24. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar i. e. to God in a religious action Yea the whole Gospel-Worship is thus denominated Rev. 11.1 Rise measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein i. e. look that Gospel-service be regualar according to God's Word cleansed from Antichristian pollutions This is prophesied Isa 19.19 In that day shall there be an Altar to the Lord in the midst of the Land of Egypt i. e. God's Worship shall be settled in all places in Gospel-times not a Levetical but Evangeligal Altar Nothing is more common in Old and New Testament than to speak of Gospel-worship in the phrase of the Law The like may be said of Sacrifices spiritual Sacrifices in a Gospel sense so offering up to God our selves Rom. 12.1 prayer and praise Heb. 13.15 Acts of Charity v. 16. a broken heart Psal 51.17 Martyrdom Phil. 2.17 As for a false Altar constituted in the Romish Church upon which they would offer Christ daily as a Sacrifice for quick and dead Protestants renounce it as a crucifying the Son of God again and inconsistent with Scripture and Reason Heb. 9.25 nor yet that he should offer himself often v. 26.28 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 10.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified It cannot be denied that the Antients have called the Lord's Supper an unbloody Sacrifice the Table an Altar Ministers Priests the whole action an Oblation but not in the sense the Papists do but by way of allusion as it is a Memorial of Christ's Sacrifice or as spiritual prayers praises alms are attended therewith as our Divines have abundantly proved and disproved the propriety of speech as applied to that Ordinance Well then we renounce Popish Altar Quid opus est Altari ubi nec ignis ardâ—at nec viâ—imâ— caedantur Pet. Martyr cont Gard. Sacrifices Priests yet acknowledge in a spiritual sense that Christ by his Blood hath made all Believers Kings and Priests unto God and his Father Rev. 1.6 And that we are built up a spiritual House an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 9. The words being thus opened I shall raise this important Doct. That Governours of Families must as Priests erect Family-Altars for God's Worship It well becomes Housholders or Governours of Families to set up and maintain Family-Altars for worshiping of God in and with the Members of their Families As holy Jacob the famous Patriarch was a Prophet to instruct his Family in the true Religion and a King to Govern them for God so a Priest to set up an Altar offer Sacrifices and perform Religious Worship for and with his Family Yea the poorest man that hath a Family is to be Prophet Priest and King in his own House God commands Jacob to build an Altar at Bethel Jacob resolves upon it and gives all his Family orders how to behave themselves in managing this important affair and when they did their duty God secured them they journeyed and passed on safely Let none say that this setting up an Altar by Jacob was but ordered upon this particular occasion of his paying his Vows formerly made at Bethel and so doth not oblige us I Answer 1. It 's true this circumstance of the place occasion and this solemnity are personal and particular but the duty is general moral and prepetual as I shall prove it 2. Jacob doubtless worshipt God with his Family in all places where he had come as he took the fear of God with him in his heart so he left not the external practice of Religion behind him But set up Gods Worship which was equivalent to an Altar in all places where he came as his Father Isaac and his Grand-father Abraham had done 3. And may not we have the like occasion as he had to rear an Altar Have we had no mercies from God Do we lie under no Vows or at least Obligations to the Lord And do not these presidents and general rules bind us to the like practice except we have a particular command by a voice from Heaven or in an extraordinary way I shall evince the contrary 4. Because Jacob was left alone and wrestled with the Angel and prevailed upon an extraordinary occasion Gen 32.24 i. e. the fear he had of his Brother Esau Shall we think that Jacob never prayed alone but when he was in the like hazard No doubtless he was well acquainted with God and much accustomed to this trade of conversing with God So because we find God prompting him to this Family-work here can this be thought to exclude his ordinary course of Family-doctrine No certainly It rather implies and includes this In prosecuting this Point I shall use this Method 1. Open what I mean by Altars in Families 2. Prove it to be Housholders Duty to set them up 3. Answer Objections against this Practice 4. Make some Deductions and Applications Chap. II. Shewing what is meant by Family-Altars and what 's required of Housholders BY Altar I mean by a Synechdoche all the Worship of God to be performed in Families To an Altar in old time literally and in Gospel-times Mystically or Metaphorically there are four things requisite 1. The Institution or Consecration none can appoint an Altar to be Erected but God Exod. 20.24 An Altar of Earth shalt thou make None hath Power to order Gods Worship but himself alone Men may not add or diminish at their pleasure Mat. 28.20 Mininisters must teach Christians must observe all things whatsoever our Lord commandeth us Numb 7.10 Men may Dedicate an Altar It is God alone that properly Consecrates or Sanctifies it yet men are said to Consecrate themselves to the Lord 2 Chron. 