Wesley Corpus

I therefore earnestly exhort all who have any concern, either for their own or their children’s souls, at all hazards to procure such persons to be sponsors, as truly fear God. Regard not whether they are rich or poor; and if they are poor, see that it be no expense to them. You will then tear up by the roots one of the most plausible objections which can be made against this primitive custom. 6. For, Thirdly, there is no reason why any truly serious man should scruple to undertake the office. If you suppose 508 THoUGHTs conCERNING GoDFATHERs, &c. godfathers and godmothers undertake what is impossible to perform, you entirely mistake. And your mistake lies here: You think they undertake what they do not. Do not you think the sponsors themselves undertake or promise that the child shall “renounce the devil and all his works, constantly believe God's holy word, and obediently keep his command ments?” Whereas in truth they neither undertake nor promise any such thing. When they answer, “I renounce them all,” “This I steadfastly believe,” “I will” (obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments), they promise nothing at all; they engage for nothing; it is another person that promises all this. Whatever is then promised or undertaken, it is not by them, but by the child. It is his part, not theirs. So the Church tells you expressly: “This infant must for his part promise.” It is he promises in these words, not they. So again: “This child hath promised to renounce the devil, to believe in God, and to serve him.” If it be said, “But why are those questions inserted, which seem to mean what they really do not?” I answer, I did not insert them, and should not be sorry had they not been inserted at all. I believe the compilers of our Liturgy inserted them because they were used in all the ancient Liturgies. And their deep reverence for the primitive Church made them excuse some impropriety of expression. 7. What theri is your part, who are sponsors for the child? This likewise is expressly told you: “It is your part to see that this infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession he hath here made by you.