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
do not find that the whole Assembly met every day therefore most probably a Family work and worship 3. Natural Religion prompts to it There is certainly such a thing as the Law and Light of Nature which puts men on to what is morally good and restrains men from or checks them for what is grosly evil Hence the Apostle saith Rom. 2.14 15. The Gentiles do by Nature some things materially good and natural Conscience accuseth or excuseth So he appealeth to Nature as an Argument à Fortiori 1 Cor. 11.14 Doth not even Nature it self teach you Whence these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common in workings proceed I dispute not whether from some Relicks of Gods Image in Man which some censure as â—elagianism or they be superinduced by God since the fall for the benefit of mankind See Mr. Gepel of Temptation But doubtless such notions there are as that there is a God a Supreme Being that he is to be feared loved worshiped And that not only Singly but Socially in Families as well as alone or in greater Assemblies hence besides their National and City-Gods they had their Lares and Penates their Houshold Gods tho' alas they were but Dumb Idols From them it may be Idolatrous Micah had an House of Gods Judg. 17.5 And shall poor dim-sighted Heathens think it highly rational to have Dung hill Gods in their houses and shall not men professing the true Religion of the true God own their Omnipresent God by setting up an Altar to him in their houses the Prophet speaks peremptorily Mic. 4.5 All People will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Is there not much more reason and should not such as own the true God run parallel to these poor Idolaters in Acting for and Worshiping of the true God Shall Nature teach them to have more care of their Children than Christians in Gods way Yea shall even the Sea Monsters Lam. 4.3 draw out their Breasts and give Suck to their young ones And shall Christians be so cruel to the Souls of theirs as to neglect this Houshold Duty 4. The Prophecies and Promises of the Word imply this family-Family-Worship Jer. 31.1 At the same time saith the Lord will I be the God of all the Families of Israel and they shall be my People Whether this mean all the twelve Tribes or Judah only it 's a Gospel-Promise and implies Worship For relation to God infers Adoration of him Mat. 4.10 Putatis nos occulâ—â—re quod câ—limus si delubra aras non habemus eum sit litabilis hostia bonuâ— animus pura mens ut sincera conscientia haec nostra Sacrificial ac Dei sacra sunt sic apud nos Religiosin est 〈◊〉 qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—inucia â—â—â—cis Octavius Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and this in Families not only larger but lesser Holiness to the Lord is not only to be written on the Bells of the Horses but the Pots in the Lord's house shall be like the Bowls before the Altar i. e. their very Kitchin-stuff and common Utensils shall be reckoned as holy as Altar-vessels immediately imployed in Sacrifices Yea further every Pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness to the Lord of Hosts Zech. 14.20 21. The Persons and Utensils in private shall all be dedicated to God and accepted by him in Gospel-times Civilities shall savour of Sanctity These New-Testament Priests shall without scruple serve God in their houses Every Family shall be a Temple wherein God will be woshipped House-pots shall be holy Vessels This is meant of Gentile Worshippers verse 16. And Jews shall not be behind them Zech. 12.12 13 14. The Land shall mourn every Family apart Heb. Families Families Royal Family Sacerdotal Tribe and common People they shall mourn apart and shut up themselves apart from company and pleasures to exercise godly sorrow vent their spirits in repenting prayers and mournful groans for their barbarous Crucifying the Prince of Life This some from all places did at Jerusalem Act. 2. and more shall do it the day of their general Call and Conversion to God 5. The Servants of God have Practised it You can scaace name a Religious Housholder but he hath set up an Altar in his Family and offered Spiritual Sacrifices thereupon Joshua a Noble Warriour resolves upon this chap. 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord let others do as they dare answer it another day I with my Children and Servants must and will worship the Lord Worshipping God is serving him Psal 72.11 All Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him i. e. Zeph. 3.9 by calling on God in prayer Doubtless Joshua did this David a great King in the midst of Political and Ecclesiastical Imployments withdraws himself from all and returned to bless his House 2 Sam. 6.20 1 Chron. 16.43 which could be no other way but by prayer and praising God for and with his Family Publick occasions must not justle out this Family-worship Job rose up early in the Morning offered Burnt-Offerings sanctified the Members of his Family and lest it be thought that this was but occasional and accidental the Text saith Thus did Job continually chap. 1. 