29.31 33. yea and other things in a secondary way and instrumentally But as God appoints so himself only doth Authoritatively efficiently actually Consecrate Persons and things Let us see we have a warrant from God for what we do in his Worship 2. An Altar requires a Priest Before Moses Law the First-born of the Family was Priest to offer on the Altar but afterwards Good took the Tribe of Levi instead of the First-born in remembrance of the Lords smiting the First-born in Egypt Num. 3.12.13 Num. 17.9 Aaron and his Family were the blossoming rod whom God had chose in a peculiar manner to Minister before him But our Lord Jesus is our New Testament Aaron yet above him even after the Order of Melchizedeck Heb. 6.20 an higher Order than that of Aaron Upon whose account all Gods Saints be Kings and Priests Joh. 17.17 For as Christs Divinity sanctified his Humanity for our Lord as God sanctified himself as man so he also sanctifies all his Saints Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified for this end that they may be an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual
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-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
act of Divine care in disposing Men and Womens Affections to each other Psal 113.9 Exod. 1.21 Ruth 4.11 2 Sam â— 11 to make a barren Woman to keep house to be a joyful Mother of Children It was God that made the God-fearing Midwives houses The Lord made Rachel and Leah to build the House of Israel And why doth God make his David's a sure house Why doth God give Servants Is it only to gratifie the flesh or a fancy Is it only for Worldly profit Is it not for Religion sake Hath God no higher ends than most men have for Worldly advantages or pleasure Surely God puts persons into this Relation for himself Who is the grand End of all his Acts He hath made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 Should men then live like Heathens Beasts Do they not thereby contradict Gods design Doth God give Wife and Children to them that fear him and doth he not expect they should fear and serve him together Ps 128.3 4. If Children be Gods Heritage Psal 127.3 why should not we present them to the Lord upon our knees If they be Gods reward to us why should we not give them again to God as our best reward If Families are Societies of Divine Institution do they not need Divine Benediction Should not Persons carry on Religion in a Relative capacity Surely yes When God Sanctifies this Relation by his appointment should not men Sanctifie his name by setting up his Ordinances there 's great reason for it 1 Tim. 4.5 For every thing is Sanctified by the Will of God and Prayer Gods Will to warrant our lawful use thereof Prayer for our holy and profitable use thereof As men without both these cross Gods design so they have no due use of this sweet Domestical Constitution and Relation 7. This Family-Altar distinguisheth betwixt Godly and Prophane-Families This is one discriminating Character the one calls on God the other not This is as the Altar Ed to testifie to all the World their solemn owning of the true God On the contrary wicked Persons are thus described Deut. 29.18 Lest there should be amongst you Man or Woman or Family or Tribe whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God Mind it Families in their Domestical capacity as well as in a Personal or National capacity may be alienated from God and may have a root that beareth Gall and Wormwood then see what follows This is that which makes evil Families Jer. 8.3 when instead of Praying Reading Scriptures Singing Psalms there is Cursing Swearing Mocking at serious Godliness Vain or Prophane Talk at least but Worldly Discourse But Religious Families are such as maintain Gods Worship according to Gods Institution where the daily perfume of Prayer ascends Heaven-wards Mr. Fenner Preaching at the Funeral of a godly old man disabled from work and and daily going among his friends for relief saith Oh how much better was that poor Cottage where he lived whence the Incense of Prayer and Praises mounted daily upwards than the Sumptuous Pallaces of Princes and Nobles where Oaths and Blasphemies are belched out It was the appointment among the Jews and Proselites that every Family Esth 9.27.28 Province City should observe the Feast of Purin as a memorial of their deliverance from Hamans Conspiracy and is there not as much reason that Christian Families should celebrate the great work of Redemption in their Families Just Mart. Apol. Christ ad Ant. Plum Justiâ—e Martyr tells us amongst the other Characters of Primitive Christians this was one Quod jejuni prius Orant that they prayed fasting before they set upon any Work At enim qui non ita vivere comperiuntur sicut ille docuit certum est Documentum non esse Christianos quamvis id linguâ profiâ—cantur And having described the godly manners of Antient Christians he adds that those that live not as Christ taught it is a certain note that they are not Christians though they profess it in speech and words 8. Christian-families are Churches and Churches must have Altar's for God's Worship Luke gives us an account of the Primitive Church that they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer Act. 2.42 Breaking Bread in the Lord's Supper is a publick Church-Ordinance the other are also common to Families as well as Christian-Assemblies Families consist of individual Persons Istae enim Congregationes sunt quasi partes similares Ecclesie Catholicae atqae adto no nen naturam ejus participant Ames Med. Theo. lib. 1. c. 32. Congregations of Families and the Catholick Church of particular Societies and Families may partake of the Name and must of the Nature of Churches What is a Church but a Religious Society gathered for God's Worship The Church was limited to Families in the first Ages of the World thence it spread it self by Divine Grace into many streams all proceeding from one spring as branches from one root till the Church became National But Families were the first Original Nor doth Family-Religion cease when Publick Assemblies are erected Gen. Diu me torsit hic lotus etiamnum torquet Vid. Pol. Crit. in locum 4.26 Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord. That Text hath tortured Interpreter but this is clear that calling on God's Name is part of God's Worship that this Piety was maintained in Seth's particular family and possibly in a little time men begun more publickly to own God's Worship when others did degenerate Gen. 6.2 and hence the Sons of God and of Men were thereby distinguished which confirms the former Argument But this is that I now say that families are to be as Churches And some interpret those places Col 4.15 Philem. 2. Rom. 16.5 Greet the Church in their house and Church in thine house to be no more than a private family Grotius takes it for a domestical Church and saith ubi tres licet Laici ibi Ecclesia est that three persons though Lay-men make a Church Now where there is God's House it is an House of Prayer That 's no Church where there is no Altar to God but it is a Synagogue of Satan We cannot call every family a Church but a Christian godly family and 't is to called by the Analogy or Resemblance it bears to a Church from the Worship of God maintained therein So then without God's Worship in your houses you are not Churches and so not Members of Christ or of the Catholick Church of God but in that respect as Heathens 9. Housholders have a charge upon their hands which they must give an account of and opportunity to discharge this Trust Governours are charged with their families Hence is the fourth Commandment given to them chiefly Exod. 20 1â— that they should take care that their family should keep the Sabbath-day and hence is the fifth Command given to Inferiours to obey their
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-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
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-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
of your Family will bring every one a Stone to raise the pile of praise to an higher pitch yea and bring their Coal to warm your hearts together and kindle a greater Flame of heavenly devotion try this course and you 'll see the blessed issue 9. Consider what dangers you are daily incident to and see if that will not afford you matter of Prayer possibly some of your Callings expose you to greater hazards than ordinary some ride much abroad early and late to Markets and are subject to falls some work under ground and may be crusht to death others go to Sea and see the wonder of the Lord in the deep and it hath been said he that knows not how to Pray Qui nescit orare discat navigare let him go to Sea there is no Calling but it hath its Snares and difficulties which it exposeth Persons to and Wisdom is profitable to direct foreseen Dangers least hurt for as Persons are forewarned at least it affords Matter of Deprecation But there are thousands of accidents that the most sagacious eye cannot foresee which you see others fall into and fall by one falls into a Pit and perisheth another his Horse falls and he breaks an Arm or Leg or his Neck others are assaulted by Robbers and Slain others are burnt by sudden Fires in their Houses your own observation may afford you many sad Instances and what befalls others may befall you and may not these afford you matter of Prayer for their prevention or your preparation for them put your selves into Gods hands every Morning and Evening for you