might somewhat restrain their boldness, and nourish a reverent affection towards the house of Gode. For which cause, when the first house was destroyed, and a new one in the stead thereof erected by the children of Israel after their return from captivity, they kept the dedication even of this house also with joyf.

The argument which our Saviour useth against profaners of the temples, he taketh from the use whereunto it was with solemnity consecrated. And as the prophet Jeremiah forbiddeth the carrying of burdens on the sabbath, because that was a sanctified dayh; so because the temple was a place sanctified, our Lord would not suffer no not the carriage of a vessel through the temple. These two commandments therefore are in the law conjoined, "Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuaryk."

Out of those the apostle's words, "Have ye not houses to eat and drink'?" albeit temples such as now were not then erected for the

f Ezra vi. 16.

e Levit. xvi. 2. g S. Matth. xxi. 13. h Jer. xvii. 24. i Mark xi. 16. k Levit. xxvi. 2. 1 1 Cor. xi. 22.

exercise of the Christian religion, it hath been nevertheless not absurdly conceived that he teacheth what difference should be made between house and house; that what is fit for the dwelling-place of God, and what for man's habitation he sheweth; he requireth that Christian men at their own home take common food, and in the house of the Lord none but that food which is heavenly; he instructeth them, that as in the one place they use to refresh their bodies, so they may in the other learn to seek the nourishment of their souls; and as there they sustain temporal life, so here they would learn to make provision for eternal. Christ could not suffer that the temple should serve for a place of mart, nor the apostle of Christ that the church should be made an inn.

SECTION VI.

OF THE NAMING OF CHURCHES.

TOUCHING the names of angels and saints whereby the most of our churches are called ; as the custom of so naming them is very ancient, so neither was the cause thereof at the first, nor is the use and continuance with us at this present, hurtful. That churches were consecrated unto none but the Lord only, the very general name itself doth sufficiently shew: inas much as church doth signify no other thing than the Lord's house. And because the multitude as of persons so of things particular, causeth variety of proper names to be devised for distinction's sake, founders of churches did herein that which best liked their own conceit at the present time; yet each intending that as oft as those buildings came to be mentioned, the name should put men in mind of some memorable thing or person. Thus therefore it cometh to pass that all churches have

had their names, some as memorials of peace, some of wisdom, some in memory of the Trinity itself, some of Christ under sundry titles, of the blessed Virgin not a few, many of one apostle, saint, or martyr, many of all.

Divers considerations there are, for which Christian churches might first take their names of saints as either because by the ministry of saints it pleased God there to shew some rare effect of his power; or else in regard of death, which those saints having suffered for the testimony of Jesus Christ, did thereby make the places where they died venerable; or thirdly, for that it liked good and virtuous men to give such occasion of mentioning them often, to the end that the naming of their persons might cause enquiry to be made, and meditation to be had of their virtues.

SECTION VII.

OF THE SUMPTUOUSNESS OF CHURCHES.

SOME it highly displeaseth, that so great expences this way are employed. "The mother of such magnificence," they think, "is but only a proud ambitious desire to be spoken of far and wide. Suppose we that God Himself delighteth to dwell sumptuously, or taketh pleasure in chargeable pomp? No; then was the Lord most acceptably served, when His temples were rooms borrowed within the houses of poor men. This was suitable unto the nakedness of Jesus Christ and the simplicity of His gospel."

What thoughts or cogitations they had who were authors of those things, the use and benefit whereof hath descended unto ourselves, as we do not know, so we need not search. It cometh we grant many times to pass, that the works of men being the same, their drifts and purposes therein are divers. The charge of Herod about the temple of God was ambitious, yet Solomon's virtuous, Con

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