Goo OUT OF HIS EXPEI\IENCl!:8 OF LU'E, .And a man does not really know God, or come into right personal relations with him, until he gets his own nu.me by which to call him. It may, of course, be e.n old and familiar name; but the man must make it his own. The experiences of life may bring to a man a great awe of the Divine majesty; or a fear of the Divine power; or a wondering over the Divine mystery; or a tenderness on account of the graciousness of Divine dealing. In each case we want e. name; and we put o,ir own special meaning into the name for God thnt we use. It means more to us than it does to any one else. And when once we have fixed our own name for God, it becomes a sort of test by which we appraise and understand all God's further dealings with us.-R 'l'.
Ver. 6.-Housing God's symbols. The fitting old place was a temple; the fitting place now is a heart, The old economy was an elaborate picture-teaching of spiritual truths and relations. It is urged that, as man is a composite being, and cau never transcend his bodily conditions, his religion must always be as composite as himself, H must have its visible symbols, and they must have their fitting earthly, matcrio.l, 2G6 'l'HE BOOK OF PSL,LMS. [PS. OXX.Xll. 1-18,