5. And good Expositors think Daniel's going into his House Dan. 6.10 and his Windows being open in his Chamber or Dining room his usual Oratory he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed this they judge to be Family-prayer being so obvious and discernable by his Adversaries However that devout Captain Cornelius that feared God with all his house prayed to God with his Family Act. 10.2 which he explains saying Nec omittenda est circumstantia quod familiam in Dei timore insti tuit contempto periculi metu quod inde inst abat valde enim exosa erat Judaica Religio nec impunâ— erat Civi Romano peregrinam ut vocabant Religionem suscipere Quare et si hodiè pessime in mundo audit sincera Evangelii pâ—oâ—â—ssio tamen nimis vitiosa est timiditas si quem impediat injustum isâ—ad caâ—â—â— ne suam familiam Deo audeat in Sacrificium suâ piâ Institutione assâ—re Vid. Calv. in Act. 10.2 I prayed in my house verse 30. Calvin notes That Cornelius instructs his Family in the fear of God contemning the fear of danger for the Jewish Religion was then hateful nor might a Roman espouse a strange Religion wherefore although the sincere Profession of the Gospel is much decayed in the World yet that fearfulness is too criminal if upon the account of that unjust hatred any one should not dare to dedicate or offer up his Family as a Sacrifice to God by a holy Institution Thus Calvin 6. Argument for Family-Altar is the Providence of God calls for it God setteth the solitary in Families Psal 68.6 There is certainly a signal
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
the matter of Prayer I Have briefly dispatcht the preparatives for Erecting and managing Family Worship in a due order I now proceed more closely to the carrying on of this work â—â—â—ly that you may please Glorify and injâ—od profit and edify your selves and others in this undertaking in which I propose two sorts of instructions Which do Concern 1. Matter of managing Family Worship Concern 2. Manner of managing Family Worship 1. For matter or words in Family-Prayer the Holy-Ghost saith take with you words and turn to the Lord Hos 14.2 say unto him take away all Iniquity and receive us Graciously by words he means not only Phrases or literal expressions for therein Hypocrites may abound but 1. The subject Matter to be treated upon as Joab put words into the Womans Mouth 2 Sam. 14 3. i. e. the main purport design or manner of her Similitude not every Syllable she spoke 2. Practise accordingly keep the law Ebraei eâdem voce expriâ—unt verba et 〈◊〉 verba debent esse realia et homine digna praesertim apud Deum vid. Pol. crit in loc act as real Saints for the ten Commandments are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 words and our compliance therewith must answer our professions and prayers Else we do nothing we must live up to our prayers the word also signifies an ordering regulating and Marshalling a thing and indeed we cannot order our Words before him by reason of darkness therefore must we be very Cautious and exact as the wise man admonisheth Eccl. 5.2 Be not rash with thy Mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in Heaven and thou upon Earth therefore let thy words be few i. e. Well weighed in Prayer or vows God is of Infinite Majesty not to be despised of Transcendent Holiness not to be offended and of unsearhable Knowledge not to be deceived nor to be flattered with vain Repetitions study not to speak fine but fit words not many but weighty proceeding from thy heart directed unto God and pertinent to the matter in hand 4. Words may signify Arguments in Prayer So Job 6.25 how forcible are right words i. e. Proper Arguments as appears from the later clause but what doth your arguing reprove accordingly holy Job wisheth Oh that I knew where I might find him that I might come near to his Seat Job 23.34 I would order my Cause before him and fill my Mouth with Arguments not to out-argue God or to prove him unjust no nor to move God to that which he is unwilling to for he is in one mind and who can turn him No ver 13. he is Righteous and Unchangable I dare not deal with God or challenge him to deal with me upon terms of strict justice but upon terms of new Covenant-Grace pleading his promise made to Sinners in Christ and soliciting for performance of them And now I proceed to help House-holders in the matter of their Family-Worship particularly in Prayer I shall produce some Stones out of the Word of God for rearing this Family-Altar and the rather because this is a general complaint and was a principall objection that they knew not what to say if they should kneel down in their houses with their Families but to such as are willing but weak in their addresses to the throne of Grace I shall subjoyn these two