your selves What have I done for their welfare how are the Souls of my Children Servants and lift up an Ejaculation for them Be much in Prayer Give your selves to Prayer Prayer is your Physick your Armoury Ammunition your Antidote against Satan World Flesh This is your way of Trading with God for the richest Commodities for your selves and yours the profit will be yours the glory God's To help you in this work I have writ this Treatise not having seen any directly upon this so needful a Subject and was requested to do something this way Supplement to Morning Exercise at Cripplegate Printed 1676. but after I had compleatly finished this following Work there came to my hands a very Learned and Elaborate Discourse of Mr. Tho. Dâ—olittle's on Josh 24.15 driving this Nail home which may seem to render this Essay needless yet upon these considerations if it be judged convenient I am willing it should receive impression 1. That Excellent Discourse full of Sinewy Arguments may be more suitable to Learned this plain Treatise to Vulgar Capacities being adapted to the common use of Countrey People 2. Both matter and method are far differenâ— as I perceive upon reading and comparing both 3 That Discourse is inserted amongst the Voluminous Books of Morning Lectures this being a small thing by it selâ— is more attainable and portable 4. Possibly this may fall into some hands that the former hath not and may be an Appendix and Supplement to that choice Piece which I do earnestly recommend to the Reader to purchase and peruse and if this my slâ—nder Attempt may provoke any to purchase that and both together may but attain this great end of setting up Family-Worship in the power of it I have my End and shall follow all these Soul-helps with my earnest Prayers that the God of all Grace would pour into your Souls the Spirit of Grace and Supplication make the Members of your Families conscientious in joyning and Governours and Governed Orthodox in Principles sincere in their Spirits holy in their Practices to the Glory of God and good of his Church which is the hearty desire of thy Soul-friend Feb. 2. 1692 3. Oliver Heywood TO THE READER THIS Discourse and that other by Reverend Mr. Newcome on Prov. 25. v. 28. do very opportunely come out together both in reference to one another and to the Time we live in and to that which should be aimed at in all Times the reviving and keeping alive of serious practical Religion but most of all in this Time wherein it so much languishes They that know the Reverend Author of this Work or have perused with desire to profit those pious practical Treatises which he hath formerly Published will think as we do that there is no need of any Letters Commendatory to bespeak thy favourable acceptance of the following Discourse The design of which is to perswade and engage those that are Heads and Governours of Families to take up Joshua's Resolution that whatever others do yet they and their Houses will serve the Lord in daily faithful fervent Prayer with Thanksgiving It is a word in season For 't is a common Complaint and that too by many who are not a little guilty of it themselves That the Power of Godliness the Life of Practical Religion is at this day under a lamentable decay And amongst the many Causes of this decay there is scarcely any that hath been more perniciously influential thereunto than the neglect of Family-Worship of God which is one most proper means to promote Seriousness in Religion Frequent solemn Addresses to God having a tendency to keep God in remembrance and to cause the Apprehensions of God to make the deeper impression and to have the stronger influence upon the hearts of those who have not quite lost all sense of a God or forgotten that they have Souls to save or lose Prayer also being a means of God's appointment to obtain Family Blessings and Mercies as well as Personal and National according to the many Promises which God hath made of Audience and Acceptance of the Prayers that are put up unto him in the Name of Christ with upright hearts To those that sincerely love God and have wisdom to judge of things as they relate to Eternity the Duty commended in this Treatise will appear not only to be a necessary Duty but a precious Priviledge and gracious Vouchsafement For there are two things which do especially render a Christians continuance in the World desirable and comfortable to him the one is that he may acquaint himself with God and enjoy some sweet Communion with him which is a beginning and foretast of Heaven whilst we are here on Earth They that are utter strangers to this have no cause to think that they are as yet made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light The other desirable End or Business of a Christians Life is that he may be serviceable to God by promoting his Glory and Interest in the World especially by furthering the spiritual Good and Salvation of Souls both these do meet together in the conscientious practice of this Duty First Communion with God When the Head and Master of a Family who is as Prophet Priest and Ruler in his Family doth joyntly with his Children and Servants as a little Church of God in his House offer up daily Sacrifice of Prayer Praise and Thanksgiving unto God the Author of their Beings the God of their Lives and the giver of every good gift wherewith their Lives are sweetned And does also receive from him Communications of Grace and Mercy for our bountiful God will never be behind-hand with those that seek him in truth but giveth liberally to them that ask in Faith Secondly Serviceableness unto God in training up his Family in the fear of God God himself bearing witness how greatly acceptable Family-Religiousness is unto him in that high Commendation which he hath recorded of Abraham I know him saith God that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord. 'T is a Duty that is both Work and Wages a Service that carries its Reward with it Reward not of Debt but of Grace it brings a Blessing upon a Family as the Ark did on the House of Obed-Edom when on the contrary dreadful Wrath is imprecated to be poured out upon the Families that call not on the Name of God Jer. 10.25 Reader if thou be one that livest in the daily exercise and due performance of this Duty of Family-Prayer thy own experience of the spiritual Benefits and Advantages of it will enable thee to set to thy Seal to what the God of Truth hath spoken in his Word I never said to the Seed of Jacob Israelites indeed that know how to wrastle with God seek ye my face in vain But if being a Master of a Family thou be a stranger to this duty either through slothfulness multiplicity
Go to Bethel 3. Dwell there 3. The Duty to be done make there an Altar 4. The Reasons to inforce this Duty 1. God's appearing to him 2. His danger fleeing from his Brother Doct. 1. That most of God's manifestations to his People are personal or when they are alone Jacob was alone when he had the Vision of the Ladder Gen. 28.12 when God bids him return to the Land of his Fathers Gen. 31.3 Jacob was left alone when he wrestled with the Angel Hos 2.14 Song 7.11.12 Gen. 32.24 Our Lord invites Souls to solitary recesses where he whispers them in the Ear speaks to their Heart Nunquam mimes solus quata cum folus there usually is a reciprocal giving of Loves It 's good being alone with God Happy Souls that can say with our dear Lord Joh. 16.32 Ye shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me 2. From the Order and Appointment Arise go to Bethel Doct. 2. God alone is the fittest to dispose of Mens Habitations Deut. 32.8 The most High divided to the Nations their Inheritance when he separated the Sons of Adam The great God is the Author of all Topography and Geography as well as Genealogy and Chronology Act. 17.26 He hath made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on the face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed Sicut in castris sua cuique Turmae Dicuriâ—e distincta est statio ita in terra locatos esse homines ut singuli populi suis finibus contenti sint in ipsis populis suum quisque domicilium incolat Calv. in loc and the bounds of their Habitations And as God is the Soveraign Disposer of all so what he doth is in infinite Wisdom as a General of an Army ordering the Troops to their distinct Posts with which all men must be contented Qu. But why doth God bid Jacob here go to Bethel Ans 1. To convince him of his absolute dependance upon God and his duty of Resignation of himself and all he had to God's good pleasure 2. To quiet Jacob's spirit that was at this time full of fears because of the late slaughter of the Shechemites chap. 34.30 3. To secure him and his Family from danger by carrying them to a safer place out of harms way Gen. 28.11 19. Eight German Miles saith Paraeus in loc Bethel being thirty English Miles distant from Schechem Southwards God hath his Pathmos for his Servants in times of danger his Pella for his hidden ones in an Universal Slaughter 4. To put Jacob upon paying his Vows for hitherto he had been slack in making good his promise made at Bethel chap. 28.22 How God speaks of himself in the third person See Par. in loc 3. Here 's the Duty God puts Jacob upon which is to make there an Altar unto God which he must do partly to maintain and promote God's Worship partly to strengthen his Faith against his present fears from the gracious Experiments he had at Bethel Gen. 31.13 Doct. 3. God will be worshipped where ever his People inhabit Mens shifting their Habitation must not divorce them from God and Religion As God is every where present so in every place Incense must be offered to his Name Mal. 1.11 Change of place must not lessen our Piety 4. Here 's the Reason to urge this Duty 1. God's appearing to him there Doct. 4. Former Appearances of God to his Children are Memento's of present Duty Jacob had been nine years in the Countrey and had not returned to Bethel to pay his Vows made there whether 1. That he waited for a 〈◊〉 opportunity to do it solemnly with Tythes or Sacrifices Or 2. Waited for an admonition from God Totus à Divino Nutu pendebat nec dubitabat Dom. illi fignificaturum tempus Yid. Poli Syn. in loc and hoped for God's signifying his mind since he wholly depended on the Divine Appointment Or 3. Whether now his new straits put him in mind of his old straits receits Or 4. Whether this was Jacob's sin to forget and neglect this duty which is most likely that rich Jacob forgets what poor Jacob had vowed Doct. 5. God hath a day and a way to rub up his Peoples memories to perform forgotten duties God tells him there was a day he fled from Esau his Brother Dr. Lightfoot on Gen. thinks God was angry with Jacob for distrusting his promise and sending Esaâ— 500 Cattle which he had vowed the Tythes to the Lord of therefore sough to kill him Observat oâ— Gen. p. 16. and now lets him see the danger he is in of the Canaanites that he may perform old duties before he expects new mercies And indeed new straits revive old guilt Gen. 42.21 Thus much for the first General God's Commission 2. Here 's Jacob's Charge to his Family verse 23. Then Jacob said to his Houshold Wherein Jacob as an Housholder acts the part Of a 1. Prophet 2. Priest 3. King 1. He is as a Prophet to instruct his Family in the mind of God 2. Teaching them their duty 3. His own purpose what he is resolved upon And 4. Communicating to them his own Experience for Argument and Encouragement chap. 2. 1. His Prayer 2. God's Answer in his deliverance and direction verse 3. 2. He acts herein as a Priest in his own house 1. In making an Altar unto God 2. In pouring a Drink-offering thereon and pouring Oil thereon verse 14. 3. He acts the part of a King or Supreme Governour over his own Family which consists 1. In the Command he lays on them 1. To put away strange Gods 2. To be clean 3. To change their Garments 2. In his actual exercises of Jurisdiction Viz. 1. Their compliance ver 4. They gave him the strange Gods and Ear-rings 2. His demolishing or putting them out of their sight he hid them Q. 1. How came idols to be in Jacob 's Family Ans 1. Either those newly taken from the Shechemites amongst other spoils chap. 34.29 which Jacob's Sons might keep not to worship but for their precious matter of Gold Silver 2. Or Jacob's Gentile Servants kept these Images to worship secretly unknown to Jacob. 3. Or they might be maintained and used by Leah or Jacob's two Wives or Concubines Billah and Zilpah or Deborah Nurse to Rebecca for Idolatry was but gradually purged out 4. Why might not these Gods be the Images that his beloved Rachel stole chap. 31.19 They are called Teraphims or Images Laban calls them his Gods v. 30. They were made in the shape of men whom the Heathen adored as subordinate Gods to whom they committed the protection of their Houses with whom they consulted about secret or future things from whom they received delusory and diabolical Answers These Idols Laban worshipt together with the true God which Rachel took as due to her for a Portion or it may be to prevent her Fathers consulting them
