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the appearance of men, and like men have their personal names.

Reuben. But their names end all in El. Their names, you say, are all personal: how comes it, that they end all in el?

Olympas. That is a new idea, indeed. Well, I will change my opinion, and say that El is their family name, and that all before that is their personal name. But how many celestial names have we on earth, Thomas?

Thomas. With the help of the poets we have some four in common use. In the Scriptures we have Gabriel and Michael, and they have added Raphael and Uriel.

James. What does El mean?

Susan. God, you know, is called El.

Olympas. Then the family name is God; and Gabriel denotes 66 God is my excellency," and Michael denotes "One who has all," and so they are all functionaries of God.

Reuben. Then, as in earth, so in heaven, names are significant of relations and offices.

Olympas. To what town was Gabriel sent, James?

James. To Nazareth of Galilee.

Olympas. Show me that place on your map. James. There is no map in my Testament. Olympas. You have not got the Family Testament, then.

Susan. I have. See here is Nazareth, a town in Galilee, about fifty miles north of Jerusalem. Olympas. And how many inhabitants are said tó be in it at this day, Susan?

Susan. In the Appendix to the Family Testament it is said that there are some two or three

thousand inhabitants, and the place is often visited by pilgrims, and is memorable for having been the residence of our Saviour some thirty years.

Olympas. Why did Gabriel visit Nazareth, Susan?

Susan. There was a virgin named Mary there, who was betrothed to one Joseph, a carpenter, and the angel went there to intimate to her that she should be the mother of our Lord and Saviour.

Olympas. State the names and offices which this wonderful child was to assume.

William. His personal name was to be Jesus. He is also called "the Son of the Highest." He was to inherit the throne of his father David, to reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and to have an everlasting kingdom.

Olympas. You will observe, then, that "the throne of David" and "the house of Jacob" comprehend more than the literal throne of David and the fleshy offspring of Jacob; for these are no more the peculiar people of God. But I will reserve this for a future lesson. I only wish at this time to mark the fact that Jesus inherits the sceptre of David, and is to govern the house of Jacob for ever. To whose personal influence is the creation of the body of Jesus assigned?

Thomas. The Holy Spirit, the Power of the Highest, or God himself.

Olympas. The body of Jesus is a creation of God, but the material is human flesh. God made but one human being out of the earth-our father Adam. The Holy Spirit came upon him, and the power of the Highest overshadowed him. He fell into a deep sleep, and from a rib taken out of his side God created a woman. And now we have

the third display of the same power on the body of Mary. The Holy Spirit descends, and by a similar omnipotence fashions out of the body of Mary the body of Jesus. Adam was made out of the dust, therefore he is called human; Eve is made out of a rib, therefore she is called woman; and Jesus is made out of the flesh of Mary, therefore is he called EMANUEL, God with us, the SON OF GOD, and the SON OF MAN. Therefore, said the angel, shall he be called the Son of God. He never had this name before, unless prospectively. He was called by other names, and amongst which was THE WORD. THE WORD became incarnate. Reuben, relate what ensued after this visit of Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.

Reuben. She burst forth into a rapturous eulogy on the mysterious and benignant promises of the Lord, especially his faithfulness in keeping his engagement with his people. Her words are, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; because he has not disdained the low condition of his handmaid; for, henceforth all posterity will pronounce me happy. For the Almighty, whose name is venerable, has done wonders for me. His mercy on them who fear him, extends to generations of generations. He displays the strength of his arm, and dispels the vain imaginations of the proud. He pulls down potentates from their thrones, and exalts the lowly. The needy he loads with benefits; but the rich he spoils of every thing. He supports Israel his servant, (as he promised to our fathers,) ever inclined to mercy towards Abraham and his race."

Eliza. I do not understand how the names

Gabriel and Michael denote offices.

Gabriel im

ports God is my excellency, and Michael One who

has all.

Olympas. The office of Gabriel was, then, to represent the excellency and glory of God in the affairs of his providence. Hence he was employed to reveal to Daniel the scheme of Providence in reference to the glory of God in the great work of man's redemption. So it comes to pass that he is always employed in affairs connected with providence and redemption; and with the former only in reference to the latter. Michael denotes God's President-one who has all entrusted to him as a steward or president of affairs. He was the president angel of the Abrahamic race. There is not, said Gabriel, any that counsels with me in these affairs, but Michael your prince. Gabriel calls him the chief or the head of the princes.. He is also called the Archangel. Concerning the person called Michael we have something more to say at another time. But to the history:-What

are the circumstances of the birth of the son of Zacharias?

William. On the eighth day he was circumcised and named. His relations would have him called after his father, but his mother would have him called John.

Thomas. There must have been something in this name, as it seems there was some controversy about it. I should like to understand what mystery was in it.

Olympas. It simply means the favour, or the favour of God. This is not the first time the name is found: it is the first of the New Testament occurrences of the word. Observe how

ancient the custom of giving names at circumcision. Thomas. Is this the reason why names are given at baptism?

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Olympas. It is the reason. Hence the personal name of an individual is commonly called his Christian name. Thus, you may remember in the Catholic and Episcopalian Catechism, after the question, "What is your name?" comes, Who gave you that name?" This question is usually answered, "My godfather at my baptism." Baptism, then, like circumcision, was the time of naming persons. The personal name was solemnly imposed when the names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were employed in the ritual of baptism. The cause of this I presume to be was the fact that the person with whom the covenant of circumcision was made had his name changed from Abram to Abraham; and as a new name was given to him at the time of circumcision, the Jews, and after them the Greek Christians, the Romanists, and some Protestants, reserved the imposition of a name on the child till the day of circumcision. Hence both John and Jesus received their names on the eighth day, at their circumcision. Why, Susan, did Zacharias ask for a writing table to write the name of his son ?

Susan. Because he was dumb, not being able to speak since the angel Gabriel reproved him for his doubting his word.

Olympas. Was he also deaf as well as dumb, William ?

William. We are not told that he was deaf.
Reuben. But we may infer it.

Olympas. From what circumstances?

Reuben. Because they made signs to him to

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