instructions for their help 1. Attend upon a powerful Ministry there you will hear Directions Motives Precepts Promises Scripture-Arguments to quicken and direct you in this work there you may gain knowledge of God the object of Worship Christ the Mediator and Advocate of the Holy-Ghost that must assist you there you will get a good understanding in Gods mind and will which will furnish you with abilities and further your acquaintance with God Prov. 3.13 Happy is the man that findeth Wisdom and the man that getteth understanding that man is prepared to every good work But how shall a Soul obtain this sacred understanding I answer one way is by the ear as he lost true wisdom by abusing that sense and hearkening to the Syren Songs of the subtile Serpent so the Scriptures frequently calls you to hearken to the voice of God in the Ministry of the Word Light and Life and Love may come in at that door Isa 55.3 Rom. 10 1â— Gal. 3.2 Hear and your Souls shall live Faith comes by hearing yea men may receive the Spirit by the hearing of Faith But how shall men breath without Spiritual Life and how can men Pray without the assistance of the Spirit Rom. 10.14 how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher nor is it any kind of preacher that you must hear but you must take heed whom you hear that they be sent i. e. duely qualified and regularly Commissionated you must take heed what you hear that it be not mens fancys but the approved word of the Living God you must also take heed how you hear alas any kind of hearing will not serve turn you must Pray and prepare before you hear it set your selves in Gods presence cast out all Sin apply it to your selves mix it with Love own Gods Authority in it hide it in your hearts meditate on it resolve upon the practice of it and who can tell what blesssed fruits it may produce in your hearts and lives 2 Thes 3.1 Pray you that the word may have free course and be Glorified and if it be so in you the fruit of Preaching will appear in your Prayers as well as Practices Psal 81.10 11. an heart opened to the Word will open the Mouth wide in Prayer But if you will not hearken to Gods voice you will have no voice to God nor will God regard what you say Prov. 28.9 for He that turneth away his Ear from hearing the law even his Prayer shall be abomination 2. Search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 this is both the Rule and Matter of Prayer if you be mighty in the Scriptures you will be mighty and pithy in Prayer God loves to be spoken to in his own language study Scripture-Precepts turn them into Prayers study Scripture-Promises and turn them into Pleas study Scripture-Threatnings and turn them into deprecations and study Scripture-Patterns for imitation you may find several excellent Prayers in the Bible as of Abraham Gen. 18.23 32. So Jacob Gen. 32.9 12. Moses Exod. 32 11-13 So Joshua 7.6 9 Hanna 1 Sam. 1.11 Solomon 1 Kings 3 6 9 8.22-53 David 1 Chron. 17.16 27. Neh. 1.4 11. Ezra 9. Dan. 9. And many sweet Prayers put up and recorded by the blessed Apostle Paul and others too many to be mentioned which in reading the Holy Scriptures you may meet with Say not then you have nothing to say before the Lord it is your
A Family-Altar Erected to the Honour Of the Eternal God OR A Solemn Essay to promote the Worship of God in Private Houses Being some Meditations on Genesis 35.2 3. By O.H. an unworthy Minister of the Gospel Psalm 101.2 I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me I will walk within my house with a perfect heart Psalm 118.15 The voice of Rejoycing and Salvation is in the Tabernacles of the Righteous Si enim negligit Deus in hoc Saeculo genus hominum cur ad Coelum quotidiè manus tendimus cur orationibus crebris misericordiam Dei quaerimus cur ad Ecclesiasticas Domos currimus cur ante Altaria supplicamus nulla enim est nobis ratio precandi si spes tollitur impetrandi Salvian Massil de Gubernat Dei lib. 1. LONDON Printed for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside 1693. To the Christian Reader especially to Housholders professing Religion FOR your sakes dear Friends I presume again to appear upon the publick Stage to be your faithful Monitor to prompt you to your duty and to promote the Work of God in your own Souls and the Worship of God in your Families And I know not how a Minister can imploy his Time and Studies and Pen better next to the Conviction and Conversion of particular Souls than pressing upon Housholders a care of the Souls under their charge This hath a direct tendency to publick Reformation Religion begins in Individuals and passeth on to Relatives and lesser Relatives make up greater Churches and Common-wealths consist of Families There is a general complaint of the great decay of the Power of Godliness and Inundation of Prophaneness and not without cause I know no better Remedy than Domestick Piety Did Governours teach their Inferiours by Counsels and Examples did