do not find that the whole Assembly met every day therefore most probably a Family work and worship 3. Natural Religion prompts to it There is certainly such a thing as the Law and Light of Nature which puts men on to what is morally good and restrains men from or checks them for what is grosly evil Hence the Apostle saith Rom. 2.14 15. The Gentiles do by Nature some things materially good and natural Conscience accuseth or excuseth So he appealeth to Nature as an Argument à Fortiori 1 Cor. 11.14 Doth not even Nature it self teach you Whence these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common in workings proceed I dispute not whether from some Relicks of Gods Image in Man which some censure as â—elagianism or they be superinduced by God since the fall for the benefit of mankind See Mr. Gepel of Temptation But doubtless such notions there are as that there is a God a Supreme Being that he is to be feared loved worshiped And that not only Singly but Socially in Families as well as alone or in greater Assemblies hence besides their National and City-Gods they had their Lares and Penates their Houshold Gods tho' alas they were but Dumb Idols From them it may be Idolatrous Micah had an House of Gods Judg. 17.5 And shall poor dim-sighted Heathens think it highly rational to have Dung hill Gods in their houses and shall not men professing the true Religion of the true God own their Omnipresent God by setting up an Altar to him in their houses the Prophet speaks peremptorily Mic. 4.5 All People will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Is there not much more reason and should not such as own the true God run parallel to these poor Idolaters in Acting for and Worshiping of the true God Shall Nature teach them to have more care of their Children than Christians in Gods way Yea shall even the Sea Monsters Lam. 4.3 draw out their Breasts and give Suck to their young ones And shall Christians be so cruel to the Souls of theirs as to neglect this Houshold Duty 4. The Prophecies and Promises of the Word imply this Family-Worship Jer. 31.1 At the same time saith the Lord will I be the God of all the Families of Israel and they shall be my People Whether this mean all the twelve Tribes or Judah only it 's a Gospel-Promise and implies Worship For relation to God infers Adoration of him Mat. 4.10 Putatis nos occulâ—â—re quod câ—limus si delubra aras non habemus eum sit litabilis hostia bonuâ— animus pura mens ut sincera conscientia haec nostra Sacrificial ac Dei sacra sunt sic apud nos Religiosin est 〈◊〉 qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—inucia â—â—â—cis Octavius Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and this in Families not only larger but lesser Holiness to the Lord is not only to be written on the Bells of the Horses but the Pots in the Lord's house shall be like the Bowls before the Altar i. e. their very Kitchin-stuff and common Utensils shall be reckoned as holy as Altar-vessels immediately imployed in Sacrifices Yea further every Pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness to the Lord of Hosts Zech. 14.20 21. The Persons and Utensils in private shall all be dedicated to God and accepted by him in Gospel-times Civilities shall savour of Sanctity These New-Testament Priests shall without scruple serve God in their houses Every Family shall be a Temple wherein God will be woshipped House-pots shall be holy Vessels This is meant of Gentile Worshippers verse 16. And Jews shall not be behind them Zech. 12.12 13 14. The Land shall mourn every Family apart Heb. Families Families Royal Family Sacerdotal Tribe and common People they shall mourn apart and shut up themselves apart from company and pleasures to exercise godly sorrow vent their spirits in repenting prayers and mournful groans for their barbarous Crucifying the Prince of Life This some from all places did at Jerusalem Act. 2. and more shall do it the day of their general Call and Conversion to God 5. The Servants of God have Practised it You can scaace name a Religious Housholder but he hath set up an Altar in his Family and offered Spiritual Sacrifices thereupon Joshua a Noble Warriour resolves upon this chap. 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord let others do as they dare answer it another day I with my Children and Servants must and will worship the Lord Worshipping God is serving him Psal 72.11 All Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him i. e. Zeph. 3.9 by calling on God in prayer Doubtless Joshua did this David a great King in the midst of Political and Ecclesiastical Imployments withdraws himself from all and returned to bless his House 2 Sam. 6.20 1 Chron. 16.43 which could be no other way but by prayer and praising God for and with his Family Publick occasions must not justle out this Family-worship Job rose up early in the Morning offered Burnt-Offerings sanctified the Members of his Family and lest it be thought that this was but occasional and accidental the Text saith Thus did Job continually chap. 1. 5. And good Expositors think Daniel's going into his House Dan. 6.10 and his Windows being open in his Chamber or Dining room his usual Oratory he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed this they judge to be Family-prayer being so obvious and discernable by his Adversaries However that devout Captain Cornelius that feared God with all his house prayed to God with his Family Act. 10.2 which he explains saying Nec omittenda est circumstantia quod familiam in Dei timore insti tuit contempto periculi metu quod inde inst abat valde enim exosa erat Judaica Religio nec impunâ— erat Civi Romano peregrinam ut vocabant Religionem suscipere Quare et si hodiè pessime in mundo audit sincera Evangelii pâ—oâ—â—ssio tamen nimis vitiosa est timiditas si quem impediat injustum isâ—ad caâ—â—â— ne suam familiam Deo audeat in Sacrificium suâ piâ Institutione assâ—re Vid. Calv. in Act. 10.2 I prayed in my house verse 30. Calvin notes That Cornelius instructs his Family in the fear of God contemning the fear of danger for the Jewish Religion was then hateful nor might a Roman espouse a strange Religion wherefore although the sincere Profession of the Gospel is much decayed in the World yet that fearfulness is too criminal if upon the account of that unjust hatred any one should not dare to dedicate or offer up his Family as a Sacrifice to God by a holy Institution Thus Calvin 6. Argument for Family-Altar is the Providence of God calls for it God setteth the solitary in Families Psal 68.6 There is certainly a signal
a Prophecy as well as a Prayer Jer 10 25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not on thy name It 's a dreadful Prediction 1. For the wrath threatned not ordinary but fury anger boyled up to the highest degree of revenge anger and fury are sometimes joyned Jer. 7.20 Ezek. 8.18 and when God deals in fury his eyes spare not neither hath he pity This is dreadful But 2. Here 's the measure of it Pour out thy fury this notes plenty abundance variety of sore Judgments not one or two but multitudes of Plagues like drops in a Shower or as Flood-gates opened as a general Inundation spreading it self universally poured out on Children Jer. 6.11 young Men Husband and Wife aged with him that is full of days Isa 34.2 Oh what would become of England if this fury were as universal as the neglect of this family-family-duty Descensus à â—ummis in â—imum and this fury is irresistible it 's like a descent from above which can no more be stopped and avoided than the Showers of Rain There is no stopping these Cataracts of Heaven no quenching this fire of fierce wrath against irreligious Families when the Lord renders his anger with fury Isa 66.15 and his rebuke with flames of fire 3. But what is all this for what meaneth the heat of this great anger is it for Idolatry Murder Drunkenness Blasphemy or for some horrible hainous crimes no it 's for sins of omission not knowing God not calling on God's Name O miserable families where Religion is not exercised there these threatnings must be executed Object But we see no such thing prayerless families flourish live bravely have all things at command Job 21.7 13. prosper more than others their houses are safe from fear neither is the Rod of God upon them I must confess this promiscuous dispensing of outward Providences that wickedness is prosperous holiness oppressed hath been an offence to the godly and an hardening to the wicked And David himself was puzzled with it Psal 73.17 till he went into the Sanctuary then he understood their End and God's End in this Deut. 32.35 Rom. 9.22 But I answer 1. Forbearance is no acquittance a Reprieve is no Pardon Their foot shall slide in due time God bears long with sinners for wise ends till the Vessels of Wrath be fitted for destruction God will be in some mens debt till another World They shall have their good things here Luk. 16.25 and torments hereafter A wise man will chuse his Heaven hereafter though he have an Hell here 2. Yet this Curse and wrath upon wicked persons and prayerless families is secret and invisible even in outwards Hag. 16. Mat. 22. they may sow much and bring in little eat and not have enough Yea God curseth even the Blessings of such as worship not God however they have not a Covenant-right to what they do enjoy it is not sanctified to them for their good 1 Tim. 4.5 for the Creature is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer but prayerless families have no outward comforts thus sanctified Besides the saddest invisible Curse is upon their Souls and Spirits a blind mind hard heart a seared conscience and a spirit of slumber are the greatest Judgments and Fruits of God's heaviest fury Rom. 1.26 28. 2 Thes 2.10 11. Psal 81.11 12. It 's a dreadful thing when a Lord have mercy on them is writ upon mens Doors and they cannot read it will not believe it or lay it to heart Isa 42.24 25. This is next to Pharaoh's Plague and next door to Hell They that will not heed now must feel this fury and in the latter days shall consider it perfectly Read Jer. 23.19 20. Deut. 29.19 20. Thus much for the Reasons to prove erecting Family-Altars for God's Worship an important duty The Command of God Scripture-Types Natural Religion Promises Prophecies Scripture-Examples Divine Providence discriminating Character their being Christian Churches Governours charge and account daily necessities of Families God's Blessing on praying-families his Curse and Wrath upon prayerless families Chap. IV. Objections proposed and answered that militate against Family-Altars BUT there is no Truth so plain no Duty so good but Satan can furnish a witty head and wicked heart with plausible Arguments against it And it 's strange if men have not something to say against this Duty that apparently tends to undermine Satan's Kingdom Object 1. Had Family-prayer been a Duty we had found it expresly commanded in Scripture but we find it not in any express Precept Ans 1. Where find you Infant-Baptism expresly commanded in the N. Teftam yet it is plain by necessary consequence so is this Circumcision was commanded there 's the like Reason for Baptism both are plain to all but perverse spirits I hinted before that proper consequence is strong Argument 2. Let not proud Reason dictate to the wise God how he must speak General Rules laid down in Scripture are to be applied to particular Cases by Nature and Reason in several circumstances If God say Men must provide for their families he leaves it to their discretion what kind of Meat Cloaths Lodging Callings they provide God bids us pray without ceasing in all places all manner of prayer and leaves it to prudence for particular places times words company so that it answer the main End of God's Glory Communion with himself and Edification Let not captious Wits pick quarrels to evacuate the substance of a Duty because the circumstance is not exprest God gives Laws to Rational Creatures and indulgeth us so far as to leave us to our liberty in mutable circumstances except expresly prescribed Object 2. Jesus Christ prayed not with his family yet he is the best Pattern if he had prayed with them constantly they would have learned from him but they want to be taught Luk. 11.1 Ans 1. Christ's case and ours are far different what was suitable to his Disciples was not proper to him he needed not for himself to confess sin ask forgiveness beg mortification increase of grace assurance so that it was not necessary that he should ordinarily be their mouth 2. Yet Scripture-silence is no good Argument And their desire of instruction in Prayer is no good Argument he Prayed not with them for Prayer is a Personal Duty And our Lord could not be always with them And yet we find our Lord did occasionally Pray with his Family In Gratitude Mat. 11.25 26. In working Miracles Mat. 14.19 In the Holy Supper Luke 22.19 And that large and last Prayer uttered with his Disciples John 17. In all which he spake what was proper to him as God-Man and our Mediator and herein he is an excellent pattern to all Housholders Object 3. The Sacrifice of the wicked and so his Prayer is abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 How can you then put them on Praying when most are bad
