His Fathers name Barachel, signifies in the Hebrew, one whom God hath blessed, or, the blessing of God. The sons name was, my God is the Lord. And the fathers name was, the blessing of God, or, one whom God hath blessed. We may note a piece o• holy devotion in the old fathers in giving significant names to their children. And surely it may be of much use to give our children ⟨p. 12⟩good and significant names, such names as carry a remembrance of duty, or of mercy. When Alexander the Great, met with a common Soldier whose name was Alexander, He said to him, Be sure thou do nothing unworthy the name of Alexander. His name had a great encouragement in it to gallantry in war. And it is noted of Diadumenus, 1that having obtained both the Empire and the name of Antoninus, he said, I will labour all I can, that I may not be injurious to the name of the Anthonines. This should be much more our care and study, where holiness makes the name honourable; John signifieth the grace of God, And, as I remember it is the saying of one of the ancients, concerning a bad man so called, Thy name is John, but thou art not John; thy name signifieth grace, but thou art not gracious. Ambrose said to the virgin Agnes, or Anne, There is chastity in thy name, do not contradict thy name. So Jerome writing to Pammachius, which name, signifieth a fighter against all; Do thou (saith he) fight against all sin, against the Devil, the world, and thy own corruption. The same Author writing to Melecius, which signifies, Honey sweetness, Have thou (saith he) the sweetness of honey in thy manners. And to Probus he writes, Thy name signifieth honesty, Then be thou an honest man. The Apostle exhorts (2 Tim. 2.19.) Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity; It is a great argument, seeing all who profess the Gospel are called Christians, from Christ, that therefore they should adorn that most worthy name by worthy walking. And let me say to all those whose names signify any thing of God, of Grace, or goodness, ye have a good and gracious name, let not your actions be a reproach to God, nor a shame to the profession of his grace. A good heart will make a good use of every thing, and is provoked to have more then a name for that grace or goodness which is in his name, even to be really that which his name is.
His Fathers name Barachel, signifies in the Hebrew, one whom God hath blessed, or, the blessing of God. The sons name was, my God is the Lord. And the fathers name was, the blessing of God, or, one whom God hath blessed. We may note a piece o• holy devotion in the old fathers in giving significant names to their children. And surely it may be of much use to give our children ⟨p. 12⟩good and significant names, such names as carry a remembrance of duty, or of mercy. When Alexander the Great, met with a common Souldier whose name was Alexander, He said to him, Be sure thou doe nothing unworthy the name of Alexander. His name had a great encouragement in it to gallantry in warre. And it is noted of Diadumenus, 1that having obtained both the Empire and the name of Antoninus, he said, I will labour all I can, that I may not be injurious to the name of the Anthonines. This should be much more our care and study, where holinesse makes the name honourable; John signifieth the grace of God, And, as I remember it is the saying of one of the ancients, concerning a bad man so called, Thy name is John, but thou art not John; thy name signifieth grace, but thou art not gracious. Ambrose said to the virgin Agnes, or Anne, There is chastity in thy name, doe not contradict thy name. So Jerome writing to Pammachius, which name, signifieth a fighter against all; Do thou (saith he) fight against all sin, against the Devill, the world, and thy owne corruption. The same Author writing to Melecius, which signifies, Honey sweetness, Have thou (saith he) the sweetnesse of honey in thy manners. And to Probus he writes, Thy name signifieth honesty, Then be thou an honest man. The Apostle exhorts (2 Tim. 2.19.) Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity; It is a great argument, seeing all who professe the Gospel are called Christians, from Christ, that therefore they should adorne that most worthy name by worthy walking. And let me say to all those whose names signifie any thing of God, of Grace, or goodnesse, ye have a good and gracious name, let not your actions be a reproach to God, nor a shame to the profession of his grace. A good heart will make a good use of every thing, and is provoked to have more then a name for that grace or goodnesse which is in his name, even to be really that which his name is.
- 1Ego curabo ne desim nomini Amoninorum.