they severely discountenance and restrain Enormities and press Holiness and then call on God unitedly and affectionately that he would efficaciously work what they cannot effect who can tell what a blessed alteration would follow In vain do you complain of Magistrates and Ministers while you that are Housholders are unfaithful to your Trust You complain the World is naught what do you to mend it Do not so much complain of others as of your selves and complain not so much to Man as to God and plead with him for Reformation and second your Prayers with earnest Endeavours Sweep before your own doors Act for God within your sphear As you have more opportunity of familiarity with House-fellows so you have more authority over them by their dependance on you to influence them and if you improve not this Talent you will have a dreadful account to give especially when their blood will be required at your hands because their sin will be charged on your neglect Oh Sirs have you not sins enough of your own but you must espouse the guilt of your whole Families It 's you that make bad Times and bring down Judgments on the Nation Would you rather see your Children frying and hear them crying in Hell Torments than speak a word to them for their instruction hear them cry under your correction or cry to God for their Salvation Oh cruel Tygers and barbarous Monsters You may conceit your selves to be Christians but I cannot judge that Man worthy to be a fit Communicant at the Lord's Table that maintains not the Worship of God ordinarily in his Family and I think he deserves admonition and a censure for this sin of omission as well as for the scandalous sins of commission for he bewrays his horrid Hypocrisie in pretending to be a Saint abroad but is a Brute at home For a right-bred Christian is an Universalist having respect to all God's Commandments Psa 119 6. Such as are righteous before God Luke 1.6 walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Let these then go amongst the Herd of prophane wretches and fare as they do at the last that make no conscience of Family or Relative Godliness Such as will not pray now will cry too late Lord Lord open to us when the door is shut Mat. 25 11 12. yea they that now will not cry for a crum of mercy Luk. 16.24 shall in Hell cry out for a drop of Water to quench their flaming Tongues in those Eternal Torments To these wretched Hypocrites I recommend the serious considering of Prov. 1 24.-31 Job 8.13 14.15.34 ch 27. v. 8 9 10. I shall address my self to honest well-meaning Housholders who make conscience of serving God with their Families You may look on this as your priviledge as well as duty I hope you do David thought it a great mercy that he and his People had any thing to offer 1 Chron. 29 9.-14 and any hopes of entertainment Oh what an honour is it that the King of Heaven gives you any admittance into his Presence-Chamber with your Families twice a day to confess your sins beg pardon supplies of mercy to give him the glory of his Goodness to lay your Load on him and get ease I hope you will never be unwilling to it or weary of it God forbid you should You are not weary of Meal-times if you be healthful know and keep these appointed times of coming to God If you promise to meet a Person of Quality at such an hour when the Clock strikes you rush up crave pardon and tell the company one tarries for you you must be gone Oh make not more bold with God than you would do with Men and keep your hearts continually in a frame for duty Rambling in the day indisposeth your spirits for duty at night So act as to think you must go to an heart-searching God before you sleep and so pray as if it were the last time you should approach to God with your Family in this World Study the frame of your hearts be not content with lip-labour Rest not in the work done without communion with God Presume not upon your own goodness you that are the holiest Despair not because of your wickedness or guiltiness you that think your selves the worst of men Remember Manasseh prayed and God was intreated of him when he humbled himself greatly 2 Chro 33.12 13. Zech 4.10 Be not discouraged because you cannot do so well as others God despiseth not the day of small things God hath babes in his Family â—sa 38.14 that chatter like a Crane or Swallow A Child 's lisping is understood by an indulgent Father And if a distempered Child stoop down and reach us up any small thing we take it kindly so doth God when a sick Soul falls low in Humility and reacheth high in Heavenly-mindedness You cannot be always actually on your knees or speaking with your tongues but still maintain a praying-frame of heart Mr. Greenham saith When one asks how your Family doth let this put you in mind to pray for them thank God for mercies reflect on
