5.

1 Cor. xvi.

14.

SERM. faid, Whofoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in XXXIII. my name; because ye are Chrift's, (is added by way of interpretation, that is, out of respect to Christ, because of your relation to him,) shall not lofe his reward. And thus furely we ought to do every thing in Jesus's name : all our actions ought to proceed from a principle of grateMatt. xviii. ful love and reverence towards our gracious Redeemer. Let all your actions be done in charity, faith the Apostle; if in charity to our neighbour, then much more in love to him, for whofe fake we are especially bound to love our neighbour. Upon any undertaking, or applying ourfelves to action, we fhould fo reflect thereupon, as to confider, whether that we are going about be apt to please him, and conducible to his honour; if so, remembering what he hath done and suffered for us, (what excellent bleffings he hath purchased for us, what exceeding benefits he hath conferred upon us,) we should, out of love and respect to him, readily perform it; but if it otherwise appear displeasing or dishonourable to him, we should, from the fame principles, carefully decline it, The duty is certain, and the reason thereof evident; for inducement to the practice thereof, observe St. Paul's example; who thus reprefents himself in the main employment of his - life, acting, The love of Christ constrains us; judging this, that he died for all, that they who live might not live to άρετοι εἶναι. 2 Cor. v. 9, themselves, but to him that died and rofe for them; the love 1 Theff. ii. of Christ, begot and maintained by a confideration of his great benefits conferred on him, was the fpring that fet 1 Pet. v. 2. St. Paul on work, that excited and urged him forward to Phil. i. 15. action. Thus doing, we fhall do in Jesus's name; but if we act out of love to ourselves, (to promote our own interests, to gratify our own defires, to procure credit or praise to ourselves,) we act only in our own names, and . for our own fakes; not in the name, or for the fake of Jefus.

θα αὐτῷ εὐ

.14.

6.

Tit. i. 11.

Matt. xxiii.

5.

II. To do in another's name implies doing, chiefly, for the intereft or advantage of another, upon another's behalf or account, as the fervants or factors of another. For, when the business is another's, and the fruit or benefit emergent belong to another, he that profecutes that

X. 25. V.

be- Johnvii. gave 18. viii. 54. God, 43. 36. vi. And 28. ix. 3, 4. things 19. vii. 23.

1 Cor. vi.

Heb. ix.12.

8, 9.

bufinefs may well be, and is commonly, fuppofed to act in SERM, that other's name. Thus our Saviour is in St. John's Gof- XXXIII. pel expreffed to come, to speak, to act in God's name; cause he did God's business, (the work which God him to accomplish,) and entirely fought the glory of as he there himself often avouches and profeffes. thus, in imitation of him, ought we alfo to do all in his name; remembering that we are not our own men, 1 Pet. i. 18. but the fervants of Jefus, (fervants to him not only by nature, Rom. xiv. as to our Maker and Preferver, but by purchase, as to our Redeemer, who bought us with the greateft price; and by compact alfo, we having freely undertaken his fervice, and expecting wages from him,) that we have therefore no business or employment properly our own, but that all our business is (or fhould be) to ferve him, and promote his glory; Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we 1 Cor. x. 31. Should do all to the glory of our Lord. Whatever, I say, we do, we therefore fhould perform it with this formal reference, as it were, toward Jefus, as his fervants, from confcience of the duty we owe to him; with intention therein to ferve him; in expectation of reward only from him. So doth St. Paul (in profecution of this same precept) beneath in this chapter enjoin us, that, whatever we Col. iii. 25, do, we perform it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing (or confidering) that from the Lord we shall receive the recompence of the inheritance; for that we ferve the Lord Chrift. In like manner otherwhere he teaches us to do what we do, not as pleafers of men, (not upon Eph. vi. 6. ' any inferior accounts,) but as fervants of Chrift, knowing and confidering that we have a Master in heaven. But,

III. Doing in another's name imports frequently doing by the appointment and command, or by the commiffion

24.

9.

and authority of another. Ἐν ποίᾳ δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν ποίῳ ὀνό- Αθts iv. 7. pars; By what power and in what name have ye done these things? fay the High Priefts to the Apoftles; that is, who did appoint or authorize you to do thus? Their anfwer was ready; In the name of Jefus, who had fent, com- John v. 36, miffionated, and commanded them to preach and propa 14.xvii. 18. gate that doctrine. And thus we are alfo bound to do all Luke xxiv.

37, 43. xiv.

2 Cor. v.20.

2 Theff. iii.

6.

SERM. things in the name of Jefus, regulating all our actions by XXXIII. his law; conforming our whole lives to his will; acting, not only out of good principles, (principles of love and 1 Cor.vi.11. conscience,) but according to right rules; the rules of his word and example, which he hath declared and prescribed to us: for what is done befide his warrant and will cannot be rightly esteemed done in his name; will not as so be avowed or accepted by him; no unjust or impious action John xvi. 2. will he upon any terms countenance or patronize. It was once a famous saying, All mischief begins in nomine Domini; and much furely, more than one way, hath been done under the like notion or pretence: but this will not serve to excuse the doing of that, in the day of final reckMatt. vii. oning for our actions. For there will be many, we are

22.

