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-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-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
Children of Israel Lev. 16.11 Lev. 1.5 8. Aaron must make an Atonement for himself and for his house And verse 21. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live Goat and confess over him all the iniquities of the Children of Israel Thus did Job ch 1.5 He rose early in the morning and offered burnt-Offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my Sons have sinned Thus must we do confess the sins of our Family and beg pardon through Christ 3. The Priest was to intercede for the People as Aaron was to take a Censer and put fire thereon from the Altar and put on Incense and stood between the dead and living Nam quoties in Sanctum ingrediebatur Sacerdos quasi in Dei conspectum prodibat ut inter eum populum esset Mediator Calv. in loc Numb 16.46 48. Hence the Priests Office was to burn Incense in the Temple and the multitude of the People were praying without at the time of Incense Luk. 1.9 10. For as often as the Priest entred into the holy place he appeared as in the presence of God that he might be a Mediator between God and the People It 's true there is no Mediator of Intercession no more than of Redemption betwixt God and Sinners but Jesus Christ alone in a proper sense yet as one may pray and prevail for another through Christ so a godly Housholder may and must be the mouth of his Family on their behalf 4. The Priest was to bless the People Numb 6.23 Speak unto Aaron and to his Sons saying on this wise ye shall bless the Children of Israel saying unto them the Lord bless thee and keep thee c. Doubtless this was petitory or by way of petition and God answers that prayer verse 27. And I will bless them But how far they did this in the Name and by the Authority of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost I cannot say Weemsâ— Christian Syn. p. 311. Weemse tells us that the Priests lifted up both their hands when they blessed the People The Text in Psal 134.2 Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary alludes to this because the Priests could not lay their hands upon all the People they lifted them up for in blessing they were wont to lay on their hands therefore Jacob laid his hands on Joseph's Sons Gen. 48.17 There was a Sacerdotal a Patriarchal and a Parental Blessing Thus the Chief of a Family blesseth his Houshold 2 Sam. 6.20 Then David returned to bless his Houshold which was by prayer and in the Name of the Lord pronouncing a Blessing upon his Family not as a Priest nor as a Prophet only but as a Governour of his Houshold which the meanest Housholder may and must do Chap. III. Arguments to prove that Governours of Families must set up Altars for the Worship of God THE second Head proposed is the proof of this Doctrine That Housholders must Erect Altars for the Worship of God in their Families 1. The Command of God Prayer is the great duty required of all men 〈…〉 bread aâ— David's Table continually i. e. at meal-times 2 Sam. 9.7 So in dâ— season is expounded continually Numb 28.2 3. The Text saith pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5.17 This is not to be understood as the Euchites or Messalians of old did as excluding other Duties but either maintaining a praying disposition or improving all seasons of Prayer Using a constant course of praying Customary praying is one thing and a custom of praying is another 1 Pet. 4.7 Col. 4.2 this latter is a Duty Therefore we are bid to watch unto Prayer as well as watch in Prayer i. e. be sure you observe the hours and season of Prayer in Closet Family Publick be not absent be not negligent Then for the place 1 Tim 2.8 I will that men Pray every where If in all places then in their Houses and with their Families in conjuction For it means our common dwellings as well as Temples since there is no promise perculiarly appropriated to one place Joh. 4.21 Mal. 1.11 more than another under the Gospel For so was the Prediction In every place Incense shall be offered to my name Then for the sorts of Prayer read Eph. 6.18 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit i. e. Mental Vocal Prayer Petition for good Deprecation of evil Intercession for others Thanksgiving for mercies In the Publick Assemblies in Private Houses in secret Closets Certainly these kinds of Prayers are necessarily included And by good Consequence inferred Let none say this is far fetched for Scripture-consequence is good Argument â—at 22.29 37. As our Saviour proves the Resurrection If Prayer at all times in all places of all sorts be a Duty surely family-Family-Prayer is a Duty for it will come under all these 2. Scripture-types prove Family Worship as the Passover was clebrated in private Houses Exod. 12.3 Thy shall take to them every man a Lamb A Lamb for an House i. e. an Houshold ver 4 For the Hebrews say there must be ten if one Family was not sufficient they must call in the members of