your selves What have I done for their welfare how are the Souls of my Children Servants and lift up an Ejaculation for them Be much in Prayer Give your selves to Prayer Prayer is your Physick your Armoury Ammunition your Antidote against Satan World Flesh This is your way of Trading with God for the richest Commodities for your selves and yours the profit will be yours the glory God's To help you in this work I have writ this Treatise not having seen any directly upon this so needful a Subject and was requested to do something this way Supplement to Morning Exercise at Cripplegate Printed 1676. but after I had compleatly finished this following Work there came to my hands a very Learned and Elaborate Discourse of Mr. Tho. Dâ—olittle's on Josh 24.15 driving this Nail home which may seem to render this Essay needless yet upon these considerations if it be judged convenient I am willing it should receive impression 1. That Excellent Discourse full of Sinewy Arguments may be more suitable to Learned this plain Treatise to Vulgar Capacities being adapted to the common use of Countrey People 2. Both matter and method are far differenâ— as I perceive upon reading and comparing both 3 That Discourse is inserted amongst the Voluminous Books of Morning Lectures this being a small thing by it selâ— is more attainable and portable 4. Possibly this may fall into some hands that the former hath not and may be an Appendix and Supplement to that choice Piece which I do earnestly recommend to the Reader to purchase and peruse and if this my slâ—nder Attempt may provoke any to purchase that and both together may but attain this great end of setting up Family-Worship in the power of it I have my End and shall follow all these Soul-helps with my earnest Prayers that the God of all Grace would pour into your Souls the Spirit of Grace and Supplication make the Members of your Families conscientious in joyning and Governours and Governed Orthodox in Principles sincere in their Spirits holy in their Practices to the Glory of God and good of his Church which is the hearty desire of thy Soul-friend Feb. 2. 1692 3. Oliver Heywood TO THE READER THIS Discourse and that other by Reverend Mr. Newcome on Prov. 25. v. 28. do very opportunely come out together both in reference to one another and to the Time we live in and to that which should be aimed at in all Times the reviving and keeping alive of serious practical Religion but most of all in this Time wherein it so much languishes They that know the Reverend Author of this Work or have perused with desire to profit those pious practical Treatises which he hath formerly Published will think as we do that there is no need of any Letters Commendatory to bespeak thy favourable acceptance of the following Discourse The design of which is to perswade and engage those that are Heads and Governours of Families to take up Joshua's Resolution that whatever others do yet they and their Houses will serve the Lord in daily faithful fervent Prayer with Thanksgiving It is a word in season For 't is a common Complaint and that too by many who are not a little guilty of it themselves That the Power of Godliness the Life of Practical Religion is at this day under a lamentable decay And amongst the many Causes of this decay there is scarcely any that hath been more perniciously influential thereunto than the neglect of Family-Worship of God which is one most proper means to promote Seriousness in Religion Frequent solemn Addresses to God having a tendency to keep God in remembrance and to cause the Apprehensions of God to make the deeper impression and to have the stronger influence upon the hearts of those who have not quite lost all sense of a God or forgotten that they have Souls to save or lose Prayer also being a means of God's appointment to obtain Family Blessings and Mercies as well as Personal and National according to the many Promises which God hath made of Audience and Acceptance of the Prayers that are put up unto him in the Name of Christ with upright hearts To those that sincerely love God and have wisdom to judge of things as they relate to Eternity the Duty commended in this Treatise will appear not only to be a necessary Duty but a precious Priviledge and gracious Vouchsafement For there are two things which do especially render a Christians continuance in the World desirable and comfortable to him the one is that he may acquaint himself with God and enjoy some sweet Communion with him which is a beginning and foretast of Heaven whilst we are here on Earth They that are utter strangers to this have no cause to think that they are as yet made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light The other desirable End or Business of a Christians Life is that he may be serviceable to God by promoting his Glory and Interest in the World especially by furthering the spiritual Good and Salvation of Souls both these do meet together in the conscientious practice of this Duty First Communion with God When the Head and Master of a Family who is as Prophet Priest and Ruler in his Family