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in us and our children. Before we be born, when we have done neither good nor evil, He hath mercy and compassion on us. Judgment appertaineth unto God. He knoweth who are His. No man knoweth the things of God, but the Spirit of God only. And thus much of the Sacrament of Baptism, which is the badge and cognizance of every Christian. If any be not baptized, but lacketh the mark of God's fold, we cannot discern him to be one of the flock. If any take not the seal of regeneration, we cannot say he is born the child of God. This is the ordinary way; let us use it, let us not despise nor be slow to receive the Sacraments: they are the means by which God maketh sure His good will towards us.

It will not be amiss to speak a word or two of the naming of your children. Some are herein over keen; they refuse to call their children by the names of holy men and women, because they think it to savour somewhat too much of religion, and therefore, either they name them at a venture, having no regard at all how they be named; or else they give them the names of heathen men, and call them Julius Cæsar, Hercules, Lucretia, Scipio, or

such like. These although they were notable in wisdom, learning, chastity, boldness, and in conquests, yet were they heathen men, and knew not God. The name is nothing, it commendeth us not to God. Yet may a Christian father be ashamed to call his child by the name of such, who were enemies to the Cross of Christ.

St. Chrysostom, a godly Father, saith, “ In this thing, (that is, in the naming of the children,) both the godliness of the parents, and also their great care for their children, is declared. And how have they forthwith and from the beginning taught the children who were born unto them, giving them warning, by the names wherewith they call them, that they should practise virtue? They did not give names at a venture and without reason, as is done now-a-days. For now men say, let the child be called after the name of his grandfather, or great grandfather: but our old fathers did not so. They took all heed to call their children by such names, which should not only provoke them to virtue, who bore the names, but should teach others also much wisdom, who should remain many years

after them"." Again he saith; "See how great understanding they of old time had, that even the women named not their children rashly or by chance, but called them by names that foreshewed such things as might happen after*." And of Leah, Jacob's wife, he maketh a special commendation. "See how she nameth not her children simply nor at a venture. She called him Simeon, because (saith she) the Lord hath heard." Therefore he saith, "Let not us therefore give names unto our children that are common names, or because they were the names of our grandfathers or great grandfathers, or of such who have been famous for their parentage: but rather let us call them by the names of such as have excelled in virtue, and have been most faithful towards God." Let them bear the names of the Apostles, of

u Non solum hic parentum monstratur pietas, sed et magna ergo pueros diligentia, etc. Hom. 21. in Genesim. Hom. 51. in Genesim.

▾ Vidisti quomodo non simpliciter, neque temere nomina natis indiderit, Vocavit eum Simeon, quoniam audivit (inquit) Dominus. Hom. 56. in Genesim.

z Igitur nos ne vulgaria nomina pueris indamus, neque avorum, etc. Hom. 21. in Gen.

the prophets, of the martyrs, of such who have been constant in the faith, and have suffered death for Christ's sake. That so

they may be taught by their names to remember whose name they bear, and that they neither speak nor do any thing unworthy of their name.

As, if any be called John, that he pray for grace, and desire to be filled with grace: that he give witness of Christ, that he is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world: that he rebuke vice boldly, as John did in Herod, though he were a mighty prince. Or, if he be called Paul, that he so become a follower of Paul, as Paul was of Christ and say with Paul, "That I might live unto God, I am crucified with Christ. Thus I live, yet not I now, but Christ liveth in me" and hear Christ speaking unto him as did St. Paul, and fall down and say, "Lord, what wilt Thou that I do"?" So let him that is called Thomas, touch the bosom of Christ, and handle his wounds, and make a good confession as Thomas did, and say, My Lord and my God." Let Matthew

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a Galat. ii. 20.

b Acts ix. 6.

c S. John xx. 28.

forsake his custom, even the deceitful gains of the world, and follow Christ". Let Daniel remember Daniel, and though he should be thrown into the den of lions, or be burnt in the fire, or suffer any cruel torments, yet let him not therefore forsake God, but put his whole trust in Him. Thus should our names teach us, that whether we write them, or utter them, or hear them spoken, they may put us in mind of Christian duty and godliness.

The other Sacrament of Christ's Church is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which some have called the Sacrament of the Altar; some the Sacrament of the holy Table; some the Sacrament of Bread and Wine: but we most properly may call it the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. And that we wander not at large, but may stand on certain ground, I will expound those words of our Saviour, "This is My Body, and this is My Blood of the New Testament that is shed for many, for the remission of sins.."

This matter these two or three hundred years past hath been encumbered with many

d S. Matt. ix. 9.

e S. Matt. xxvi. 26, 28.

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