THE BLESSING OF GOD ALMIGHTY
In this benediction we have spiritually the love of God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, as imparted unto us in the kingdom of heaven, into which we are called, that we may inherit a blessing (2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 3:9). Consider, therefore—
I. THAT ALL BLESSING IN THE NAME WAS GIVEN BY AARON AND HIS SONS ONLY, because they were the chosen representatives of God. Even so, all blessing in the Triune Name is given by Christ alone, the High Priest of our profession, and the only channel of blessing. All ministerial blessing is only the continuation made audible in times and places of that blessing which our Lord was pronouncing when he left the world (Luke 24:50, Luke 24:51), which blessing, as it was never finished upon earth, so it was taken up with him, and became eternal in the heavens, and is still the benediction wherewith his servants are blessed.
II. THAT TO BLESS THE PEOPLE, AS IT WAS THE PECULIAR PRIVILEGE, SO IT WAS THE BOUNDEN DUTY, OF THE PRIESTS, and that in which their office towards the people was, as it were, summed up (Deuteronomy 21:5). Even so Jesus Christ was "sent to bless us" (Acts 3:26), and "Benedictus benedicat" is the simplest and surest of all Christian prayers; and it is the object and the office of such as are called in any wise to minister the priestly authority of Christ to bring home his benediction to the souls of men.
III. THAT THE FIRST CLAUSE OF THE BLESSING INTIMATES THE LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH WHICH WE ARE PRESERVED. For it is of his blessing that the whole world, and the race of men, and we ourselves have been kept from the destroyer, and held in life and plenty (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1; Acts 14:17; Acts 17:28). And it is of his blessing that we have escaped the destruction which threatened our souls (Genesis 2:17); and that because he had a favour unto us (Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 10:15), and because he had predestinated us in love (Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 1:5, ἐν ἀγάπη προορίσας ἡμᾶς), and because he is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
IV. THAT THE SECOND CLAUSE INTIMATES THE LOVE OF GOD THE SON WHEREBY WE HAVE OBTAINED, AND DO OBTAIN, GRACE. For in the Incarnation of the Son the face of God is made to shine upon us, and that clearly and brightly, as the natural sun being risen shines upon the earth which lay in darkness or in twilight (Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78; John 1:14, John 1:17; John 14:9; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 1:3). Thus Moses not being permitted to see the face of God, but only his back parts (Exodus 33:23), signified, that before the Incarnation the revelation of God in grace and truth could not be made.
V. THAT THE THIRD CLAUSE INTIMATES THE LOVE OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST, WHEREBY WE OBTAIN PEACE THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT. For the loving regard of God—his tender gaze upon the soul which he loves—is the coming forth of the Holy Spirit to abide upon and within that soul, bringing with him the life of the Incarnate Son (John 16:14, John 16:15; 1 John 5:11), and the love of the Eternal Father (Romans 5:5), and uniting us to both (1 John 1:3). And this life (Galatians 2:20) and this love (Jud Numbers 1:21) are peace (Galatians 5:22; Romans 8:6; 1 John 4:18); and peace is the ripened fruit and accomplished purpose of the gospel (Luke 2:14; John 20:19; Ephesians 2:15).
VI. THAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE TO BEAR THE COVENANT NAME OF GOD, whereby he was revealed to them alone. Even so is the holy and awful and Triune Name of our God called down upon us (Matthew 28:19, εἰς τὸ ὄνομα; James 2:7, τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ ὑμᾶς), and we bear it as a most potent talisman to shield us from all harm, as a most precious jewel to be our secret joy and pride (Revelation 2:7); cf. Psalms 91:14; Psalms 9:10, etc.). Note, that the name of the Holy Trinity is often apparently interchanged with the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; Acts 19:5), because in "Jesus" is the whole fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9), and "Jesus" is the name under which the Divine Being is personally made known unto us, as under that now forgotten name to the Jews (Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10). And note again, that amongst Israel, as amongst ourselves now, the sacred Name is put upon the people of God, yet so as it may pass away from them like the thin air, and leave no trace of sanctity behind: whereas in "him that overcometh" the Name shall be written, and that indelibly, because by Christ himself (Revelation 3:12).
VII. THAT THE JEWS LOST THE HOLY NAME BECAUSE THEY USED IT NOT ARIGHT, FEARING TO MAKE IT KNOWN. Of that Name which wrought so many miracles (Isaiah 30:27) nothing remains but four letters without any certain meaning, or any possible use. But the Name in which we trust can never be lost, because it is preached unto every creature under heaven (Acts 17:3; Philippians 2:10), and its sweetness is everywhere diffused (So Psalms 1:3). And so it is with all which that name means to us—we keep for ourselves exactly in proportion as we do not keep it to ourselves.
HOMILIES BY W. BINNIE