doth joyntly with his Children and Servants as a little Church of God in his House offer up daily Sacrifice of Prayer Praise and Thanksgiving unto God the Author of their Beings the God of their Lives and the giver of every good gift wherewith their Lives are sweetned And does also receive from him Communications of Grace and Mercy for our bountiful God will never be behind-hand with those that seek him in truth but giveth liberally to them that ask in Faith Secondly Serviceableness unto God in training up his Family in the fear of God God himself bearing witness how greatly acceptable Family-Religiousness is unto him in that high Commendation which he hath recorded of Abraham I know him saith God that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord. 'T is a Duty that is both Work and Wages a Service that carries its Reward with it Reward not of Debt but of Grace it brings a Blessing upon a Family as the Ark did on the House of Obed-Edom when on the contrary dreadful Wrath is imprecated to be poured out upon the Families that call not on the Name of God Jer. 10.25 Reader if thou be one that livest in the daily exercise and due performance of this Duty of Family-Prayer thy own experience of the spiritual Benefits and Advantages of it will enable thee to set to thy Seal to what the God of Truth hath spoken in his Word I never said to the Seed of Jacob Israelites indeed that know how to wrastle with God seek ye my face in vain But if being a Master of a Family thou be a stranger to this duty either through slothfulness multiplicity
of business or prejudice and disaffection to the Duty the Reverend Author hath said enough to convince thee that it is thy Duty and if convinced hereof thou wilt continue in the wilful neglect of thy known duty thou dost in effect say with those in Jer. 44 16. As for the Word which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee What an aggravation will this be of thy sin For to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Jam. 4.17 i. e. exceeding sinful and also of thy punishment for that Servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12.47 That the one and the other may be prevented and thou mayest be prevailed with conscientiously to practise this Duty is the design of this Treatise and the hearty desire of Thine in the Lord John Starkey Thine in the Lord John Howe THE CONTENTS CHap. I. The Text opened Doctrines raised Chap. II. Shewing what is meant by Family-Altars and what 's required of Housholders Chap. III. Arguments to prove that Governours of Families must set up Altars for the Worship of God Chap. IV. Objections proposed and answered that militate against Family-Altars Chap. V. An use of Conviction Lamentation over Prayerless-Families Chap. VI. Motives to persuade Governours of Families to set up Altars to God for his Solemn Worship Chap. VII Directions how to set up an Altar in Families and how to manage Family-Worship Chap. VIII Directions how to manage the Worship of God in Families as to the matter of Prayer Chap. IX Helps how to manage Family-Worship as to the manner of Performance Chap. 10. A Resolution of several Cases of Conscience concerning the Worship of God in Families Books lately Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside SYnodicon in Gallia Reformata Or the Acts Decisions Decrees and Canons of those Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France being a most Faithful and Impartial History of the Rise Growth Perfection Decay of the Reformation in that Kingdom with its fatal Catastrophe upon the Revocation of the Edict at Nants in the Year 1685. also the Confession of Faith and Discipline of those Churches their Speeches Sacred Politicks Cases of Conscience and Controversies in Divinity c. their Government Laws c. Collected out of the Original Manuscript Acts of those Renowned Synods In two Vol. in Fol. By John Quick A Body of Practical Divinity consisting of above 176 Sermons on the lesser Catechism Composed by the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster with a Supplement of some Sermons on several Texts of Scripture By Thomas Watson formerly Minister of St. Stephen's Walbrook London Recommended by several Ministers to Masters of Families and others In Folio The Confirming Work of Religion or its great things made plain by their primary Evidences and Demonstrations whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Rational Account of their Faith Written by Robert Fleming Author of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures Now Published by Daniel Burgess Advice to an only Child or excellent Counsel to all Young Persons containing the Sum and Substance of Experimental and Practical Divinity Written by an Eminent and Judicious Divine for the private use of an only Child now made publick for the benefit of all A Present to such as have been Sick and are recovered Or a Discourse concerning the Good that comes out of