26.

taught, that shall in that day, by Specious profeffions of having done this or that in Chrift's name, veil their tranfgreffions and their neglects of duty, faying, Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name prophefied, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful things? who yet, our Lord himself affures us, fhall have this reply made Luke xiii. to them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. There will be those that shall claim acquaintance with Christ in fuch terms: Lord, we have eaten and drank before thee; and thou haft taught in our fireets; whom yet our Lord will disclaim with a, Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. It is not, we fee, prophefying in Christ's name, (or preaching about him,) nor frequent attendance upon those who do so, nor speaking much or hearing much concerning him; it is not having great gifts or endowments conferred by Christ, (not even fo great as that of working miracles;) it is not familiar converse with Christ, or making frequent addreffes to him, that can fanctify all a man's actions, or fo entitle them to the name of Chrift, as to fecure his perfon from being difavowed and rejected by Chrift; it is only the conforming all our actions to his holy laws, that can affure us to be acknowledged and accepted by him. This I could wish they would confider, who feem, by fuch pretences, to commend or excuse their actions, although otherwise irregular and plainly

contrary to the laws of Chrift; fuch as thofe of being SERM. meek and charitable toward all men; living peaceably XXXIII. ourselves, and endeavouring to promote peace among others; abstaining from rash and hard cenfures, from reviling and defaming others; paying reverence and obedience to fuperiors; and the like laws of Chrift, not only exprefs and manifeft, but even of the highest rank and confequence among them; being mainly conducing to that which our Lord especially tenders, the public welfare and benefit of mankind; the violation whereof cannot be juftified by pretending any fpecial regard whatever to Chrift, or any collateral performances done, whether truly or feemingly, in his name. We do but deceive ourselves, if we conceit, that, because we think much, or speak much of Jefus, or have a zeal for fomething good, all our actions are done in his name: no, it only can be justly impreffed upon, can warrant and fanctify actions truly good and agreeable to his law; it were an abuse and forgery to do it, like ftamping the king's name or image on counterfeit metal; upon brass or tin, instead of gold or filver. Good intention and good principles are indeed, as it were, the form and foul of good actions; but their being just and lawful are the body and matter of them; neceffarily also concurring to their effence and integrity; they cannot fubfift without it, but muft pafs, as it were, for ghofts and fhadows. We are therefore concerned in all our doings to have an especial regard to Chrift's law as their rule; that will render them capable of Christ's name, and denominate them Chriftian.

IV. Hereto we may add, that what we do in imitation of Jefus, and in conformity to his practice, (that living rule and copy proposed to us,) we may be faid peculiarly to do in his name. As a picture useth to bear his name, whom it was made to reprefent, and whom it resembles; fo if we fet Chrift's example before us, and endeavour to transcribe it; if our life, in the principal lineaments of fanctity and goodness, do resemble his holy life; they may well bear his name. But if our practice be unlike and unfuitable to his, we cannot affix his name thereto with

SERM. out great prefumption and abufe; fuch as would be comXXXIII. mitted, if to a draught of foul hue and ugly features, we

fhould attribute the name of fome moft handsome and

goodly perfon, of high worth and quality. To do thus in Jefus's name (with fuch a regard to him) is a duty often prescribed to us, not only as relating to fome cases and actions, (as when his charity, his patience, his humility, his meekness, are fignally commended to our imitation,) Eph.v. 1, 2. but generally, He, that faith he abideth in him, ought as he walked, fo himself alfo to walk; that is, whoever profeffes 12, 13, 14. himself a Christian ought to conform the whole tenor of John xiii. his conversation to that of Jefus; to endeavour in every imitable perfection to resemble him. So that whenever 1 Pet. ii. 21. we undertake any action, we should do well to look upon 1 John ii. 6. this pattern; thus, as it were, examining and inquiring of

1 Cor. x. 1.

John xv.

Heb. xii. 2.

15.

Phil. ii. 5.

'Ev Tv

ματι. LXX.

Pfal. xliv.

ourfelves: What did my Master in this or the like case? Do I do the fame thing, do I act from the fame principles, do I proceed in the fame manner as he did? Am I herein his difciple and follower? If so, in his name let me go on cheerfully; if not, let me forbear. Doing thus will not be only according to our duty, but an especial help and furtherance of good practice.

V. To do in another's name doth fometimes import doing by any power derived or virtue imparted by another; for that a thing fo done may be imputed, should be afcribed to that other. So, Through thee, faith the Pfalmift, will we push down our enemies; in thy name will we throw down thofe that hate us: (through thee and in thy name fignify the fame thing.) So did the Apostles caft 22. out devils, and perform their other miracles, in Jefus's Acts iii. 6. name, (dià te óvóμatos, by his name, it is fometime exJohn xvii. preffed,) that is, by a divine virtue imparted from him.

5. lxxxix.

24.

Matt. vii.

Markix.38.

iv. 10, 30.

し

11. To this I add another acception, scarce different (at least as to our purpose) from that, according to which doing in another's name fignifies doing it in truft, or confidence reposed upon another, with expectation of aid, or hope of 2 Chron. good fuccess from another. So, We reft on thee, faid good king Asa, and in thy name we go against this multitude; in thy name, that is, hoping for affiftance and

xiv. 11.