another Family for it must all be eaten at once The Passover was a token of the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and and saving their first-born when the first-born of Egypt were destroyed The Master of the Family took Bread brake it hence was called Boâ—zeang a breaker Then he Blessed it saying blessed art thou O Lord God King of the World who bringest Bread out of the Earth Then gives to every one about the quantity of an Olive to some the bigness of an Egg This saith Weemse Weemse Christian Syn. p. 13â— Whether there was two Suppers or no. See Godwin Moses Aaron lib 3. cap. 4. p. 137. was at their common Supper with which the Passover was joyned and doubtless Religion must always attend our Civils This holds forth Family-Devotion Let none say this were their Sacrament for though it was yet it was a Family-Religion and though it typified the Lord Jesus answered by the Lord's Supper in the New Testament which is a Church-Ordinance yet it also held forth God's Worship in Families But a clearer type is the Morning and Evening Sacrifice one Lamb is to be offered in the Morning the other in the Evening this must be day by day continually Exod. 29.38 39. This was for every individual Family and Person and it must be every day not only on Sabbath-days and other Solemnities but it shews that God must be daily worshipt Yea it must be Morning and Evening that prayer and praise may be the Lock and Key of the day And David alludes to this Psal 5.3 Psal 141.2 saying My voice shalt thou hear in the Morning and let my prayer be set before thee as Incense and the lifting up of my hands as the Evening Sacrifice This was constantly managed but solemnly yet we
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-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
Friend they say Bores whett their Tusks one against another and the younger Oxe learns to Plow of the elder wicked men do exasperate one another So must Heb. 10.24 so will God's Children consider one another to provoke unto Love and to good works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's a word borrowed from Physicians who describe a violent Feaver by this word which imports that at some times the Fit is so strong as to make the Body to tremble the Bed to shake under the Patient The same word used of the Contention or Paroxism betwixt Paul and Barnabas Only this is of Love Acts. 15.39 that was of Anger striving which should exceed in Zeal for God from the sense of Christ's Love to them outstripping one another in heavenly motions However if you frequently converse in the Societies of praying Christians you will be acquainted with their expressions which you may make use of so you have experience thereof and your hearts be joyned therewith and suited thereto and their phrases becoming yours you will be more fit for Family duty 5. Converse with God alone first Pray in your Closets and then you 'll be more inabled to Pray in your Families both as to Matter and Manner a frequent exercise of closet-Closet-prayer will move you to conversing with God there you will find that God will suggest Words into your minds which you may produce in your Families with your Mouths and this course will imbolden you before others and possibly this is one part of Gods rewarding Closet-prayer openly which our Lord promiseth Mat. 6.6 Job 22. 21 26 27. Thus saith Eliphas to Job acquaint now thy self with him i e with God and as one of the blessed Fruits of Familiarity thou shalt lift up thy Face unto God i. e. thou shalt openly own him before others without Sinful modesty or blushing 2 Cor. 3.18 as a Man dare boldly approach his intimate Friend whoever be present â—he adds also thou shalt make thy Prayer unto him and he shall hear thee Oh the blessed Fruits of a Souls acquaintance with God in a Corner such will not be ashamed of him before others such shall resemble God this Intimacy Transforms men into his likeness as long intimate acquaintance hath altered the Habit of some mens bodies and disposition of their Minds into that of their friends Moses conversing with God in the Mount made his Face shine Exo. 34.30 so that some Rays of Divine Glory appeared to Aaron and the Israelites the more you are with God the more you have of God and this of Praying with boldness confidence and assurance is both a Duty and Priviledge obtained by frequent conversing with God as our friend But the manner of the expression is worth nothing thou shalt make thy Prayer to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Midâ—p icavit 〈◊〉 verâ—◠〈◊〉 fudit â—â—â—atioâ— the Words are Emphatical and signifie a pouring out of Prayer with Multitude of Words in Prayer strong Words clothed with Power you will never want Matter or Words or inlargedness if you be thus acquainted with God your Family will soon take notice that you have been with Jesus in a corner when they discern such freedom of Speech and Spirit yea no body can hinder you from Praying with your Family one Act of Religion draws on another secret Duties prepare for more publick and 't is true what Dr. Preston observes that helps to Religion are within the compass of Religion multiplyed Acts strengthen habits by running men learn to run by writing they learn to write so by Praying you will best learn to Pray 6. Study the Nature of Sin see what a Scriptural discovery you can make of the Sin of Nature and Nature of Sin the kinds degrees circumstances aggravations of Sin together with the doleful effects and consequences of it in this and another World this will help you in Confession self-accusation and deep Humiliation which is a considerable part of Prayer This Self-knowledge helps both in the Matter and manner of Praying 2. Chron. 