shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on them, and they shall recover.’* In fine, the disciples soon found the truth of their Master's prediction at the Last Supper: 'Without me, ye can do nothing.' They entered the-sick chamber, and pronounced the name of Jesus, and the sick 'took up their bed and walked.' They even stood upon the cold grave, and pronounced that all-powerful name, and the sleeping dead came forth and mingled with their friends. Indeed, they found this name all-sufficient. It was in and through it that they derived all spiritual blessings. It is the sweetest name on earth. 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds, It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest.' We have somewhere read of a touching incident connected with this name, given by Mrs. Sigourney, in which the undying love of the christian is most beautifully exhibited. A more thrilling sketch we never read, and the impression we received on first. hearing it, we think can never be effaced. 'Among those who serve at God's altar, was one who had faithfully discharged, through a long life, the holy duties of his vocation. He lingered after his * Mark xvi. 17, 18. By the fireside of his cotemporaries had gone to rest. only son, he sat in peaceful dignity, and the children of another generation loved his silver locks. In that quiet recess, memory was lulled to sleep. The names of even familiar things, and the images held most indelible, faded as a dream. Still he lived oncheered by that reverence which is due to the "hoary head, when found in the way of righteousness." At length, his vigor failed. The staff could no longer support his tottering steps, and nature tendered her last repose. 'It was attempted, by the repetition of his own name, to awaken the torpor of memory. But he replied, "I know not the man." Mention was made. of his only son, the idol of his early years, whose filial gratitude had taken every form and office of affection: "I have no son." The tender epithet by which he had designated his favorite grandchild was repeated: "I have no little darling." Among the group of friends who surrounded his bed, there was one who spoke of the Redeemer of man. The aged man suddenly raised himself upon his pillow. His eye kindled, as when from the pulpit, in the vigor of his days, he had addressed an audience whom he loved: "I remember that Saviour. Yes I do remember the Lord Jesus Christ." Would to God the same spirit which dwelt in that dying man, might also dwell in all the professed disciples of Christ; and we pray that when we come to die, if we forget all other names, we may not forget the blessed name of Jesus! It is in and through this name that the world will ultimately be brought home to glory. 'God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'* Efforts have been made to build up systems of religion without this name; but all in vain. As well attempt to rear a building without a foundation; as well look for a stream without a source; as well expect fruit without a tree; or a spring without a sun to warm the earth. Well did the Apostle say, 'For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.'t Here then we must rest all our hopes for salvation: For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.' We see from the records of his life, the grand and beautiful exhibitions of his power while on earth. This same power is still manifesting itself in the moral world. Millions have felt its divine influences. The great work will go forward. Jesus will touch heart after heart, soul after soul, till 'all confess him to be Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' 'His name shall endure forever. His name shall be continued as long as the sun. shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed.' 'Blessed be his glorious name forever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.' Men * Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11. † 1 Cor. iii. 11. Acts iv. 12. -XLIV. JUDGE. 'And God commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that Jesus was ordained of him to be the Judge of quick and dead.' Acts x. 42. THIS term occurs about two hundred and fortyseven times, but is not applied to Christ in a distinct and positive manner in any other passage. True, the work or office of judge is frequently said to be assigned to Jesus, and perhaps it may be said of this word, as of some others, that it is to be understood rather as designating an office than a title. เ We will now present a few passages wherein this work is said to have been committed into the hands of the Son of God. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; and hath given him authority to execute judgment.'* 'I charge thee, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.'† 'And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.' These passages Acts xvii. 30, 31. * John v. 22, 27. 2 Tim. iv. 1. abundantly confirm the doctrine that the office of Judge is assigned to the Son of God. Indeed, nó Christian will, for a moment, deny the fact. The difference of opinion is not on this point, but respecting the manner, the object, and the time of this judg ment. A brief statement of the popular view may not be inappropriate. It is believed that after the resurrection of all the dead, there will be a judgment day; that Jesus will sit upon his throne, and that before him will be assembled every moral being that has ever been an inhabitant of earth. Witnesses will be called up, and every thought, word and deed will be examined. Then sentence will be passed upon every one, either of approval or condemnation. Then the righteous will enter upon an everlasting scene of enjoyment, and the wicked upon an endless state of misery. We are aware of the feebleness of this description. The truth is, no imagination can fully conceive the horrors that are said to be connected with the final judgment. The firmest believers in such a notion acknowledge the inability of language to present the awful scene. Edwards has given us the following terrific description of the scenes connected with the last judgment. After having gone on from climax to climax in presenting the miseries of the damned, he says to the sinner: 'After you have worn out the age of the sun, moon, and stars, in your dolorous groans and lamentations, without rest day or night, or one minute's ease, yet you shall have no hope of being delivered-when, after you shall have worn out a thousand more such ages, yet you shall have no hope, but shall know that you are no one |