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
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
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
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
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
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
presume to do it being an act of Office This being annexed to Christs Commission Teach and Baptize and this is the Cup of Blessing Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 10.16 1 Cor. 11.13 which we viz. as Ministers bless And this they receive of the Lord and are to deliver it to the People And I find several Judicious Divines affirming that Dispensing the Seals is peculiar to an Organized Church and is proper only to Ministers rightly Ordained For the Lords Supper is a Symbol and mean of publick Communion not of Families as such For though Christ administred it to his Family yet not as a Family but as a Church The Judgment and Practice of the Primitive Doctors and Christians is a sufficient proof of this 2. Query Is the Master or Governour of the Family always bound to perform Family Duty May he not in some cases Substitute another to perform that Office for him Answ 1. It is incumbent upon the governour of a Family as his proper charge And it is the fittest he do it himself it capable David was a great King and had much business abroad 2 Sam. 6.20 Job 1.35 yet returned to bless his House and put it not off to a Chaplain Job was the greatest of all the Men in the East yet he acted personally in Family Worship I have heard of a Noble Man in England that though he keep a Chaplain yet to shew his Authority and Duty voluntarily at some times himself prays with his Family This is well done 2. Yet a Chaplain may be made use of especially where the Family is numerous or when his gifts and graces are more taking and edifying and he is likely to do more good than the Governour Deut. 12.12 18. It may seem probable that some Levites were kept in some of the Jews Families being oft reckoned with their Sons Daughters Servants it may be in some Cases to perform these Religious Duties in the Family Judg. 27.13 And so Idolatrous Micah had his Levite-Chaplain which he too much boasted of 3. Some have thought that a Wife in a Family may in some Cases perform Family-Duty and that this Honour may be given to the weaker vessel to do the Office of Religious Exercise 1 Pet. 3 7. as well as partake in the Government of the Family doubtless she is to pray And it hath been judged by Learned men that she may and must pray in the family with her husbands leave and in her husbands presence so she cover her face with a Vail in token of her subjection This they think is meant by a woman praying or prophecying with her head covered 1 Tim. 2.12 1 Cor 14.34 not in the church where she was not to speak but in the family when she performed that peice of worship Quanquam nec hoc malè quadrabit fi dicamus Apostolum hanc modestiam non modò in loco ubi tota Ecclesia congregatur requirere a mulieribus sed etiam in quovis graviore caetu aut matronarum aâ—t virorum Quales interdum in privatas aedes conveniunt Calv. in locum and Calvin seems to incline to this apprehension saying the Apostle requires this modesty of women not only in the place where the Church meets together but in any grave assembly of Matrons or such as sometimes are in private houses It 's true he denys them liberty to prophecy in any other place but I see no reason why an Abigail a Deborah may not at least be the mouth of a family to God But I am not positive herein but leave it to others consideration 4. And why may not a Servant a Steward of the house such as Eliezer Abrahams Servant or Obadiah Ahabs Servant pray in the Family Especially in these cases when the Master gives him not only liberty but a call to that Performance yea requests him to pray in the Family 2. When that Servant hath gifts to qualifie him for such a work and is not exposed to the scorn and contempt of his fellows 3. In case of the Masters sickness or absence from home or when more publick necessary business diverts him 4. In case that Servant be Humble Submissive Self-denying and know his place and do it not with a kind of Bravado over his Fellow-Servants or Contempt of his Master And if in all things that Servant shew himself Obedient according to his Duty 1 Tim. 6.1 2. 1 Pet. 2.18 19. 3. Query Or case of Conscience is When is the fittest time for the performance of Family-Worship Answ As to the time of Prayer I am really ashamed when I read how often the Turks and Mehometans Pray it is said by Writers they go seven times a Day to their Devotion viz. 1. Diluculo Early in the Morning 2. Oriente Sole at Sun-rising 3. Meridie at Noon 4. Inter Meridiem Vesperam betwixt Noon and Even 5. Occidente Sole at Sun-set 6. In Vespere an hour after Sun-set 7. Mediâ nocte at Midnight Oh! Be ashamed you professed Christians to be out stript by the Barbarous Turks * Weems Christian Synag p 85. David thrice Psal 55 17. Dan. 6.10 But as for the Jews whom primitive Christians imitated their hours of Prayer were borrowed from the times of their Sacrificing 1. Morning which was any time before the third hour Acts 2.15 2. Their Mid-day called the sixth hour Acts 10.9 or about Noon †Inde colligimus non posse cavere Ecclesiam certâ disciplinâ ac hodie nisi obstaret nimius corpor atile esset quotidie habere tales Conventus Calvin Act 31. 3. Evening-Prayer which was about the ninth hour which was six a Clock at Night Act. 3.1 Calvin thinks they did not go into the Temple to Pray meerly to comply with Jewish Rites but the better to propagate the Gospel yet asserts that the Church cannot want her certain Disciplin and at this Day saith he but that too much drowziness hinders it were profitable to have daily such meetings for Prayer He means in a more publick manner But for the Circumstance of time it is judged that Morning and Evening are fittest seasons for Family-Devotion Hence Calvin notes Hoc excercitio docebantur ab invocatione cultu dei incipere diem claudere by this exercise they were taught to begin and shut up the Day with Prayer and the Worship of God I have hinted this before and shall only add in short a few Directions 1. You must be sure to Pray for a Blessing upon your Meat at Meals according to 1 Tim. 4.4.5 2. Take your Family at Meal-time to seek God and read his Scriptures to sing Gods praise and to perform Family-Duty Morning and Evening 3. Let it be a stated time if possible known to the Family that none may plead excuse for their absence But the whole Family may attend 4. Yet if some extraordinary accident intervene you must not think your selves so precisely bound to a time as to be perplexed in Conscience