the Evil of Affliction Being several Sermons Preached after his being raised from a Bed of Languishing By Nathaniel Vincent M. A. and Minister of the Gospel A Defence of Mr. M. H's Brief Enquiry into the Nature of Schism and the Vindication of it with Reflections upon a Pamphlet called The Review c. And a brief Historical Account of Nonconformity from the Reformation to this present time A Sermon at the Funeral of the Worshipful John Symonds late of great Yeldham in the County of Essex Esq Preached in the Parish-Church of great Yeldham aforesaid on the 24th of Feb. 1692. By John Brooks M. A. and Rector there A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Tho. Shewel M. A. and Minister of the Gospel in Coventry By William Tongue Minister of the Gospel Mr. Richard Baxter's Paraphrase on the Psalms of David Songs of Praise with Penitential Cries By the Author of the Midnight-Cry Death improv'd and Immoderate Sorrow for Deceased Friends and Relations reprov'd By Edw. Bury formerly Minister at Great Bolas in Shropshire In Octavo A short Story of the Rise Reign and Ruine of the Antinomians Familists and Libertines that infected the Churches of New-England c. A brief Tract on the Fourth Commandment wherein is shewn the cause of all our Controversies about the Sabbath-Day and the means of Reconciling them Recommended by the Reverend Dr. Bates and Mr. John Howe A Sermon Preached before the King and Queen at Whitehall Novemb. 5. 1692. By Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Satan Sifting or the Oyl of Joy for the Spirit of Heaviness In Octavo The Carnality of Religious Contention In two Sermons Preached at the Merchants-Lecture in Broadstreet By John Howe Octavo Theological Discourses and Sermons on several Occasions In two Parts By John Wâ—llâ—s D. D. Professor of Geometry in Oxford Quarto There is now in the Press a Discourse against Rash Anger By Henry Newcome M. A. and Minister of the Gospel A Family-Altar Erected to the Honour of the Eternal God Genesis 35.2 3. Then Jacob said unto his Houshold and to all that were with him put away the strange Gods that are among you and be clean and change your Garments And let us arise and go up to Bethel and I will make there an Altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went Chap. I. The Text opened Doctrines raised THis Text is copious and may be called a Family-Text as comprehending the whole Duty of Housholders and their Inferiours He that is not relatively Religious is not really Religious God hath to do with all Men in all their capacities And Men have to do with God in all their Stations Relations Actions As we must give an account to God of our natural civil and spiritual Acts God's Word must regulate all we do that we may act as Christians according to God's will and for his glory The Text contains an excellent pattern for all Families The whole Context holds forth these four Generals 1. God's Commission to Jacob v. 1. 2. Jacob's Charge to his Family v. 2 3. 3. His Families chearful Compliance v. 4. 4. The blessed Issue viz. success safety v. 5. An hint of all these 1. The Text declares God's Commission to Jacob In which Commission observe four things Viz. 1. The Privacy of it God said of Jacob when alone 2. The Order 1. Arise 2.
on their knees and patter over a few words betwixt sleeping and waking And most of the Family fitter for their beds than for Devotion Alas Sirs doth not God clap a Curse upon such as do the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48.10 and doth not God say Mal. 1.14 Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his stock a Male and voweth and Sacrificeth to the Lord a Corrupt thing Ah! Soul hadst thou not a Male a better fiter hour in thy Power than that sleepy hour at bed-time must God be put off with the Worlds leavings doth not he that gives thee all thy time deserve the best doth not God bid thee seek first his Kingdom and shall this be last must the very Flower and Cream of thy time be spent in Vanity and God be thus served O! be ashamed and blush at thy disingenuous dealing with the Almighty 3. If you come to own God in Family excercises by Fits and Starts in a good mood or when some affliction lyes on You or Your Family Oh how slavish are you but Alas there are some that are never gracious but in Pangs never Serious but when severely handled like a Dog under the Cudgel Hos 7. and then it is but howling not Child like Crying Hos 5.15 Isa 26.16 in their affliction they will seek God early and earnestly they pour out a Prayer when his chastning is upon them and never else Poor Souls should you not come to the Throne of Grace Heb. 4.16 to find Grace to help in time of need And when is the day wher 's the place and what 's the state wherein you have not need of God are you not daily Sinning and need Pardon as well as Daily-bread may you not dye this Day this Night are not Morning and Evening due times to seek God Some will not Pray in their