[ 1393] Men to keep up the credit of their Names.
IT is observed by an ingenious Divine,* 1.1 that the name of Iohn is next to the name of Iesus; It was God that first gave them both, Iohn and Iesus signifying as much as Grace and Salvation; Iohn prepared the way to Iesus, hinting out thus much unto us, that there is no way to Salvation but by Grace, Iohn's name was an honour to him, nor was Iohn a disgrace to his Name, He both was, and was called Gratious; But so it is that many of us (by our bad manners) slander and bely our good Names; We have fair appellations and filthy conditions; Nay, have nothing to betoken us Christians,* 1.2 but the Name: usurping the style where∣of we want the Truth; so contrary are our lives to our callings, and titles of our persons so unlike the works of our Profession. What skilleth it to be called Clement,* 1.3 Urbane, Pius, and yet to be cruell, uncivill, evill? to be called Christian, Prudence, Grace, Faith, and yet to be Unchristian, unwise, ungratious, unbelieving? Let us not therefore be a scandal to our Calling, not a reproach to our own Names, but let us be mindfull of our Vow and duty so oft as our Names are mentioned: and as ready to answer to our Faith as to our Names.