Jury to try them but if they be praying persons they are Hypocrites as if Piety were a note of Hypocrisie The Lord rebuke thee oh Diabolist judge charitably till you know the truth you may wrong them as Primitive Christians were 2. Suppose they do miss and miscarry alas they are but men Thus the Angel excused honest Joshua when Satan accused him Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire Zech. 3.13 Alas he smells of Babylon too much but may not these be upright for the main and how will God take it if you slander his Children But suppose it be true that they are faulty doth their Religion teach them so Is this the fault of their praying or not praying aright Is it because they are too religious or defective in it No say you they are Hypocrites and if they prove so that are so devout what will become of you 1 Pet. 4.18 that are so far short of them If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall you appear Object 9. We pray in publick and secret is not that sufficient what needs family-prayer too surely God never required so much a-do Ans 1. One duty cannot supersede another These are distinct circumstances of performing the same duty Religion must be carried on in all places relations 1 Pet. 3.7 Husband and Wife must pray together yea and Neighbours must call to each other and say Come come let us go speedily to pray before the Lord Zech. 8.21 Think not then to put off God with one sort of Religiousness but you must be holy in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1 15◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in every turn turn you which way you will to your general or particular Calling to a single or married state to solitariness or company you must still take your Religion with you and practise it as a Member of Church or Family 2. It 's very suspicious whether those worship God sincerely in publick or at all in their Closets that worship not God in and with their families It was the saying of Lactantius non est vera Religio quae cum Templo relinquitur that 's no true Religion which men leave behind them at Church Men may make a shift to serve God as others do at Church for vain-glory or ostentation and pretend secret prayer meerly for an evasion but family-prayer will try whether they worship God sincerely or no Men see the former but know not the latter Object 10. None of my Neighbours use it if I pray in my family I shall be singular Ans 1. Wouldst thou chuse rather to follow a multitude in evil to Hell Exod. 23.2 than travel with a few to Heaven Our Lord saith What do you more than others Mat. 5.47 Or what singular thing do you Are you content to fare as the most fare Will you rush with the Herd into the deep and be damned for company Is that good-fellowship that ends in the sad reckoning another day Christ's Flock is a little Flock But read Matth. 7. 13 14. and consider whether you 'll chuse 2. If you have not the greater you have the better company to travel with Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the holy Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Ministers Confessors Christians they have all travelled in this Road Psal 32.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee Methinks you should rather chuse to be Companions of the excellent Psal 16.8 Mal. 3.14 17. whom God will own when he makes up his Jewels than those Atheists that say It is in vain to serve God Object 11. But I know some strict Professors that use not to pray in their families nay that plead against it Ans 1. That 's no part or property of their goodness I deny not but some godly persons may for a season live in the omission of some duties either through want of information or their own sloth or through false Teachers and the power of delusion yet this is a temptation but free grace will recover them and the new Nature within them will incline them to own their duty when they are convinced of it and when they come to themselves 2. Yet some Professors seem good that are not so they may have a name to live Rev. 3.1 and yet be dead all 's not Gold that glisters men may have the face but not the frame or heart of Christians Gal. 6.12 How many make a fair shew in the flesh and account themselves the only Saints and are so esteemed by others that are not owned by the Lord The complexion of a Saint is one thing but the constitution of a Child of God is another Some Notionists spread their sails and think themselves wronged if they be not called the godly Party but herein they are proved rotten by casting off some precious truths and necessary duties imitate such at your peril Psal 119.6 a sincere Saint hath respect to all God's Commandments Object 12. We have scoffers in our families that will withdraw and not joyn but jear it may be a Son or Wife will be doing something else that while and this will breed confusion and do hurt Ans 1. But who is Master thou or they If thou hast lost thy governing power be ashamed of it and resume thy Authority Whose Cause dost thou manage God's or the Devil's If the Cause be God's in the name and strength of God own it and he will stand by thee fear not Man in the way of duty It was thy carelesness to joyn thy self to an untamed Heifer or admit an unruly Servant into thy family add not Rebellion to that sin be humbled and reform 2. Had never any of God's Children profane wretches in their family Abraham had a persecuting Ishmael Isaac a profane Esau David a scoffing Michal what did they did they give over praying no they prayed more fervently Gen. 17.18 2 Sam. 6.20 21 22. Oh that Ishmael may live in thy sight David was so far from ceasing his Devotion that Michal's scornes were as Oyl to inflame his Zeal I will yet saith he be more vile than thus and will be base in mine own sight if they account it sordid baseness I account it my chiefest honour to humble my self before the Lord And what think you is a total omission or vigorous performance of family-duty more likely to win and work upon your carnal scornful Relations I am sure a laborious charity is better than contemptuous withdrawing and is usually blessed with success however it 's a mean to set order Object 13. I am bashful modest and of weak gifts and cannot fashion to pray before others I shall but bewray my ignorance Ans 1. Canst thou take upon thee in other Cases and not in this Who commands thy Servants to work or who instructs them in their Calling or chides them when they displease thee they shall hear from thee if they miss it and canst thou not speak
Rom. 12.11 But do your best in every Duty Be you fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Be in good earnest as if this were the last prayer you were to put up Muster up all your Forces excite your Graces rouze your Affections to and in the work then you 'll pray better and better 5. Take a fit season for Family-Worship it 's a great fault to put off Family-prayer till the last thing you do it will not be so seasonable to go down upon your knees when you are fitter to ly down in your Beds Our Lord saith of his sleeping Disciples the Spirit indeed is willing but the Flesh is weak Mat. 26.41 but alas some in your Families that have not a willing Spirit and would rather be at rest than wrestling with God Eutichus might be a Godly man Act 20 9. yet being at an unseasonable hour he dropt asleep which Calvin saith Quid mirum si nocte intempâ—â— cum Soâ—â—o â—â—latus â—â—â—dem Succâ—buit Calv. in loc might be in some sort excusable for it s no wonder if having struggl'd against sleep at such an unseasonable time at length he was overcome he concludes he had not compos'd himself to sleep because he chose an unfit place to sleep in being in a Window and it must be ascribed more to natural Infirmity than willful fault but by this instance Governours must learn to take fit times for Family-Worship not when Children and Servants are tired out with working if it be attainable go to prayers before Supper when your Spirits are most brisk and lively drowzy Devotion brings guilt on the person and Family especially if it be through imprudent Management a fit time for Duty Morning and Evening when the Family Comes together to their Stated Meals 6. Let Family-Worship be performed when other Worldly business can be best laid aside One thing is needfull Luk. 10.42 take heed of incumbring your selves with the many things of the World I hope I need not bid you order the members of your Family to lay hands off all other Works but you must endeavour that if possible their hearts be also taken off all other Imployments 1 Cor. 7.35 that they may attend upon the Lord without distraction not that Governours can pretend to govern the inward man but that they may so dispatch and dispose of Worldly concerns under their cognizance as to leave both themselves and Families as little occasion of diversion as may be therefore must you take such times for Religious Excercise wherein you may be freest from business Pro. 18.1 Solomon saith Through desire a man having separated himself seeketh and intermedleth with all Wisdom Mans mind is but Finite and cannot be intent on several things at once you must mind Religion in your Earthly business but if you mingle Earthly business with your Religious Dutys you marre all 7. Be short and serious Be not ordinarily long lest you be judged tedious Consider the infirmities of Children and some Family occasions and conveniences Weaklings of the Flock must not be over driven lest they faint or tire in the way Children and Servants have but a measure of affection especially if yet Carnal They will soon be ready to say Mal. 1.13 Amos 8.5 Behold what a weariness is it and when will the Duty be over Yea and perhaps will fall asleep or seek Diversions or take occasion to be absent Not but that 't is their fault but you may give them occasion Yet though you may be short you must be serious run not over Duties cursorily or in post hast as a task and longing for a Period You must be warm and lively Our Lords Prayer was short but pithy and full of affection Mat. 26.39 O my Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt It is not length of speaking but strength of affection that God looks at Yet a longer Prayer is not unlawful upon some special occasion or upon more than ordinary inlargement of affections But what I now say is in a stated course of Family Duty 's Be short Succinct Distinct Methodical and Pathetical in your Devotions 8. Let not guilt stop your Mouths If you have in the intervals of Duty slipt into any Sin Oh! Be sure to get it off before you wait on God in your Families Retire into a corner confess thy sin bewail it act Faith on the Mediator for Pardon Yea suffer not guilt in thy Family let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles for then thou shalt lift up thy face without spot Job 11.14 15. If thou indulge sin in thy self or in thy Family Conscience will stare in thy face and weaken thy confidence in thy Approaches to God Guilt had shut Davids Lips till it was Pardoned therefore he Prays O Lord open thou my Lips Psal 51.15 An unsuitable Carriage provokes God to withdraw Assistance Then what can you do And as guilt stops your Mouths so it opens the Mouths of others They will be ready to say it 's no matter of your praying except you practised better Your Servants and Children will be ready to despise you and withdraw from you and so breed Confusion in your Family which will hinder Prayer But if your Lives speak for God as well as your Lips you may say as David Psal 119.42 v. 43. So shall I have to answer him that Reproacheth me for I trust in thy Word Then you may hope he will not take the word of Truth out of your Mouth Let there be a sweet Harmony betwixt your Professions Prayers and Practices and then God will hear you Men will own you and your own Consciences will witness for you 9. Familiarize Holy Discourses with your Families and put the Members thereof upon Secret Duties If your Relations never hear a word of God or Religion in intervals of Family Exercise that Duty will be strange to them and they will but judge it as a formal round and your selves will have less Heart to the work If God be not in your thoughts all the day Psal 10.4 Impius hoc loco nomen collectivum est utque enim de una tantum persona loquitur sed indifinite de omnibus Talis est hominum natura quando destituitur gubernatore Deo Moller in hoc you will but coldly Pray at Night nay it 's well if you be not like those wicked Men that through the Pride of their Countenance will not seek after God Why so The Text saith God is not in all his thoughts or as it is in the Margent all his thoughts are there is no God Wicked here is a Collective word for he speaks not only of one person but indefinitely of all saith a good Interpreter for such is the Nature of Man when he is Destitute of God to govern him And if God be not in your thoughts he will not be in your words for out of the
