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
is an Emblem of Heaven it is recorded of the Prince of Anhalts House that it was Templum Academia Curia a Church an Academy and Court where himself was as Priest Tutour Judg and Soveraign Lord Oh happy such a family I may say of such a Governour as the Queen of Sheba of Solomon happy are thy men happy are these thy Servants which stand continually before thee 1 Kin. 10.8 This this only is the Glory of a Family 2. This is not only the Ornament but muniment and defence of a Family Psal 91.1 he that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty Communion with God usually is attended with protection from God if any be safe it is the Godly that shall be safe Lot's Family must be delivered from Sodoms flames the Lord shall create upon every dwelling-place of mount-Mount-Zion Isai 4.5 as well as upon her Assemblies a Cloud and Smoak by day that the Enemy shall not find them and the shining of a Flaming Fire by night that they may see the their way Zech. 2.5 yea it shall be a Wall of Fire round about them for upon all the Glory shall be a defence yea God himself will be the Glory in the midst of them none know the advantages of Praying families but experienced and Observant Christians 3. This is the way and means to bring Spiritual and Eternal Salvation to your Houses surely that was a great word that our Dear Lord spoke to Zacheus Luk. 19 9 this day is Salvation come to this House that little man used great care and made an hard shift to behold Jesus and meat with a blessed unexpected guest that brought him the greatest Blessing himself and Salvation with Him Our Lord never comes alone but brings Happiness with him the conversion of one man as it was a pledg of his Adoption so it made even domum illam salut is haeredem the whole Family an heir of Heavenly Glory Nam quia deus dum patrem familias adoptat toti etiam ejus domni se in deum fore promit tit jure salus a capite extenditur ad totum corpus Calv. in loc Act. 10. 2 11 14. for as Calvin observed when God adopts the Governour of a Family he promiseth to be a God to the whole house and by right Salvation is extended from the head to the whole body So Lydia was baptized and her houshold and the Jaylour Act. 16 15 33 34. and oh what joy was produced when himself and his house believed yea Cornelius owning God in Family-worship brought to him and his words whereby the Master and all his house should be saved not of Merit but in a Covenant-way and in answer of Prayer Oh Sirs would you not have your Children and Servants saved this is Gods appointed way to bring it about call in Divine aid and grace to do that for yours which you cannot 4. Family-Worship will make up a defect in or want of publick Ordinances Providence may cast your lot in places where the streams of the Sanctuary run low or muddy in this case house-wells may do you much Service when publick persecution breaks up Church-assemblys house-worship will maintain Religion in the World and that private Fire will break out into an open Flame what had become of Religion had it not lodged in private houses this hath been Gods usual reserve to maintain the power of Godliness Church-History â—ells us that the open profession of the Gospel hath run at a low Ebbe and this hath helped it to a Glorious Resurrection Ministers were Banished Assemblies scaterred Churches demolished and scarce any appearance of publick Meetings yet then the fire glowed hot in private hearths and in God's due time a door was opened for Solemn Assemblies how much are we beholding to God for House-Altars and such a day may overtake us again And suppose you have free liberty of Publick and Powerfull Ordinances how can you expect a blessing upon them without seeking God for it in your Families What good will Preaching do without your private instructions admonitions councels prayers this will inculcate truths and may lay a foundation for after-godliness and as Family-Worship is most indisputable so least unaproachable by the enemy because oft indiscerneabl however you may most warrantably suffer for it if that be God's will as you heard Daniel ventured himself for it to the hungry Lions My Beloved Friends what shall I say what Arguments shall I use to perswade you to this duty of Family-Worship I doubt your Religion is to seek if you be so loath to set up this Family-Altar which may consecrate all your Civil and Natural acts and Offices I will but Pose you with these few Interrogatorys 1. Suppose a Grave and Pious Minister or Christian friend lodge with you would you not for shame reach him a Bible and desire him to go to Prayer with you lest he should suspect you to be Prayerless at other times and will not Gods authority and presence have the like influence and awe upon your Spirits 2. Suppose your Friends and Relations should quite disown and disclaim you unless you would Pray in your Family would you not make an hard shift to do something that way rather than be accounted unworthy of Humane Society and shall that prevail more than God's disclaiming you or disowning converse with you 3. If your Landlord should turn you out of your House or your Father shoud Disinherit you if you set not up this Family-altar could you be content to suffer both rather than do it and shall a threatning of your Father in Heaven or Great Land-lord to reject or eject you out of Heaven avail nothing 4. If a Law were imposed upon you to pay five Shillings a time that you neglect Prayer in your Family would you forfeit that summe toties quoties as oft as you go Prayerless to Bed and would you not fear that would begger you and shall not greater losses and heavier penalties deter you from this Omission 5. If the King or a Nobleman should promise you five Pound a time that you call your Family together read a Chapter Sing a Psalm Kneel down and Pray to God would you not strain hard to procure that Money and will not a greater profit from the Almighty God prevail with you to perform this excercise to obtain a reward 6. Suppose a Brand were set upon your Foreheads like Cains Tan or a dreadfull Trembling should seize upon your bodies for such a Neglect or you should pass under such a Stigmatizing character as that in Deut. 25.9 10. The house of him that hath his Shooe loosed So if this name be given you this is a Graceless Prayerless man would not this shame you out of this wretched Omission 7. Suppose the next time you go Prayerless to Bed your loveliest Child and Darling should be snatch't away by a sudden stroak of Death as it was in
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