are never safe but under his Tuition the Omniscient Omnipotent God can only guard you and your Family He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleepeth Psa 121.4.227.1 2. other means are ineffectual without him Zech. 12.10 10. Beg Gods Holy Spirit It is a Spirit of Grace and Supplication go to God in the name of Christ and if you can say nothing else yet tell him you cannot Pray but withall say Lord I hear others can Pray why not I No matter how dull the Schollar is so I have thee for my Master I hear others of mean gifts Naturally are yet instructed Spiritually and have arrived to great dexterity in managing Family-Worship and may not I be endowed with the same Spirit first of Sanctification and then of Supplication come Lord and teach me to Pray as John taught his Disciples or rather as Jesus teacheth his Members thou saist Luk. 11.1 v. 13. if ye being evil know how to give good Gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him I know this is an hard Text but it must not be understood as if God would give his Sanctifying Spirit to a carnal mans Prayer by vertue of a promise but either common gifts of the Spirit to such or further degrees of the Spirit to his own Children and so I think it is to be taken as the Pledge and earnest of the Holy Spirit to Sanctified Souls as Calvin takes it as being one of the good things of the kingdom of Heaven Which Godly Souls most importunately ask and beg for and you see here a free and faithful promise of Christ that his and our Father will bestow his Holy Spirit on us Jubemar qâ—idâ—m pulsare sed nemo Sponte praâ—nditari vel 〈◊〉 Syllabâ—m poâ—erit visi arcado Spiritus sui instinctu nos Deus puisiâ—â— adeâ—â—â— sibi corda nostra aperiat Cal. ix loc and the Blessed Apostle tells us the advantage of the Holy Spirit for our assistance in prayer Rom. 8.26 likewise also the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should Pray for as we ought c. All acknowledge that the Spirit must help our infirmities in the manner of right Praying exciting Graces and Holy affections and knitting our thoughts to God But the great question is whether the Holy Ghost dictates to Gods Children matter or expression in Prayer I think the Text is clear that it doth For the Text saith not that we know not how to pray but what we should pray for as we ought hence a Schoolman saith Dissicillimum est scire quid sit desiderandum it's most difficult to know what is to be desired a Godly man knows the end Gods Glory and the injoyment of him but unless the Spirit teach him he will miss it in the means and as our Saviour saith ask they know not what Mat. 20 2â— Luk. 9.54 55. Job 6.8 9 Jonah 4.3 as we have some instances in Scripture and many sad experiments in our selves and though the Lords Prayer be a rule in general yet we may be to seek in particulars except the Spirit bring things into our thoughts and often suggest Scripture expressions to our Memorys in earnest and perinent Pleading with the Lord the Spirit inlightens us in our Ignorance assists us in our weakness resolves us in our doubtings Comforts us in our Sadness Quickens us in our Deadness Composeth us in our distractions Oh! therefore sue out this blessed Advocate within which will make Interpellation in our Hearts as Christ makes intercession at Gods right hand and then you Pray acceptably But God hears no Language but that of his Spirit yet God's Spirit makes intercession by helping God's people to intercede Spiritus iâ—tâ—â—lat â—aâ—i endo nos â—â—terpell 〈◊〉 â—r ac saciâ—â— to nos orare clamat faciendo nos clamare videsis Pareâ—m in loc it Prays by helping us to Pray not as Arrians imagine that the Holy-Ghost is below the Son as supplicating the Son or that the Son is less than the Father as supplicating the Father which is a grosse mistake for Christ intercedes for us by the vertue of his merit with the Father the Holy-Ghost by helping us to cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 Let none Imagin that this is an Euthusiastick fancy or a miraculous gift as Chrysostom thought no nor a Melancholy dream they that have any solid experience in the things of God know that the assistance of the Spirit in Prayer is the greatest reality in the World nor was it a temporary gift but a permanent Grace abiding with the Church for Ever Joh. 14.16 Eph. 6.18 Jude 20. Enabling even private Christians to Pray in the Spirit and in the Holy-Ghost yet differently as God sees good sometimes more inlarging their hearts and at other times withdrawing his Influences but it becomes us to embrace its Motions and Pray earnestly for it Thus much for helps to the matter of Prayer Chap. IX Helps how to manage Family-Worship as to the manner of Performance THUS at last I have dispatch't the instructions that concern the matter of Family-Prayer for the help of such as are weak and are sensible of their own Insufficiency and have been longer than I intended and must contract in the Rest As to the due manner of managing this Solemn Family-Work