of business or prejudice and disaffection to the Duty the Reverend Author hath said enough to convince thee that it is thy Duty and if convinced hereof thou wilt continue in the wilful neglect of thy known duty thou dost in effect say with those in Jer. 44 16. As for the Word which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee What an aggravation will this be of thy sin For to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Jam. 4.17 i. e. exceeding sinful and also of thy punishment for that Servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12.47 That the one and the other may be prevented and thou mayest be prevailed with conscientiously to practise this Duty is the design of this Treatise and the hearty desire of Thine in the Lord John Starkey Thine in the Lord John Howe THE CONTENTS CHap. I. The Text opened Doctrines raised Chap. II. Shewing what is meant by Family-Altars and what 's required of Housholders Chap. III. Arguments to prove that Governours of Families must set up Altars for the Worship of God Chap. IV. Objections proposed and answered that militate against Family-Altars Chap. V. An use of Conviction Lamentation over Prayerless-Families Chap. VI. Motives to persuade Governours of Families to set up Altars to God for his Solemn Worship Chap. VII Directions how to set up an Altar in Families and how to manage Family-Worship Chap. VIII Directions how to manage the Worship of God in Families as to the matter of Prayer Chap. IX Helps how to manage Family-Worship as to the manner of Performance Chap. 10. A Resolution of several Cases of Conscience concerning the Worship of God in Families Books lately Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside SYnodicon in Gallia Reformata Or the Acts Decisions Decrees and Canons of those Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France being a most Faithful and Impartial History of the Rise Growth Perfection Decay of the Reformation in that Kingdom with its fatal Catastrophe upon the Revocation of the Edict at Nants in the Year 1685. also the Confession of Faith and Discipline of those Churches their Speeches Sacred Politicks Cases of Conscience and Controversies in Divinity c. their Government Laws c. Collected out of the Original Manuscript Acts of those Renowned Synods In two Vol. in Fol. By John Quick A Body of Practical Divinity consisting of above 176 Sermons on the lesser Catechism Composed by the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster with a Supplement of some Sermons on several Texts of Scripture By Thomas Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephen's Walbrook London Recommended by several Ministers to Masters of Families and others In Folio The Confirming Work of Religion or its great things made plain by their primary Evidences and Demonstrations whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Rational Account of their Faith Written by Robert Fleming Author of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures Now Published by Daniel Burgess Advice to an only Child or excellent Counsel to all Young Persons containing the Sum and Substance of Experimental and Practical Divinity Written by an Eminent and Judicious Divine for the private use of an only Child now made publick for the benefit of all A Present to such as have been Sick and are recovered Or a Discourse concerning the Good that comes out of the Evil of Affliction Being several Sermons Preached after his being raised from a Bed of Languishing By Nathaniel Vincent M. A. and Minister of the Gospel A Defence of Mr. M. H's Brief Enquiry into the Nature of Schism and the Vindication of it with Reflections upon a Pamphlet called The Review c. And a brief Historical Account of Nonconformity from the Reformation to this present time A Sermon at the Funeral of the Worshipful John Symonds late of great Yeldham in the County of Essex Esq Preached in the Parish-Church of great Yeldham aforesaid on the 24th of Feb. 1692. By John Brooks M. A. and Rector there A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Tho. Shewel M. A. and Minister of the Gospel in Coventry By William Tongue Minister of the Gospel Mr. Richard Baxter's Paraphrase on the Psalms of David Songs of Praise with Penitential Cries By the Author of the Midnight-Cry Death improv'd and Immoderate Sorrow for Deceased Friends and Relations reprov'd By Edw. Bury formerly Minister at Great Bolas in Shropshire In Octavo A short Story of the Rise Reign and Ruine of the Antinomians Familists and Libertines that infected the Churches of New-England c. A brief Tract on the Fourth Commandment wherein is shewn the cause of all our Controversies about the Sabbath-Day and the means of Reconciling them Recommended by the Reverend Dr. Bates and Mr. John Howe A Sermon Preached before the King and Queen at Whitehall Novemb. 5. 1692. By Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Satan Sifting or the Oyl of Joy for the Spirit of Heaviness In Octavo The Carnality of Religious Contention In two Sermons Preached at the Merchants-Lecture in Broadstreet By John Howe Octavo Theological Discourses and Sermons on several Occasions In two Parts By John Wâ—llâ—s D. D. Professor of Geometry in Oxford Quarto There is now in the Press a Discourse against Rash Anger By Henry Newcome M. A. and Minister of the Gospel A Family-Altar Erected to the Honour of the Eternal God Genesis 35.2 3. Then Jacob said unto his Houshold and to all that were with him put away the strange Gods that are among you and be clean and change your Garments And let us arise and go up to Bethel and I will make there an Altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went Chap. I. The Text opened Doctrines raised THis Text is copious and may be called a Family-Text as comprehending the whole Duty of Housholders and their Inferiours He that is not relatively Religious is not really Religious God hath to do with all Men in all their capacities And Men have to do with God in all their Stations Relations Actions As we must give an account to God of our natural civil and spiritual Acts God's Word must regulate all we do that we may act as Christians according to God's will and for his glory The Text contains an excellent pattern for all Families The whole Context holds forth these four Generals 1. God's Commission to Jacob v. 1. 2. Jacob's Charge to his Family v. 2 3. 3. His Families chearful Compliance v. 4. 4. The blessed Issue viz. success safety v. 5. An hint of all these 1. The Text declares God's Commission to Jacob In which Commission observe four things Viz. 1. The Privacy of it God said of Jacob when alone 2. The Order 1. Arise 2.
Sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.5 acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 3. A Priest must needs have something to offer upon this Altar Heb. 8.3 4. The Priests under the Law offered Bulls Goats and brute Beasts Christ offered himself as a Sacrifice for our sins Saints offer their Souls and Bodies as a Thank-offering to the Lord their prayer and praises as was hinted before But the Holy Ghost adviseth us to be more ready to hear than to give the Sacrifice of fools Eccles 5.1 or than fools to give Sacrifice who vainly think to please God with variety and costliness of their Offerings Obedience is better than Sacrifice and the Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord therefore it becomes us all to look to our state and standing and also to the manner of sacrificing as well as the matter sacrificed 4. As to the Altar there must be respect to the End and Design of this Altar for the End either makes or marr's the Action Now the Text saith I will make there an Altar unto God and God saith Exod. 20 24. Hos 8.11 An Altar shalt thou make unto me not to Idols not to sin or to themselves to please their own fancy or for vain-glory God threatens he will break down all such Altars Hos 10.2 For though every Family must have its proper Altar in their peculiar relative capacities yet they must only make use of the one Altar Christ Jesus for acceptance and worship God after the pattern shewed in the Mount Zech. 14.9 that the Lord may be one and his name one i. e. his worship uniform the same in all places Hence it was that when the two Tribes and an half had made an Altar the other Tribes were offended and prepared War against them till they were assured it was not in opposition but as a Testimonial of their relation to and worshiping of the same God therefore called it Ed a witness Read the story Jos 22.10 34. Every Family must Erect such an Altar to be a witness that they serve the same God that is worshiped in publick Assemblies and the Catholick Church in all times and places Only this Altar I am now treating of is distinct from 1. Publick 2 Secret personal Altars 1. It is not properly Publick either National or Congregational such as that which David Erected 2 Sam. 24.18 Gad came to David and said go up rear an Altar unto the Lord This was for all Israel to make an Atonement and this was the place where the Temple was to be built whither all the Tribes were to go up to worship God And this Family-Altar must not exclude the publick Ordinances Upon which holy Davids heart was so set that he envies the Sparow and Swallow that built their Nests near Gods Altars Psal 8â— 3 and is transported with an extasie of holy joy at his approach to it Psal 43 4â— Then will I go to the Altar of God unto God my exceeding joy No no the more a Christian is conversant with God in his Family the more will he prize and improve publick Ordinances Yet this is a distinct Altar 2. This is distinct from secret Acts of Worship or personal Altars such as Abraham Erected Gen 12.7 8. The Lord appeared unto Abraham And there he builded an Altar unto the Lord and in the next verse called upon the name of the Lord. Howbeit some Expositors think this was a Family-Altar which Abraham Erected to keep his Family in the true Religon and to separate himself and them from the Idolatrous Neighbourhood If so it confirms my assertion for Family-Altars But certainly that in Gen. 22.9 was more personal So was Jacob's Gen. 28.18 This therefore that I am speaking of is a Family-Altar an Emblem of Family Worship It 's true sometimes a Family signifies a whole Nation a Kingdom Amos 3.1 The whole Family which I brought up from the Land of Egypt This is all the Hebrews afterward divided into the two Families of of Judah and Ephraim Jer. 33.24 The Sons of Adam were all one Family and after the confusion of Languages they were distributed into the several Regions of the World Deut. 32.8 Jer. 8.3 and had their Names from the Head and Root of that Family from whence they sprung This is not the notion of Family here But it is to be taken strictly for persons dwelling together in one house Lev. 20.5 Then I will set my face against that man and against his Family This is distinct from Kingdoms and Provinces Judg. 1 25. They let go the man and all his Family Esth 9.28 Where Family is distinguished from Province and City And this is the most famous and ordinary use of the Word And in the Text the restriction is to Jacob and his House Lawers Civilians Divines thus use the word and say that Domus est naturae consentanea Societas an House or Family is a Society most agreeable to Nature In this house are such as are most ordinarily and familiarly conversant together that Work Eat Drink Sleep under one Roof To a compleat Family say they is requisite â— A Paterfamilias 2. Materfamilias 3. Filius 4. Servus Father Mother Son Servant But indeed the proper constitutive essential parts of a Family are but these two 1. Pars Imperans 2. Pars Subdita i. e. 1. The Governing 2. The Governed parts And ordinarily the Governing part must set up this Altar and Order the worship of God in his House or Family together with the rest Hear what a great Divine now with God saith in this point Mr. Baxters Christian Directory Tom. 2. Fol. 490. Note therefore that the Governour is an Essential part of the Family and so are some of the Governed viz. that such there be but not each member If therefore twenty Children or Servants shall Worship God without their Father or Master of the Family either present himself or in some representative it is not a Family-Worship in a strict sense But if the Head of the Family in Himself or Delegate or Representative be present with any of his Children or Servants though all the rest be absent it is yet a family-Family-duty though the Family be incompleat and maimed and so is the duty therefore if culpably so performed thus far that Reverend Man of God If it be inquired how must an Housholder act the part of a Priest in his Family what must he do Answer The office and business of a Priest in the Old Testament consisted in these four things chiefly 1. To instruct the People in the Principles of Religion and their duty to God and each other Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth Therefore God rejected those Priests that rejected knowledge Hos 4.6 This is the work of Housholders Deut. 6.6 7. Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children 2. To manage the holy Offerings and Sacrifices for the Atonement on the behalf of the
Governours Yea therefore are Parents rewarded or punished in their Children according to the second Commandment because Governours must account for their Inferiours Yea God orders Housholders to bring all under their roof to the feast of Weeks with their Free-will Offerings Deut. 16.10 11. and the feast of Tabernacles v 13 14. Yea they were to bring their Males yearly three times in the year v. 16. And it is not for nothing that Housholders have this charge laid on them because they have greater Authority opportunity to bring them together for God's Publick Worship in the family for they may call them together upon natural and civil accounts to eat and to work and why not to pray together their command is a Law A Master may say Luk. 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship and why not of such a Sermon They may demand an account of their time and talents committed to their trust and why not a Reason of their hope and an account of their piety or proficiency why not call them to prayer And indeed it is a debt due to mens Children and Servants This is implied in Col. 4.1 2. Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal presently he adds continue in prayer intimating that praying for and with Servants is just and equal both upon their own and Servants account it 's as due as their promised wages God makes Masters as truly Watch-men as Ministers and if they fail Ezek. 3.18 God will require their blood at their hand Besides the advantages and conveniency of frequent intercourse capacitates Governours for this solemn Exercise and God will require accounts of all these Talents another day 10. There are daily cases occasions necessities that concern families to be presented unto the Lord There are family-sins to be confessed wants to be bewailed mercies to be desired cares and crosses to be removed fears to be prevented temptations to be resisted duties to be performed graces to be exercised obtained peace to be maintained or regained passions to be suppressed mercies to be acknowledged and all these must be laid at God's foot in daily prayer That 's a rare family that hath not some Prodigal Son or Carnal Soul as a Member of it some body sick in it or some Child to dispose of in Marriage or Calling some doubts or difficulties that call for prayer wherein the whole family is concerned or if there be no such exigency at present yet who knows how soon any of these or all these may light upon a family And what remedy is there like family prayer Phil. 4.6 Be careful in nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God This is a Catholicon a Cure for all Diseases a Salve for every Sore We find that when God afflicted Abimelech's family Gen. 20.1 1 Exod. 9.2 Abraham prayed unto God and God healed him his Wife Maid-servants and they bare Children A Pharaoh will beg Moses prayers for him in his Affliction and oh what a woful state is that family in that hath no body to speak a word to God for it and with it in domestick troubles A Child lies groaning and the Father cannot groan out a prayer a Servant lying at the point of death and the Master hath no skill or will to bring him to Jesus for cure Alas that any should be so insensible of their wants Deest sempe quod petitur vel ex toâ—o vel ex parte vel in sâ—se veâ— in sersu nestro vel denique quoad actum vel quod continu atam ejus durationem Ames Med Theol. l. 2â— cap. 9. so ignorant of the means of relief or distrustful of the Power of God or efficacy of prayer No family is above wants therefore none should be without prayer for prayer riseth from sense of wants which no person or family is without in whole or in part in it self or in sense in act or continued duration of mercy 11. The Blessing of God usually attends Family-Altars Not as though God were tyed to Religious Families as Heathens chained their Idols or as Elies Sons fancied Gods presence necessarily attending the Ark but God usually visits pious Families Scripture and Experience testifie this Psal 115.12 13. Psal 118.15 He will bless the house of Israel he will bless the house of Aaron he will bless them that fear the Lord both small and great i. e. Proselites Gentiles Converts The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the Tabernacles of the righteous Our Lord loves to converse where his Children inhabit it 's true he prefers publick Assemblies The Lord loveth the Gates of Zion Psal 87.2 more than all the Dwellings of Jacob God loves to see his Children together in his H. Worship The greater the Solemnity if good the more of Gods Spirit and Presence But God doth not despise his Children seeking him in families Psal 101.1 2. when devout David sings of mercy and judgment to God and behaves himself wisely in a perfect way he cries out O when wilt thou come unto me Gods kind visits are worth a World whether by way of Providence Assistance Influence or Evidence How often have Gods Children met with God in their families Gen. 18.10 Act. 10.3 Luk. 8.43.51 Abraham had a Promise of a Child Cornelius had a glorious Vision of an Holy Angel and our Lord came to Jairus's house to raise his dead Daughter How often hath God answered Family-Prayer Even at present by melting the hearts of Children Servants And afterwards It 's recorded of Mr. Banen of Stepleford That he seldom performed family-Family-duty but he had some Answers of Prayer to bless God for since the former time of appearing there before God Anno autem 1584. terrae motu Mons quidam in Ditiore Bernatum ultra alias Montes violenter latus pagum quendam nonaginta familias habentem contexit totum dimidiâ domi exceptâ in qua paterfamilias cum uxore liberis in genua provolutus Deum invocabat Polani Syntag. cap. 22. fol. 301. It is a remarkable story that Polanus relates of an Earth-quake in the year 1584. in Berna in a Mountain violently hurried beyond other Mountains overturning a whole Village of Ninety houses and families excepting half of one house in which the Father of the family with his Wife and Children were prostrate on their knees praying So true is that of Solomon Prov. 12.7 The Wicked are overthrown and are not but the house of the Righteous shall stand Prov. 3.3 God blesseth the Habitation of the just Exo. 12.1 He thinks fit sometimes to distinguish by his wise Providence betwixt the houses of the Israelites and Egyptians And experience doth daily shew that the house is blessed where God is sincerely worshiped as the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and his Houshold for entertaining the Ark 2 Sam. 6.11 12. On the contraty God curseth Prayerless-families that 's
Answ 1. God loseth not his Authority to Command because man hath lost his Capacity to Obey it is his Duty still though he cannot perform it in such a due manner as God requires He is bound to Pray as a Creature though he cannot do it as a Child Better do it as men can than not do it at all Prayer is a natural duty Jonah 3.8 The Ninevites must cry aloud and mightily to God and it was not in vain Act. 8.22 Simon Peter bids Simon Magus Pray though in the Gall of bitterness 2. We must distinguish betwixt a resolved and a returning Sinner We bid not a Thief pray that he may meet with a Booty that 's abominable Psal 66.18 Isa 55.6 7. or men Regarding Iniquity in their hearts But in a complex sense we bid them Turn from their evil ways and so Pray Prayer must be joyned with Repentance as Prayer is Medium Cultus so it is Medium Gratiae as means of carrying the heart to God in Worship so it is a mean to obtain Grace Prayer is the Souls motion God-ward desire is the Soul of Prayer and who dare say to the wicked desire not God Christ Faith By Praying men may learn to Pray right Luk. 11.13 For God gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Oject 4. There 's wicked Children or Servants in the Family how dare we joyn with them For whose sake God may justly reject us Answ 1. If the Praying Governour be Godly and pray right he need not fear non-acceptance Christ was heard in his Prayer though Judas was present What think you of poor Ministers Prayers in mixt Congregations Act 27.35 Certainly the presence of unworthy Persons prejudiceth not the entertainment of sincere Worshipers 2. Prayer is Gods institution to make bad good some have been much wrought upon by the Prayers of others God heard Stephen for Paul in time if it advantaged not at present Mr. Weems said of Mr Bruce he knockt down the Holy Ghost upon us all Deny them not this means of Conversion Object 5. This setting up a Family-Altar for so constant Prayer savours of Forms and will fill the Country with Formalists and Hypocrites Answ 1. Forms are not simply condemned but Forms only wanting the power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3 5. Our business is not to make Hypocrites but Converts By Form is meant a Mask Vizor or Appearance opposed to Substance and Reality But we persuade and direct to sincerity as to Priciple Manner and End of Religious Exercises 2. But a Form of Goliness is better than none at all Men cannot have the Power of Godliness without the Form no more than you can have the Kernell without the Shell He that Prays doth something towards Duty but he that refuseth to Worship God at all bids open defiance to God's Commanding Authority and saith I scorn to bow so much as a Knee to God in Prayer This is a presumptuous Sin Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his heart will not seek after God Let him answer it as he dare The Text saith 1 Tim. 4 8. Bodily Exercise profiteth little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a little 1 King 21.27 i. e. for a little time or for a little i. e. in some outward respects as in Ahabs fasting though it reach not so far as the Eternal Salvation of the immortal Soul However this is better than a total neglect Object 6. But such kind of Praying Morning and Evening is a stinting the Spirit a limiting God to mans time when the Spirit moves not to it Answ 1. Christ and his Apostles had set times for Prayer Jesus oft times resorted into the Garden Judas knew his stated hour and place John 18.2 And the Apostles had an hour of Prayer Acts 3.1 Was this stinting the Spirit Indeed this Objection is levelled against Preaching Singing Supper and all stated Ordinances how do men know that the Spirit will move at such a season 2. It 's one thing to stint another to lie in the walk of the Spirit Men are bound to wait at the posts of Wisdoms Doors and are blessed Prov. 8.34 and in the road of further blessing for the wind of the Spirit bloweth where and when it listeth Joh. 3.8 And no body will say he limits the wind that waits in the Heaven for a fair gale to wast him over Besides Isa 64.7 God expects that men should stir up themselves to take hold on God Self-excitation is God's appointment to get the heart into frame How often doth David begin low and end high 2 Tim. 1.6 We must stir up the gift of God in our hearts A Dead Dull Senseless Heart is no supersedeas from Duty Omission upon indisposition doth but harden the heart and indispose for Duty and gratifie Satan yea and displease God Object 7. This Family-Prayer is but a singular invention of brain-sick novellists not used of old and is more adoe than needs Answ 1. In Scripture-times it was used and in the purest Primitive-timess Basil saith Mane orto die in precationes properare that Christians made haste to Prayers by day-brake in the Morning Chrysostom saith we go not a mensa ad lectum from Table to bed but to Prayers lest we be more bruitish than bruits It were easie to produce instances from Cyprian Augustin c. of Primitive Christians frequency in Prayers You will say butt these were Church prayers Answer Churches were mostly then in Houses yet some instances prove also daily Family-Prayers And Godly Persons in all Ages have used it 2. Can men be too Devout Doth not our Lord say Luk. 18 4◠Mat. 6.33 Mat. 22.37 one thing is needful Seek first the Kingdom of God Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart Mind Strength Can you do too much for God Can you be too oft with God Eccl. 7.16 Alas you cannot be over-much righteous in the internals of Religion no nor in the externals as long as you keep to commanded duties and one duty cross not another Nay when we have done all that 's commanded Luk. 17.10 yet still we are unprofitable Servants we have but done our duty Joh. 12.3.4 It was Judas that said Wherefore is this wasted Godly Souls still complain of defects Whom did you hear complain on their death-bed that they had served God too much or been too religious Object 8. They are no better than others that pray in their families they can lye cheat be covetous proud passionate censorious hard-hearted Ans 1. Take heed what you say act not the Devil's part to be false-accusers taking up a false report or without proof It 's well known that now a-days if persons be strict and serious in Religious duties many pick quarrels with them take advantage against them aggravate their faults these mens Motes are Beams Act. 28.22 yea Mountains this Sect is every where spoken against there needs no further
to Erect an Altar or offer Sacrifice A poor Carnal Master of a Family that knows not how to frame for Gods Worship alas poor ignorant sott He is not capable of speaking a Word from God to his Family or of speaking a word to God for them You go to bed and rise Psal 127.2 one time after another Prayerless you can keep them up late and call them up early to their work but never say come to Prayers not a word of God all the day long not a Chapter read not a Psalm Sung not a Prayer put up in the Family from day to day nay it 's well if there be any solemn praying for a blessing at Meats or giving God thanks for meat but Schollars grace as they say every one for himself so they sit down and rise up like beasts at best they fall to saying God bless my Meat Amen and so put off God with a compliment Ah graceless Master ah graceless Family i. e. as a Family wo be to thee 1. How durst you Marry set up Houses or take the charge of of a Family upon you that are no better furnished for it Do you not shame with your selves that you cannot say a word to God for them No not if thy Wife Child or Servant lie a dying and their Souls ready to be damned thou hast not a word to speak for their recovery or Salvation O wretched miscreant 2. Do you not condemn your selves that can teach your Children and Servants a trade to get a livelyhood by and live hansomly in this World and not one word for another World You command them to work never to Worship God You quarrel with them for offending you never for offending God You expect they ask you for what they need but you will not ask any thing of God either for them or your selves 3. Are you not worse than Idolatrous Micah Judg. 17.5 He had an house of God's and made an Ephod and Teraphim and consecrated one of his Sons who became his Priest Much what like some ignorant Parents that will set a Lad to say a Primmer-grace better so than none at all But Micah was not content with that but got an Hedge-hog Priest a wandring Levite to say Divine Service in his family and now he 's a jolly fellow and thus boasts v. 13. Now know I that the Lord will do me good seeing I have a Levite to my Priest This poor Idolater will rise in Judgment against thee 4. How will you answer your charge do not your Children and Servants cry out Oh pity us pray for us cruel Parents you brought us sinful creatures in a sinful World help us out of this woful state But alas you have not a word to say for them with them you regard their precious Souls no more than an Oxe or Horse their blood will be required at your hands How will they curse you in Hell Oh wo is me had I lived in a praying-family I might have been converted and saved I never heard a word of God except blaspheming his Name How will this grind your Ears and grieve your Hearts another day 2. Other families are without an Altar have not so much as a form of godliness not so much as a shew of Religion Oh! that it should be said of many houses of England as of Israel 2 Chron. 