January 19

Third Week in Advent.—Thursday

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.

AND had not His very Name of Jesus proclaimed this truth already? Jesus, "for He shall save His people from their sins;" not merely from hell hereafter, the punishment of sin, but from sins here. He was to proclaim liberty to captives, and to make the slaves of sin the free children of God. As the Babe in the manger of Bethlehem, His Name was Saviour; in the midst of doctors, Saviour; in the carpenter's shop, Saviour; as He went about doing good, Saviour; in Gethsemane, Saviour; on the Cross, Saviour; in His Easter triumph, Saviour; now on the right hand of the Father, Saviour; and when He comes in like manner as He went into heaven, it will be our fault if we are not able to welcome Him as Saviour. That will depend upon our having known Him here as Saviour, for now, as eighteen hundred years ago, "the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins." We must understand that our Lord wishes not to save sinners as such, but to save them first from their sins. So we must not only confess that we are sinners, but confess our sins.

Thou mildest Searcher of each heart, Who know'st the weakness of our strength, To us forgiving grace impart, Since we return to Thee at length.

Much have we sinned, to our shame, But spare us, who our sins confess; And for the glory of Thy Name, To our sick souls afford redress.

Grant that the flesh may be so pined By means of outward abstinence, As that the sober watchful mind May fast from spots of all offence.