6.29 What Prayer or supplication shall be made of any Man or of all thy People of Israel when every one shall know his own Sore Psal 38.9 and his own Grief Sorrow makes eloquent you need not prompt a necessitous Beggar he hath Words at will and shews his Sores which is powerful Oratory if Sin were your burden it would squeeze out Sighs and Groans and a Groan is a good Prayer Lord my desire is before thee and my Groaning is not hid from thee and if there be inward Sighs there will be outward Speeches if you be full of Griefs you will be full of complaints Job 32.18 1.0 29 if you be full of Matter it will make you burst like new bottles and you will speak that you may be refreshed consult the Book of Conscience and you will find it easy to draw up a large bill of Indictment against your own Souls 7 Study your wants need makes beggers and adds Spurs to Prayers learn of poor Beggers at the Door Malefactors at the Barr consider your own Indigency the case of your Families Congregations the Nation is there no unconverted Sinner in your Family is there no Sin breaking out amongst you is there no Grace weak or wanting in your self or yours Is there no Temptation assaulting any of you or no affliction or Judgment incumbent on you or impendent over you look and look again as you use to make an inspection into your Stock when you go to the Market to make provision follow the Lord importunately for a crum of Mercy Mat. 15.27 Duk. 18.3 verse 13. as the poor Woman in the Gospel or as the importunate Widow or if you can say no more say as the Publican God be merciful to me a Sinner the Lord be merciful to my poor Sinning Family who knows what prevalency may be in such a Word uttered from an humble sense of Soul-wants you know that Man went to his House justified rather than the vaunting vainglorious Pharisee 8. Make a Catalogue of your mercies recollect the kindness of God Personal Domestical both in Temporals and Spirituals it 's true Psal 40.5 they are so many that they cannot be declared in order they are more than can be numbred Verse 12. but let that not discourage you in your attempt no more than reckoning up your Sins which are also innumerable but do what you can in both if you cannot do what you would or ought the more you endeavour the more will be suggested to your Memory and so the more will be matter of praise and thankfulness for renewed Mercy every day and as you find any signal Mercies set up an Eben-ezer and say hitherto hath the Lord helped us 1 Sam. 7.12 you will experience multiplied occasions of such Memorials speak good of God in conferrence Psal 34.3 and call in the help of others to magnifie the Lord with you and perhaps the members
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
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
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
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-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
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
for ever You had need pray and pray again for new Covenant-Mercy That God would give you a new Heart Ezek. 36.26 27. and a new Spirit That you may walk in his Statutes Eph. 4.22 23 24. 1 Pet. 1.18 Be not content with the Old Man that corrupt rotten Image of Old Adam but put on the New Man that will make you capable of new Acts in a new manner Better late than never Be not wedded to old Traditions Object 18. I have used it formerly but got no good by it and so gave it over and if I begin again I doubt I shall not hold out Answ 1. Whose fault was that Was it God's fault or thine The blame must not be laid on the Duty but on the Person Thousands have got good by it and would not lay it aside for all the Worlds wealth If thy heart had been right Job 17.9 thou wouldst have held on thy way if thy hands had been clean thou wouldst have been stronger and stronger 2 John 8. Alas that thou shouldest lose thy reward by losing what thou hast wrought Poor Soul thou hast Run in vain all thy Labour is lost Ezek. 18.24 thy former Righteousness shall not be mentioned for thee but against thee 2. Who persuaded thee to leave off Family-Prayer You did run well who hindred you Not God or his Ministers this persuasion cometh not of him that called you Gal. 5.7.8 No no it was the Devil and a Wicked Heart that bewitched you