together, both to unfold and to inculcate the several respective branches of this duty: yet first of all rejecting one or two, which cannot well be applied to this purpose.

To do in another's name, doth sometime denote the assuming another's person, or pretending to be the same with him, the very He. So, many shall come in my name,' prophesied our Saviour, saying, I am Christ' to do thus in Jesus's name, is the part of an Antichrist and an impostor. sense therefore hath nothing to do here.

That

Again; to do in another's name, doth often imply doing alterius loco, or vice; in another's name or stead, as a deputy or substitute; representing the person, or supplying the office of another. So did the prophets'come, and speak in God's name;' what they declared or enjoined, being therefore said to be declared and enjoined by God himself: I spake unto you, rising up early, and speaking,' (viz. by the prophets, whom he sent, and who are said to come and speak in his name.) And thus the Apostles spake in Christ's name: We are ambassadors for Christ; we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled.' Thus also princes govern, and magistrates execute justice in God's name; whence they are styled gods, as being his lieutenants, administering that judgment which belongs originally and principally to him. Now for this sense, neither is it so proper, or convenient here; it agreeing only to some particular persons, and to some peculiar actions of them; insomuch that others presuming to act, according to that manner or kind, in Jesus's name, shall thereby become usurpers and deceivers. We (and to us all this precept is directed) shall heinously transgress our duty, doing any thing thus in his name, without his letters of credence; without being specially called or sent, or being duly by him authorised thereto.

These and such like senses the present matter doth not well admit the rest that suit thereto I shall with some distinction in order represent.

I. To do in another's name sometime doth signify to do it out of affection or honor to another; for another's sake, because we love or esteem him; ev т óvóμart being equivalent to ἕνεκα τοῦ ὀνόματος, and διὰ τὸ ὄνομα. Thus it is said, “ Who soever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name; be

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cause ye are Christ's, (is added by way of interpretation, that is, out of respect to Christ, because of your relation to him,) shall not lose his reward.' And thus surely we ought to do every thing in Jesus's name: all our actions ought to proceed from a principle of grateful love and reverence towards our gracious Redeemer. Let all your actions be done in charity,' saith the Apostle; if in charity to our neighbor, then much more in love to him, for whose sake we are especially bound to love our neighbor. On any undertaking, or applying ourselves to action, we should so reflect thereon, as to consider whether that we are going about be apt to please him, and conducible to his honor; if so, remembering what he hath done and suffered for us, (what excellent blessings he hath purchased for us, what exceeding benefits he hath conferred on us,) we should, out of love and respect to him, readily peform it; but if it otherwise appear displeasing or dishonorable to him, we should, from the same 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 represents 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 themselves, but to him that died and rose for them :' the love of Christ, begot and maintained by a consideration of his great benefits conferred on him, was the spring that set St. Paul on work, that excited and urged him forward to action. Thus doing, we shall do in Jesus's name; but if we act out of love to ourselves, (to promote our own interests, to gratify our own desires, to procure credit or praise to ourselves,) we act only in our own names, and for our own sakes; not in the name, or for the sake of Jesus.

II. To do in another's name implies doing, chiefly, for the interest or advantage of another, on another's behalf or account, as the servants or factors of another. For, when the business is another's, and the fruit or benefit emergent belong to another, he that prosecutes that business may well be, and is commonly, supposed to act in that other's name. Thus our Saviour is in St. John's Gospel expressed to come, to speak, to act in God's name; because he did God's business, ('the work which God gave him to accomplish,') and entirely sought the