15.3 Now for a long season Israel had been without the true God without a teaching Priest and without Law As God threatens in Hos 3.4 That the wretched Jews shall be without any Religion true or false as it hath been since their murdering Christ to this day 1. How do these wretches resemble the Beasts that own God no more than a Dog or Swine Isa 1.13 Jer. 8.7 8. and it is better to be a Beast than to be compared to a Beast Yea God calls in dullest creatures to condemn an irreligious People 2. How can you expect a blessing upon your mercies they are unhallowed things as to you nay they are accursed to you and if God give commission will rise up in Rebellion against you Lev. 27.14 Thou hast not sanctified thy House so it 's not estimated as to thee 3. You hinder God's Interest in the World and do what you can to propagate Irreligion to future Generations how will they plead the practice of Ancestors My Father never prayed in family nor will I Omission is a Trade soon learned hardly rooted out 1 King 14.16 Here Jeroboam made Israel sin many Generations after Oh you little know how far your sin may spread 4. Do you not often read your sin in the punishment of it When you are Atheists in not worshipping God your Children are Atheists in denying God You are defective in duty they abound in iniquity You pray not for them God rejects them and leaves them to notorious Villainies to be punished by the Judges or God strikes them with some astonishing Judgment as he did Eli's Sons This will make thy heart ake and call thy sins to remembrance 3. Some families possibly have a Priest an Altar but want a Sacrifice As Isaac said to his Father Abraham Gen. 22.7 Behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for a burnt-offering So say I here is materials the outward form but where is the marrow and mystery of true godliness Dost thou give up thy Soul and Body as a Living Sacrifice to God Rom. 12.1 Psal 51.17 Dost thou bring a broken and contrite heart for sin Dost thou practically obey Divine Heb. 13.16 Commands and do all the good thou canst in thy Place dost thou especially take Jesus Christ in the Arms of thy Faith Heb. 13.10 Eph. 1.6 and expect acceptance only in the Beloved Dost thou only Compliment with God Wo be to thee 1. If there be not a Principle of Grace within thou art but a lifeless Machine like a Parrot that speaks articulatly without Sense and feeling Psal 17.1 David's Prayer went not out of feigned Lips 2 Sam. 7.27 why so he had found in his heart to Pray his Prayer mind it thou must find thy Prayer in thy heart before thou utter it with thy lips and then thou must Pray a Prayer and not only say a Prayer as most do Some will down on their knees and patter over a few words in a heartless manner when their minds are roving to a thousand trifles and this is their devotion they brag of and God must be pleased with whereas it is a poor Heartless Lifeless Spiritless form without power 2 Tim. 3 5. Isai 29.13 Gal. 6.7 which God rejects This Lip-labour is but Lost-labour for it is a mocking of God and he will not be mocked 2. If you sleepily slug gishly unseasonably perform your Family duties Some spend all the day and the evening in work or worldly business it maybe in idle chat and vain discourse and just when they are for going to bed rush up and fall
formed the Eye shall he not See Be sure your sin will find you out And do not others see you will not they cry shame on you and reflect upon the Families where you were bred or have lived Oh what a reproach and disparagement do you cast on the Instruments of your Education what grief are you to the Godly that shake the head and cover their faces to behold you where 's your imitation of Godly patterns is this the fruit of their pains the answer of their Prayers were you thus taught Wo be to you that must be snatch't out of Godly-Families and cast among Devils you had better never have been born or born among Turks or Pagans your condemnation will be aggravated your own Consciences will fly in your faces Oh how many good instructions have I slighted how many convictions have I striffled What great Motionss have I resisted good examples contradicted Prov. 5.11 12 13 14. I have not Obeyed the voice of my Teachers nor inclined mine Ears to them that instructed me and now I must mourn without hope and dye without instruction or any to pray for me Chap. VI. Motives to persuade Governours of Families to set up Altars to God for his Solemn Worship AND now Friends what remains but a due Compliance to this call Oh that Sacred Altars weâ—e set up for Gods Solemn Worship in all the Families through the Kingdom were God duely Worshiped in all Houses how happy a Nation should we be we might hope that God would tarry with us and Bless us if men would Pray as Christians and live as Christians things would be better with us than they are let none mistake us together with the Worship of God we must discover the necessity of a saving Principle in the heart and suitable practice in the life men must first be good then they will do good and they must be first united to Christ or neither will follow for he saith Joh. 15.5 without me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being divided from me you can do nothing you can do nothing Spiritually nothing acceptably Oh Sirs do not think to put off God with a few Dutys or formal performances without Sense and Savour God saith See this fully explained by Mr. Burroughs on Hos 6.6 pag. 600.618 I desired Mercy and not Sacrifice i. e. not only Sacrifice and the Knowledg of God more than Burnt-Offerings the word Mercy is a Synechdoche comprehending all the dutys of the second Table under one by Sacrifice is meant Synechdochically all instituted Ordinances and Worship all the affirmative precepts of the second and fourth Commandments but yet Prayer to God is of such absolute necessity and founded in Nature if it be granted that there is a God that the Heathen could prefer it to Sacrifices saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offer Prayers to the Gods not Oxen but though Prayer it self be a natural duty yet the Circumstances of time and place may be various as occasion is offered hence Divines say Negative Precepts bind semper et ad semper always and to all times affirmative bind indeed semper always but not ad semper to all times therefore Pray continually if it be done in season God looks upon it as always or continually done but if another duty of great importance be to be done at that instant God dispenseth with the former and it ceaseth to be a duty then yet the duty continues and must not be totally superseded only God will have Sacrifice See 10 instance ib. p. 603. but not without the Spirit for instituted Worship without natural Worship is not regarded Joh. 4.24 he will be Worshiped in Spirit and in truth nor will God accept these Prayers and Sacrifices as an Attonment for Sin or a dispensation to continue in Sin if you leave out Christ in the former and make use of Christ in the latter your Prayers are abominable Having premised this I shall subjoyn a few Motives to pesuade You to Family-Prayer besides the Reasons to prove it a duty which I desire you to review and learn to practise this lesson as you would obey a Divine Command Answer old Testament Types not act against nature it self accomplish promises and Prophecies imitate Godly Examples Answer divine Providence distinguish yours from Profane Families approve your selves and Families to be little Churches as you will give account of the charge committed to your trust obtain a supply of your Family-necessitys and a blessing upon your selves and yours and avoid God's curse and wrath upon your Families fall close to this duty I have answered many objections And now I Beseech you in the Bowels of Christ to set up Altars and offer your selves and Families wholly and intirely to the Lord as a whole Burnt-offering for Gods-sake who made you for himself daily preserves you and can plentifully reward your Obedience and revenge your Disobedience 2. I Beseech you for Christs sake who laid down his Life for you Tit. 2.14 that he might purchase you to himself a peculiar People zealous of Good works 3. For the Holy Ghosts sake which is moving you to duty suggesting good things into your minds will help your infirmities Oh do not quench it grieve it 4. For the Churches sake for Zions sake hold not your peace Isa 62.1 but help the travelling Church in her Pangs till she be delivered 5. For the Nations sake that is almost drowned in Atheism and Sensuality and daily subject to Gods displeasure and fury 6. For your poor children and servants sake who need your Prayers for their Conversion Pardon and Reconciliation with God 7. For your own Souls sake that are oft under guilt imperfect in Grace and have much work and burden upon your hands and a great account to make Surely if you have any sense upon your hearts of any of these things you will instantly constantly and affectionatly call upon God in your Families Again let me urge you with the benefits of this work of Family-Prayer 1. This Altar-Devotion will be the best Ornament to your houses no Pictures stately Rooms or houshold good will be such neat and Splendid furniture as this Worship of God the bravest hangings and most Glorious Paintings are but Sordid and Nauseous Excrements to this it is this that renders a beggers Cottage far more honourable than a Princes Pallace without it Righteousness exalteth a Nation and family but Sin is a reproach to any People or Person this is far before full bags Magnificent tables and entertainment a large train of attendants for God is there as the poor Hermit-like Philosopher said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here dwell the Gods Pro. 14.34 So the high and lofty one dwells with the contrite and humble Spirit Isai 57.15 in the most homely habitation What a comely sight is it to behold all the members of a family Prostrate on their knees every Morning and Evening to hear Melodious Praises to God unanimously Sung 't
Egypt the first born of Pharaoh and others dyed Exo. 11.56 and there was a great Cry would not this move you into better Manners Oh but a greater evil befalls you your own precious Souls are endangered by Neglect 8. Suppose a Red Cross with a Lord have Mercy upon Vs were set upon your doors and the Pestilence were within your house seizing on you one after another and you had nothing else to do but to get ready to dye would you not spend some time in Prayer for your selves and Families Behold a worse Plague is upon you of Sin and will you not Pray 9. Suppose upon every Omission of Family Prayer you should lose a Limb or member of your Body first one finger then a Toe should be cut or torn off till all be gone and you dismembred would not this force you to this duty and yet your Precious Souls are in hazard which are ten thousand times more worthy than a Limb yea than the whole Body by wilfull Neglect 10. Suppose a Gallows were set at your door and you must be hanged thereupon the next time you go out of your door when you have not Prayed in your Family would you venture to be hanged rather than omit this duty do you love your lives no better Oh! but Eternal death is far more dreadfull and are Eternal torments Rev. 21.8 that lake that burneth with fire Brimstone nothing to you is the second death easie and shall not Sinners be damned for their Omission of good as well as Commission of Evil Be it known to you Numb 32.23 that if you will not do so i. e. as God Commands Behold ye have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out it will hunt you as a Blood hound and haunt you as an evil Spirit in conscience here and in Torments hereafter if God said to Cain for a defect in his Sacrifice Gen. 4.7 if thou doest not well Sin lies at the door i. e. guilt shall be charged upon thee and you know how it dog'd him though he failed but in the manner of it not acting Faith on Christ for acceptance Oh what will become of you that fall short even in the matter also and do nothing of what God Commands you yea you think it is a needless ceremony and mock them that do carefully constantly and conscientiously perform this duty wo unto you if you dye in this Sin you are undone forever But one word more if any offer themselves to be members of particular Churches and partake of the Lords Supper I should judge them not fit to be Communicants except they Pray in their Families and if any be admitted and perform not their duty I should think them as worthy church-censures as those that are Idle and omit working in their particular callings which is injoyned 2 Thes 3.6 12 14. what censure this is lesser or greater whether only withdrawing familiar converse with the offender or upon obstinacy publick Excommunication I leave to the judgment of the Learned But * Si quis renuit libeâ—os suos alere reprehendunt eum pudefaciunt eum urgent eum Si adhuc renuit publice in eum proclamant in Syna goga dicentes 〈◊〉 crudelis est non vult alere liberos â—unâ—vel ipsis voluâ—ribus immundis crudelior nam illae pullos suos alunt c Dr. Lightfoot in Evang Mathaei Borae Hebraicae cap. 18. 