And is it not egregious folly Gal. 3.1 3. having begun in the Spirit to think to be made perfect by the Flesh Will you go out of God's blessing into the warm Sun Jer. 2.5 Mal. 3.14 What iniquity have you found in God or in his ways Oh gratifie not the Devil and Flesh 2 Kin. 6.33 by saying It is invain to God Or what should I wait for the Lord any longer Hos 2.7 Come Sirs renew you old Acquaintance Return to your first Husband receive your ancient convictions impressions engage the strength of God and you shall hold on Object 19. I like not this precileness you shall never persuade me to it you spend your breath in vain yet I hope to be saved as well as the best of you all God is merciful Answ 1. Now Flesh and Blood and carnal reason speak out and vent the natural malignity of a wicked heart Rom. 8.7 the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Oh that any of Gods creatures should spit such venom against its maker How far are you from blessed Paul who when God called him by his Grace He conferred not with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1.16 Will you ask the Devils Advice whither you shall be God's Children or no Will you not serve God without the Devils leave Well go on in your gratifying God's enemy and see the issue it will be bitterness in the End 2. Dare you stand by this answer at God's Bar and great Tribunal Dare you then say Lord thou didst indeed bid us Pray but we had no mind of that Duty we loved not thee nor did we approve of thy ways we thought they were too strict and bound us too strait we had more mind of our carnal ease and sensual lusts Luk. 19.14 we were Latitudinarians and resolved upon it we will not have this man to rule over us whatever it cost us Well Sirs think not not much if God say Prov. 1.25 26. Psal 50.21 You have set at nought all my Councel and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your calamity Your thought I was altogether such an one as your selves but I will reprove you Now is the day of Vengeance Mercy hath an end and Justice takes place and those mine Enemies that would not that I should Reign over them Luk. 19.27 bring them hither and slay them before me Object 20. Well now I am convinced Prayer is a Duty family-Family-Prayer is my Duty and I have a mind to perform it but I know not how to to manage it I am a meer strangeer to it God help me I am a meer Ignoramus and know not what to say Answ 1. Where 's the fault Hast thou not injoyed Means Helps Ordinances many years for the good of thy Soul Do'st thou not see others as very Idiots as thou attain to excellent gifts under the same helps that can pray very pertinently even extempore but I guess the true cause it 's either the Pride of thy heart that thou canst not pray so well as others or it 's thy laziness that thou hast not diligently used means to get knowledge or excite thy faculties Prov. 1.32 thy sloth will slay thy Soul and thy damnation will be just 2. God stands not upon Gifts Elocution or ready Utterance the Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit Psal 51.17 a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise If thou hast not precious Liquor canst thou not offer him thy empty Bottles If thou canst not Pray canst thou not fall down on thy Knees and tell God thou canst not Pray Canst thou not desire him to help thee to pray Yea canst thou not say as much as the poor Publican God be merciful to me a Sinner Luk. 18.13 to us Sinners If it be not wilfulness but weakness God will indulge thee much his Spirit will help thy Infirmities Rom. 8.26 both what to say and how to pray But in this case I shall give some helps anon Chap. V. An use of Conviction Lamentation over Prayerless-Families THE first use I shall make of this point is of Lamentation and severe Admonition if this be so as I have Proved and Answered Objections against it That Governours must Act the parts of Priests to Erect Altars for the Worship of God in their Families Then I doubt it will fall heavily upon many thousand Families in England for which I fear God's Vengeance is hanging over their heads God looks and expects that in a Professing Kingdom a Nation where the Gospel hath been so long owned by Publick Authority that Religion Should have been more owned and practised in Families than I fear it is God may justly wonder That there is no Intercessor Therefore how justly may the Lord put on Garments of Vengeance Isa 59.16 17 18. and Repay recompence to these Islands Wo is us that there is so few serious gracious Families to be found in these Islands Religion runs at a low Ebb serious devotion is banished from among us Some Families are 1. Without Priests 2. Without Altar 3. Without Sacrifice Or 4. The Sacrifice of Devils instead of Gods or joyned with Gods A Brief hint of all these 1. There are many Houses without Priest i. e. where the Governour of the Family hath no Religion is not devoted to God anointed with the Spirit and consecrated to be a Gospel-Priest
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