glory of God,' as he there himself often avouches and professes. And thus, in imitation of him, ought we also to do all things in his name; remembering that we are not our own men, but the servants of Jesus,' (servants to him not only by nature, as to our Maker and Preserver, but by purchase, as to our Redeemer, who bought us with the greatest price; and by compact also, we having freely undertaken his service, and expecting wages from him,) that we have therefore no business or employment properly our own, but that all our business is (or should be) to serve him, and promote his glory; Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of our Lord.' Whatever, I say, we do, we therefore should perform it with this formal reference, as it were, toward Jesus, as his servants, from conscience of the duty we owe to him; with intention therein to serve him; in expectation of reward only from him. So doth St. Paul (in prosecution of this same precept) beneath in this chapter enjoin us, that whatever we do, we perform it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing (or considering) that from the Lord we shall receive the recompense of the inheritance; for that we serve the Lord Christ.' In like manner otherwhere he teaches us to do what we do, not as pleasers of men, (not on any inferior accounts,) but as servants of Christ, knowing and considering 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 commission and authority of another. Εν ποίᾳ δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν ποίῳ ὀνόματι ; By what power and in what name have ye done these things?' say the high priests to the Apostles; that is, who did appoint or authorise you to do this? Their answer was ready: In the name of Jesus,' who had sent, commissionated, and commanded them to preach and propagate that doctrine. And thus we are also bound to do all things in the name of Jesus, regulating all our actions by his law; conforming our whole lives to his will ; acting not only out of good principles, (principles of love and 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 beside his warrant and will cannot be rightly esteemed done in his name; will not as so be avowed or ac

cepted by him; no unjust or impious action will he on any terms countenance or patronise. It was once a famous saying, All mischief begins in nomine Domini; and much surely, 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 reckoning for our actions. For 'there will be many,' we are taught, that shall in that day, by specious professions of having done this or that in Christ's name,' veil their transgressions and their neglects of duty, ́ saying, Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name prophesied, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful things?' who yet, our Lord himself assures us, shall have this reply made to them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.' There will be those that shall claim acquaintance with Christ in such terms: Lord, we have eaten and drank before thee; and thou hast taught in our streets;' whom yet our Lord will disclaim with a, ‹ Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.' It is not, we see, prophesying in Christ's name, (or preaching about him,) nor frequent attendance on 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 so great as that of working miracles ;) it is not familiar converse with Christ, or making frequent addresses to him, that can sanctify all a man's actions, or so entitle them to the name of Christ, as to secure his person from being disavowed and rejected by Christ; it is only the conforming all our actions to his holy laws, that can assure us to be acknowleged and accepted by him. This I could wish they would consider, who seem, by such pretences, to commend or excuse their actions, although otherwise irregular and plainly contrary to the laws of Christ; such as those of being meek and charitable toward all men; living peaceably ourselves, and endeavoring to promote peace among others; abstaining from rash and hard censures, from reviling and defaming others; paying reverence and obedience to superiors; and the like laws of Christ, not only express and manifest, but even of the highest rank and consequence among them; being mainly conducing to that which our Lord especially tenders, the public welfare and benefit of mankind; the

violation whereof cannot be justified by pretending any special regard whatever to Christ, or any collateral performances done, whether truly or seemingly, in his name. We do but

deceive ourselves, if we conceit that, because we think much, or speak much of Jesus, or have a zeal for something good, all our actions are done in his name: no, it only can be justly impressed on, can warrant and sanctify actions truly good and agreeable to his law; it were an abuse and forgery to do it, like stamping the king's name or image on counterfeit metal; on brass or tin, instead of gold or silver. Good intention and good principles are indeed, as it were, the form and soul of good actions; but their being just and lawful are the body and matter of them; necessarily also concurring to their essence and integrity; they cannot subsist without it, but must pass, as it were, for ghosts and shadows. We are therefore coneerned in all our doings to have an especial regard to Christ's law as their rule; that will render them capable of Christ's name, and denominate them Christian.

IV. Hereto we may add that what we do in imitation of Jesus, and in conformity to his practice, (that living rule and copy proposed to us,) we may be said peculiarly to do in his name. As a picture useth to bear his name, whom it was made to represent, and whom it resembles; so if we set Christ's example before us, and endeavor to transcribe it; if our life, in the principal lineaments of sanctity and goodness, do resemble his holy life; they may well bear his name. But if our practice be unlike and unsuitable to his, we cannot affix his name thereto without great presumption and abuse; such as would be committed, if to a draught of foul hue and ugly features we should attribute the name of some most handsome and goodly person, of high worth and quality. To do thus in Jesus's name (with such a regard to him) is a duty often precribed to us, not only as relating to some cases and actions, (as when his charity, his patience, his humility, his meekness, are signally commended to our imitation,) but generally, he, that saith he abideth in him, ought as he walked, so himself also to walk;' that is, whoever professes himself a Christian ought to conform the whole tenor of his conversation to that of Jesus; to endeavor in every imitable perfection to resemble