17. p. 215. Dr. Lightfoot tells us out of the Rabbins that if any refuse to nourish his children they must reprove him make him ashamed urge him if he still refuses they must publickly proclaim in the Synagogue such a one is cruel and will not nourish his children he is more Cruel than the unclean Fowls for those nourish their Young ones and may we not say the same of such as neglect these needfull Family-excercises for the Souls of their's Chap. VII Directions how to set up an Altar in Families and how to manage Family-Worship I Have now done with persuasives to this great Excercise of Family-worship whether all that I have said will prevail I know not but loath I am all this should be in vain it 's pitty so needfull an Exercise should fall to the ground and all that I have said should rise up in judgment against you I again renew my motion in the name of the Lord Jesus you that are young set up your families with God whatever you have of the World beside to set up with this will be your treasure your Palladium your defence you cannot miscarry if you begin with God you that are old have been house-keepers long set up this altar turn over a new lease begin a new life you are not too old to learn nor too good to be taught better thrive late than never though you begin at the eleventh hour you shall not be rejected Death looks you in the face look up to God and be saved say not I will go to Hell because I have been long traveling in that road Be not ashamed to undo all you have done or misdone unravel this confused skein what stick you at Is not the Infinite God worthy of your love Fear worship are not the Souls of your Families precious is not heaven worth your seeking having Oh! say you I would fain set up an Altar in my Family to the Lord I would offer him a Sacrifice and Worship God but I know not how to set about it or manage it to any purpose so as may be acceptable to God profitable to my Family or comfortable to my own Soul I Pray you give me some directions on this behalf I answer that I shall very willingly but first I do solemnly require your promise to set about it in the name and strength of Christ and do thy best you can to do it right my Instructions I shall reduce to two heads viz. 1. Preparatives to it 2. Management of it For the Preparatives to your setting up this Family Altar I shall but give you these four 1. See your heads and hearts be well stock't your heads with sound Knowledge and your hearts with Saving-Grace without either of these you 'll not be fit for this undertaking without the former you 'll have no skill without the latter you 'll have no Will to the Work but go to it as a Bear to the stake 1. Be sure you get Scripture knowledge a knowledge of God the object of worship of the Mediator by whom only you must have access to the Father a knowledg of the Holy-Ghost that must help your infirmities a knowledg of your selves of Divine Truths Precepts Prov. 19.2 Promises that the Soul be without knowledg it is not good otherwise you will Worship you know not what or you care not how or regard not why you 'll degenerate into Formality and Superstition it 's worth nothing what you find in Isa 19. having told us of an Altar in ver 19. he tells
Ignorance or Negligence if you be barren in your addresses to the throne of Grace some good Devines have proposed a method and words in Scripture-phrase which I will not now trouble you with but if you daily use to read the Bible you will find patt expressions flowing into your mind in Prayer which will prove pertinent matter upon all occasions when you read Scripture think now God is speaking to me and thereby furnishing me with matter to speak to him in Prayer this passage suits my case I will improve it in Confession Petition Deprecation or Thanksgiving in my addresses to God and thus you will arrive to an habit of free-conversing with God and it becomes Governours of families to be more imployed in reading Scriptures than others Deu. 17.19 Josh 1 8. 1 Tim. 4.14 so God appoints Kings Captains Ministers to be daily exercised in this duty because they were to be helpfull to others so must you if you consult with Gods word you go in unto God so some observe by comparing Psal 73.17 of going into the Sanctuary of God with 2 Sam. 7.18 then went King David in and sate before the Lord. i. e. he went in to God to intimate that Reading and Praying are near a kinâ— the one is an help to the other if you read much it will help you to Pray much it will help you to read and understand Be much imployed in both 3. Learn to understand and improve the Lords Prayer Mat. 6.9 12. Consider the Prologue Parts and Conclusion of it get some Succinct and plain Exposition of it do not Cantingly Formally and Superstitiously blubber it over as a Charm but use it as a Comprehensive Platform of Praying I am not altogether against the use of the words in the Lords Prayer Nay I would rather you kneel down with your Family and said nothing but the Lords Prayer than that you should use no Prayer at all only see you understand the meaning of it and do not rabble it over as a Parrot but do it seriously and take heed of Mocking God Hypocrisie is a sin as well as Atheism to pray otherwise than Christ hath taught is not only Ignorance but a gievous sin saith an Ancient * Aliter orarâ— quam doâ—uit non ignorantâ—a Selaest sed et Culpa Cyprian Serm. 6. a orat Domini et cum ipsuâ— habâ—amus apud â—atreâ— Advocatum â—o peccatis nostriâ— Advocatâ— nostâ— verba prommus id ib. this referrs both to the matter and manner of praying for saith he the Father will acknowledge the words of his Son when we Pray to him in his name qui habitat intus in pectore ipse sit et in voce let him be in our voice that dwells in our hearts quia Deus non vocis sed cordis auditor est God is not the hearer of the voice but of the heart But we are now speaking of Family-Prayer wherein God requires both voice and heart and I am giving helps for the matter of Prayer and this is a certain truth that all and only the things that are to be asked of God are comprehended in the Lords Prayer that 's the summe and substance of the petenda things to be asked if you do not always utter the words you must express the Sense therefore it 's fit you should understand them for every word hath it's weight Our Father which art in Heaven thou art the common Father of all Mankind our Father in Christ we humbly and reverently prostrate our Selves at thy Footstool in confidence of entertainment through thy well-beloved Son and our Advocate give us child-like affections to thee and endeared love to all thine and tender Compassion to all others Hallowed be thy name let thy Glorious Titles Attributes Word and Ordinances be manifested through the World dispose all things to the Glory of thy name assist us in our confessing and forsaking our Sins adoring thine infinite perfections believing in thee subjecting our selves to thee attending on thee and aiming at thy Glory in all we are or do or suffer Thy Kingdom come destroy O Lord the Devils kingdom of Ignorance Wickedness advance thy Kingdom in Converting Sinners building thy Church maintaining the power of Godliness and hastning the Kingdom of Glory confirming and preparing our own Souls for our Lords second coming Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven let thy preceptive Will be our rule enable us to comply with it give us knowledge of it conquer the enmity of our stubborn wills enable us to do it singly Sincerely Universally and constantly as Angels and Saints Glorified help us quietly to acquiesce in thy Providential will be it for us or against us Give us this day our daily bread vouchafe to us a competent portion of outward Comforts for our daily supply thy blessing therewith which is the staff of our bread for we depend on thee for all Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors for Christ's sake and satisfaction Pardon all our Sins whereby we are endebted to divine Justice and can never satisfie but lay hold by Faith on the Lord our Righteousness and freely forgive all men their offences against us and Pray God to forgive them And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Evil Lord we have bad Herds prevent occasions of Sin restrain the tempter keep us out of harms way or make us conqerours of World Flesh and Devil let not Sin have Dominion over us For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for Ever Amen We take not our incouragement in our Prayers from any thing in our Selves but from Thee who art the only Soveraign All sufficient God able and willing to help poor Creatures to thee only be ascribed all Dominion Blessing Honour Glory and Power for evermore Amen So be it Thus I have given you a short hint of the meaning of this Excellent Prayer that you may be left without excuse for your willful Neglect 4. Frequent Christian Society converse with Godly Praying persons this will help you in Family Work and Worship not only as it is a good Example but as it assimilates you to them and also as it provokes to an holy Emulation it will make you shame with your selves that such as had no better breeding or higher Education than you have yet attained to such Knowledge Gifts and Elocution this will make you admire the Grace of God in them and think it not impossible but that the same Grace may do as much in you Rom. 11.12 2 Cor. 9.2 Paul sought by the Gentiles Piety to provoke the Jews to Emulation and tells us the Corinthians zeal in Charitable contribution had provoked very many it 's not to tell what Light and Life Eccl. 49.12 and Love may be conveyed from one Christian to another If two lye together they have heat Pro. 27.17 Iron sharpens Iron A â—ow majori discit all â—ll so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his
so much is writ by others concerning the necessary Essentials of all Prayer that it 's needless here to add any thing what belongs to all Prayer Publick 1 Cor. 14.15 Family Secret Prayer you must be sure it be Cordial you must pray with the Spirit and understanding also your Family devotion must not be a meer customary Formality like the Papists Tongue-threshing as Luther calls their Cantings You must ingage your hearts in the work Jer. 30.21 and then draw nigh to him You must also ask what is according to God's will 2 Sam 7.27 ground Your prayers upon a Promise as David did and God requires You must also prepare your heart and then stretch out Your hand to God in prayâ—â— 1 Joh. 5.14 15. Joh. 11.12 Psal 26 â— 66 â—8 Isa 64.7 Wash before You Worship for if you regard Iniquity God will not hear Your prayer You must stir up your selves to take hold of God come in sincerity with all Humility with Importunity You must propound right Ends in your prayers not for self-credit to be seen of Men as the Pharisees nor for Worldly profit or to please a Friend But for God's Glory and injoying Communion with him But above all see that you improve Christ as your Advocate in all your addresses to God without whom your best Sacrifices are rejected Buâ— I must not insist on these but lay down some general Directions how to manage this Family-Altar and the Sacrifice thereon 1. Set Your Souls in God's presence Remember who it is you have to deal with Psal 16.8 not with men like your selves but with the Infinite Eternal Incomprehensible Majesty of the great God an Heart-searching All-seeing and Holy God Hab. 1.13 Psal 11.57 Job 13.16 17 that is of purer Eyes than to behold Evil and cannot look on Iniquity whose Throne is in Heaven who loveth Righteouness but an Hypocrite cannot come before him work your hearts to an awe of his Divine Majesty Consider of his Infinite perfections and the great distance betwixt the Glorious God and silly Worms yea betwixt the Holy God and your Sinful Souls Remember God is a Consuming Fire Heb. 12.28.29 and you as dryed stubble therefore serve him with Reverence and Godly Fear Psal 29.2 give him the Glory due unto his Name internally externally in your conceptions of him affections to him prostration before him he is to be had in reverence of all that are round about him Psal 39.7 It 's more to appear before God than the Holiest men or greatest Princes on Earth regard not Auditors or joyners in Worship so much as the object of Worship Say as Abraham the friend of God Behold Gen. 11.27 now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes Oh that my Soul were weighted with the Glorious Majesty of God! 2. Call in Divine assistance presence and his Gracious Benidiction the first thing you do stand up and bespeak God's Blessing upon you in the present undertaking except you find it convenient to begin with a Psalm to call the Family together Psal 86.11 and desire the Lord to unite your hearts unto him and prevent distractions and Satans Temptations and vain Worldly cogitations in that Duty and lift up your Souls to himself with such an Ejaculation as that Lam. 3.41 Deu. 26.16 Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the Heavens look down from thy Holy Habitation from Heaven and bless thy Servants We are taking thy blessed Book into our Hands Lord 〈◊〉 our Eyes to behold Wondrous things out of 〈…〉 let it be a light to our Feet and a 〈…〉 to our Paths let it be as our neces◠〈…〉 Food Yea sweeter than Honey or honey 〈…〉 more profitable than Thousands of 〈…〉 and Silver help us to understand ap◠〈…〉 and Practise what we read let our 〈…〉 a set before thee as Incense and the 〈…〉 of our hands as an Evening Sacrifice 〈…〉 be now attentive and thine Eyes 〈…〉 in the Prayer of thy Servants to us 〈…〉 shame and confusion of Face but to 〈…〉 Lord our God belong Mercys and Forgivâ—esses Thou hast Proclaimed thy name â—â—racious â—â—â—ifull Long-suffering c. To â—is name of the Lord do we flee pleading 〈◊〉 Mercy only for the sake of Christ look 〈…〉 be face of thine anointed 〈◊〉 â—mmediatly set upon this practice of 〈…〉 Altar to the Lord Embrace the 〈◊〉 â—viction the Evening of that day 〈◊〉 â—ou have heard the Duty pressed on 〈◊〉 about it plead no excuse to put it 〈◊〉 more convenient season Felix lost his 〈◊〉 and Soul by such a demur set about it 〈◊〉 your Spirits