Wesley Corpus

Serious Thoughts Concerning Godfathers and Godmothers Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 10 (Zondervan) Author: John Wesley --- 1. IN the ancient Church, when baptism was administered, there were usually two or more sponsors (so Tertullian calls them, an hundred years after the death of St. John) for every person to be baptized. As these were witnesses, before God and the Church, of the solemn engagement those persons then entered into, so they undertook (as the very word implies) to watch over those souls in a peculiar manner, to instruct, admonish, exhort, and build them up in the faith once delivered to the saints. These were considered as a kind of spiritual parents to the baptized, whether they were infants or at man’s estate; and were expected to supply whatever spiritual helps were wanting either through the death or neglect of the natural parents. 2. These have been retained in the Christian Church from the earliest times, as the reason for them was the same in all ages. In our Church they are termed, by a proper and expressive name, godfathers and godmothers. And it is appointed, “that there shall be for every male child to be baptized, two godfathers and one godmother; and for every female, one godfather and two godmothers.” 3. But it is objected against these, (1.) That there is no mention of godfathers and godmothers in Scripture. (2.) That many undertake this without ever considering what they undertake, or once seriously thinking how to perform it. And, (3.) That no serious man would undertake it, because it is impossible to perform it. 4. I answer, First, it is undoubtedly true, godfathers and godmothers are not mentioned in Scripture; and therefore it cannot be said they are absolutely necessary, or that baptism cannot be administered without them. But yet it may be said they are highly expedient; for when they are prudently chosen, they may be of unspeakable use to the persons bap tized, and a great relief and comfort to the parents of them. 5. I answer, Secondly, it is too true that many undertake this solemn office without ever considering what they under take; giddy, ignorant persons, if not openly vicious, who never once seriously think how to perform it. But whose fault is this?