Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-26
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HAT NAM z

From the Home Circle.
THAT NAME
BY REV. G. F. DEEMS, D. D.
Night and a snow-storm were upon me.
It was the close of a disagreeable winter
day, in which my business called me to see
friend in anadjoining county. AS it was
very dark, and [ was only sufficiently ac-
quainted with the road to be afraid to trust
myself, stopped at house where ex-
pected to find friend who would pilot me.
It was seminary of learning. Several
young men had assembled by appointment
for social worship. AS reined up, heard
the voice of earnest supplication. The
snow fell ceaselessly as the beseeching tones
of prayer come out on the night-winds,
moaning through the grand old trees, and
solemuized their music. "Holy Father,
hear US for the sake Of Jesus There is no
other name given among men whereby we
must be saved but the name Of Jesus. We
plead that name. We belong to Jesus.
Our faith is in Jesus. We love Jesus.
Oh, teach us how to love him more"
And thus the young servant of Jesus
fingered on the blessed name and the deep
and hearty responses Of his companions u
nited with his pleadings.
My own heart began to dilateat the name
Of Jesus. too was lover ofChrist. He
was my all. He enriched my poverty,
soothed my sorrows, and ennobled my na-
ture. was what His love made me, and
no more. To Him freely gave my heart,
my pen, my tongue, and whatsoever had
to give. Aud was only one of thousands
of thousands ready to labor for Him, to
live for Him, to die for Him. Here, in
the woods Of a land, thousands Of miles
from the spot where Mary sung her babe
to sleep with lullabies which sounded like
anthems in their rich Aramaic cadcuces,
far from the founts and groves made
sacred by the utterances of His wisdom
and from the hill made awful by the trag
edy of his sublime death and nearly
score of centuries since He passed from tn,
vision Of mortals,-here and now are youn|
mon, in the midst of scientific culture, bow
ing their intellects and hearts to His name
Other names have gone out on the tongue
ofmen: The Macedonian madman's, grea
Caesars, Mecca's murderous prophets, ant
the Swede's, and Napoleon's, and Wash
ington's; Fear and Honor and Love hav,
spoken, and chanted, and craven thes
names. And Socrates, and Bacon ant
Newton, of Homer and Virgil, and Shake
speare and Milton. But where these name
have been uttered once his name has bee
uttered million of times. Whatever grea
or good, or beautiful things they have sal
or done, have gone to enhance His glor
and spread his name,-and the rest hs
perished. They have been able to do nc
thing immortal, except as it found conneC
tion with that name.
That name! while I sat in the snow
fall and heard it rise on the night air,
million of mothers were teaching little Chi
dren at the cradle-side the name and mi
sion Of Mary's Holy Son; thousand WI
ters were weaving them in poem, or lectur'
or story, or philosophy, or biography;
thousand preachers in crowded churche
were dwelling upon the name of Jesus; I'll
same yesterday, to-day, and forever-th
fair fingers of beauty were embroidering
with threads of gold and the soiled har
of the begrimed day-laborer was reverent
tracing it on the printed page; and GOO
pastors were soothing sufferers with its SO
accents, and dying lips were feebly ga
ping it's syllables as the last music of eart
and the first rapture of heaven. All tn
day long the rattling press had been star
ping that name upon the pages of newsp
pers and books, and all that night the BILE
], sed work weuld 60 forward, making mi
, ions of leaves of books like the leaves
!. the tree of life, good for the healing of t
3 nations. In Europe, and Africa, and AS
| and America, and the islands of the sea;
! ice locked lands that never felt the brea
; of spring, and in torrid lands that are nev
) fowerless,-in camp and court and cabin
e and school and church in palace and ma
!. sion, and cottage and hut, and hovel a
: tent,-eyerywhere in all dialects they lea
8 to speak of Jesus. The name of Jes
' works before the eyes of Fancy and of fai
+ miracles Of beauty, and power, and 10
4 At its announcement visions of whateN
n is lofty in intellect, noble in virtue, fine
q enthusiasm, and beautiful in holiness, +
o up as the angels do before His throne
o ''the land that is very far off, Str
that name from human literature and
.e man hearts, and Love will be frozen int
% ghostly monument of its former self, a
N Hope stand in dire eclipse, and Faith tre
le BILE in dread palsy.
q But that name will live for ever! Ab
,r all clashing arms and laundering artillt
and falling thrones, and the dim and
y multi of this restless world. it rises and
if rise in ceaseless swells of music. Gen
I'd tion shall teach generation, harp shall ca
IN it from harp, and His name shall be g
,ir Gus among the saints for ever.
ret Sweetest word on mortal tongue,
m Sweetest note in angels song,
Sweetest carol ever sung,
re Jesus, Jesus p
nd --.sss~