are warm give not Satan advantage by delay Imperatives have no future tense present dispatch is Essential to Gods commands anon anon at my leisure is no Obedience now or never there 's danger in delays Ps 119 60. I made haste saith David and delayed not to keep thy Commandments Remember his holy Resolution in a weighty matter of the like nature for settling God's Worship Psal 132.23 45. Your Spirits will cool by delays Satan will get advantage some have confessed that the Holy Spirit hath departed from them upon their not yeelding to it's motions and they have run into the dead Sea of Prophaness by degrees if you miss your opportunity you are undone you may dye before Morning if you go prayerless to Bed where will you be then You have no lease of your Lives you must not say to your Neighbour go Pro. 3.28 and come again and to Morrow I will give and will you say so to God Oh do not put off God in paying his dues either as to first undertaking or after-performance Qui non vul hodiâ— or as minus aptiâ— erit Take heed of delays and make no intermissions he that is not fit to day will be less sit to Morrow 4. Excite your selves and Families to the Work it was the Practice of the Primitive Church to have one to say before Prayer sursum corda up with your hearts alas our Spirits grow dull in the Intervals of Duty Isa 64.4 you must stir up your selve to take hold on God You must wind up your affections and turn your Spirits as you would do the strings of an instrument and you 'll find they will quickly slip down again twice did David say O God my heart is fixed yet immediately he found it unfix't again and crys Psa 57. â— Awake Psaltery and harp I my self will awake early You must be forced to give your hearts a pluck and check many times in a Duty if you make conscience to maintain them in a good frame 1 Pet. 4 7 Col. 4.2 hence those expressions of Watching unto Prayer and watching in Prayer as well as Watch and Pray Mat. 26.42 Oh take heed of doing the work of the Lord neglegently serve not God with that which costs you nothing
for Omission but take another more convenient which may more directly suit your occasions 4. Case Suppose the occasions of an Householder call him abroad about his lawful occasions before the rest of his Family can rise out of their Beds may he omit family-Family-Duty Answ 1. In such a Case he must go to Prayer with such of his Family as are risen as it 's likely some are to help him away 2. However he must pray alone committing himself and his Family into Gods hands which the Lord may graciously accept 3. He must double his Diligence at his return or at another time And mourn for what he cannot mend A good Heart will lament any providential hindrance of Communion with God 4. But if possible so cast your Worldly concerns as not to hinder your Family Exercise prudent foresight may do much to forecast for it Ex. 16.22 But if your Calling be such as that cannot be do as the Israelites did gather double the Day or Night before two omers for a Man or Family lay in for the Day following what may stand you in stead by pleading with God for what yow 'll need 5. Case What gesture is to be used in Family-Prayer whether sitting be lawful Answ Scripture tells us of several gestures in Prayer as Luk. 18.13 1. Standing Mark 11.25 When ye stand Praying forgive The Publican stood afar off smote upon his Breast yet a Penitent Praying posture John 17.1 2. The Eyes fixed upwards Jesus lift up his Eyes to Heaven as we look a Man in the face when we speak to him Or in some Cases the Eye may be shut to prevent gazing or distraction 3. Sometimes prostration or laying the Body on the Earth hath been a Praying gesture Gen. 18.2 Josh 7.6 Mat. 26.39 Abraham bowed himself toward the ground but Joshua fell to the Earth upon his Face Our Lord also fell on his face and Prayed 4. Eph. 3.14 2 Chron 6.12 13. Luk. 22.41 Psal 95 5. Pâ—i 2.18 But the most ordinary gesture is kneeling called bowing the knee Even King Solomon kneeled down upon his knees and spread forth his hands Our dear Lord also whose Example is our Rule kneeled down and Prayed Methinks we should not be too stiff to kneel before the Lord our Maker before whom every knee must bow either in Devotion or Destruction All agree 1. That the gesture should be reverent before the great God Cum quis quoerit or are coliocat membra sicut ei occurrit Aug. De orat 2 That bodily gesture should be such as doth best express the inward reverence of the Heart 3. That the gesture be such as doth most quicken the Heart and help on in the Duty 4. That it be such as gives a good example to others As for sitting in Prayer it 's an unbecoming lazy gesture especially if chosen and in the beginning of a Duty Indeed for weak Bodies tyred out with other gestures some excuse may be made but ordinarily it 's not allowable Object But is it not said of David he went in and sate before the Lord 2 Sam. 7.18 yet he Prayed Answ 1. Some say David was a King and therefore might sit according to the Jews Rule it 's not lawful for any to Pray sitting before the Lord but the King 2. Others say the King Sate in Dust and Ashes in an humble posture he fell on his face say others 3. This was more a Meditation than a Prayer admiring the goodness of God Or he might first sit and then kneel Mansit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 resâ—itit Pius arim quam corpre sedie quiâ—tus coram â—â—mino Case 4. But indeed the word sitting signifies Davids constancy in Meditating Praying for a Man usually continues longer sitting than standing David sate i. e. continued longer and more familiarly before the Lord and with him than ordinary It refers more to the Composedness of his Mind than to the posture of his Body Therefore let not this Text patronize that sleepy gesture 6. Case is What place must we choose or how must we use our Voice in Family-Prayer Answ 1. We are not bound to Consecrated places for Family-Duty In this you may use your liberty In Gospel-times God stands not so much upon the place of Worship as the quality of Worshippers and manner of Worshipping Joh. 4 23 24. 1 Tim. 2.8 Look at the frame of your Hearts as before described and fear not Entertainment where ever you be 2. Yet the Circumstance of place may be duely weighed if you live amongst Lions Mockers Scorners of Religon though you must maintain your profession of God's name in your Families as Daniel did yet it 's a disputable point whether you may not sometimes retire from open violence into some private place But there may be a greater reason for retirement than that viz. To avoid the suspicion of Hypocrisy Mat. 6.5 and Vain-glory which was the Pharieses great fall or you may withdraw into some distant place from the street to avoid disturbance by hurrys Tumults and Confusions that may distract you 3. But let the place be so known to the Family as all may repair to it as an Exchange at the time of prayer be it dwelling-house parlour Chamber Dan. 6.10 as Daniel improved some convenient room called a Chamber for his Family-Devotion So may You. 4. For voice it 's true God is an all-seeing Spirit and men may speak to God when they speak not a word as Moses Hanna Nehemiah prayer is the motion of the will to God but in Family-prayer 't is otherwise men have Bodies and Tongues and Ears and cannot understand others conceptions without a vocal articulate sound what you pray must be audible else they cannot joyn with you or be edified by you only see your Hearts go along with your Lips and Remember the saying of Solomon The words of Wise-Men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among Fools Eccl. 9.17 I know it referrs to Wise Counsels not prayers but some may pray more affectionatly with a low Voice than others with loud clamours Yea possibly you may command your thoughts better in the former than latter see you be serious and your voice Audible and Intelligible not Mumbling your prayers so that your Family cannot understand you or know what you mean 7. Case is Whether is a form of Prayer Lawfull or whether may an House-holder use a Form of Prayer or may others joyn with him in the use thereof Answ 1. Our most solid judicious Divines of those called Puritans do not judg forms of Prayer absolutly unlawfull Dr. Preston saith Dr. Preston Saints daily Exercise p. 80 81 82. I think there is none here that doubt of it but that a Set Form of Prayer may be used you know Christ prescribed a Form there were certain Psalmes that were Prayers used constantly still in all times the Church had Set-Forms I know no objection against it of
glory to God admire his wise and gracious Providence It 's not the Lot of all young people Think and say Lord who am I to enjoy this Priviledge this is a blessed place Judg. 6.37 Gen. 28.17 a place of blessings This Fleece is wet with Dew when others are dry This is none other but the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven Blessed be God that hath cast my Lot here 2. Joyn in family-prayer Be not needlesly absent but do not content your selves with bodily presence or postures but see to it that your hearts also joyn with the expressions else you play the Hypocrites And when you go forth and set up Families of your own use the same practice but with the same spirit of your pious Masters 3. Improve this stock of your Relation's prayers A Father may lay up an Estate for his Child in Bills and Bonds which may prove a good Portion The Corn sown in the Field is as good as that in the Garner in some respects better The Father sows the Child reaps a blessed Crop God forbid that I should lose my Child's Portion for want of looking after it Lord cut not off the Entail of my Fathers Covenant Oh hear the many cryes he put up for me in my hearing 4. Behave your selves suitably to that Family where so gracious a Providence hath cast you God forbid you should be a scoffing Ishmael in an Abraham's house a prophane Esau in Jacob's a Rebellious Absalom or a filthy Ammon in holy David's Family You disgrace the ways of God more than others when it shall be said See what a Beast was bred in a praying-family You greatly discredit your Breeding and sink your selves deeper in Hell God Almighty open your Eyes awake your Consciences and reform your Conversation that you may walk worthy of God to all well pleasing I have now done with this great Subject of a due Erecting a Family-Altar and offering Gospel Sacrifices to the Lord and oh that there were of these Altars set up in every dwelling-house Cant. 3.6 and Divine Incense ascending like Pillars of Smoke Heaven wards I have but a word of Incouragement to weak but willing Souls that set upon Family-worship but meet with so many discouragements from without but especially within that their hearts are apalled and are ready to give hack and say Will God accept such poor lean and lank Sacrifices so dead heartless lifeless I do no good I get no good I might as well give over I am oft so wofully indisposed for duty that I might as well let it alone O my Friends look on this as a temptation and beware of it strive against it rouze up your spirits 1. Consider you are not the first or only persons that Satan hath resisted in duty for even Joshua the High-Priest a Type of Christ had Satan standing at his right hand Zech. 3.13 2 Cor. 2.11 to resist hâ—â— and he had too much advantage against him for he was cloathed with filthy garments And our weakness is Satan's strength our guilt his advantage But our Jehovah saith The Lord rebuke thee The Devil makes spots and then accuseth us of our spots but Christ wipes them off 2. Our Lord takes well your good will to do though you can do but little 2 Cor. 8.12 The imprimis of a willing mind is accepted though your following Items be few and poor The Lord is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love Heb. 6.10 i. e. those duties we perform to the Lord with labour and hard struggling It 's the observation of precious Mr. Hildersham Think not On Psal 51. p. 65. saith he Beloved that those prayers only are pleasing to God wherein we please our selves best or which we perform with most facility and aptness of mind and speech no no when we can perform this duty in obedience to God even against our own disposition and oppositions in our own heares these are the prayers that are most acceptable to God as Abraham's Obedience Gen. 22.12 3. By using and exercising little grace improving small ability to pray you will encrease it and will more comfortably carry on the work Mat. 25.29 so the Text To every one that hath i. e. by employing it he shews that he hath for otherwise the unprofitable Servant had a Talent also shall be given and he shall have abundance Sick persons whose appetite is weakned by eating provoke and recover them one morsel drawing down another You 'll find this true in spirituals 4. The weaker you think your selves and the more likely to depend on the right means of your acceptance that is the Spirit of Christ for assistance and the Merit and Intercession of Christ for entertainment For alas you find you have no flush of gifts to fill the Sails or height of enlargement to carry with full gale to God you are emptied and your Plumes quite fallen as to any thing you do and therefore conclude you are too low to reach God and your duties quite lost except your persons and performances be found in Christ Phil. 3.9 I shall therefore conclude this whole Discourse with that sweet Text that 's worth a world without the benefit of which all our Altars and Sacrifices are Ciphers Rev. 8.3 And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer and there was given unto him much Iecense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the Throne FINIS