Families but a little on Lords-days Nights when they have nothing else to do as though all time were not Gods week-day as well as Lords-day surely God is to be owned daily I will said David Psal 61.8.86.3 daily perform my vows and I cry unto thee daily and why should you be as the Morning Cloud and early Dâ—w Hos 6.4 when God is daily teaching you with his benefits and therefore must be daily praised not Lords-day but week-day and every day in the week Psal 68.19.72.15 what if God forget or forsake you any day what would become of you 4. If you miss it in the End of your Family-dutys you will be rejected and alas thousands propound wrong Ends to themselves in this as in other excercises of Religion some keep up Family-duty because it was the custom of their Ancestours and it would be a kind of disparagement to degenerate Some to gratify a Religious Wise or Pious Servant some to make a shew and ostentation of their gifts others to stop the mouth of a clamorous Conscience Some for a Worldly gain Mal. 6. Mal. 23.14 others as the Pharisees to be seen of Men nay it 's well if some Pray not for a Cloak of their Villainy that devour Widows Houses and for a pretence make long Prayers long Prayers are not simply condemned in themselves for it 's a sign of rare Piety Nam quo quisque Sanctior est precandi studio magis est deditus the more Holy men are the more Prayerful But Oh! damnable Hypocrisy to make so Holy an Ordinance truckle to so vile a lust it 's well if that wickedness be dead and buried with the Pharisees of whom Calvin saith Quia illis precanda assiduitas turpis lucri fit ancupium neq exim aliter preces vendebant quam Mercenarii diurnas operas locant Calv. in loc quod res per sâ— laudabilis in pravum finem conversa est nam ubi ex conductitiis precibus captatur quaestus quo magis crescit fervida ut loquuntur devotionis species to magiâ— profanatur Dei nomen Id. ibid. their assiduous Praying was a kind of stalking-horse or occasion to their filthy lucre neither did they sell their Prayers otherwise than Mercenary men order their day-labours For saith that Prince of Interpreters Where gain is gotten by such designing Prayers the more fervent that kind of Devotion increaseth the more is the name of God Prophaned thus he I beseech you therefore tremble to think of prostituting so Glorious a work to so Ignominious an End for the End makes or marâ—s an Action 4. As some Families are without Priest-Altar Sacrifice of the right kind so there are some that have something of all these yet have another Altar and Sacrifice inconsistent with these that Swear by the Lord and that Swear by Malcham Zeph. 1.5 that set up the Devils Altar by the Lords as the Samaritans of old it 's said in one verse they feared the Lord in the next verse they feared not the Lord why so the answer is put betwixt them they feared the Lord and served their own Gods 2 Kings 17.32 33 34. i. e. They did materially do the same things in Worship that Israel did for fear of being hurt by the Lions ver 25 but they had Gods of their own ver 29. and God could not endure this Mongrel-Religion and interprets it to be no true Fear or due Worship of God for God will not be partner with Idols he only must be served or not at all Ezek. 43.8 Our Lord takes it ill when men set their thresholds by his thresholds there post by his Posts thus they defile his Holy Name by their abominations these are a grievous nauseance to the Holy and jealous God Psal 94.20 shall the Throne of Iniquity have fellowship with thee can men serve God and Mammon must Bacchus Venus Vulcan be set up cheek by joul with the Living and True God wickedness practised in the Governours tolerated in Inferiours Swearing Cursing Lying Cheating Drunkeness Uncleaness mocking at Strictness of Religion observe it ther 's no true Worship where there is not strict Disciplin how sad is it to see some men devout in Worship profligate in Practice one thing on their knees another on their feet Pray like Angels practise like Devils confess Sin one hour commit it the next plead for Pardon to obtain a Dispensation Alas that any now a days should resemble Israel of old that would Steal Murder commit adultery steal falsly and come stand before god in his house Jer. 79.10.11 or worship say we are delivered to do all these abominations or like the impudent whore pro. 7.14 I have peace-Offerings with me this day have I paid my vows so some men think they may do as they list and cast the reins in the Neck to run to all licentiousness why so have they no Religion yes they have said their Prayers and are in good Reputation for Religion and since they have been so Serious now they hope God will not take notice of their infirmities but
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-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
Egypt the first born of Pharaoh and others dyed Exo. 11.56 and there was a great Cry would not this move you into better Manners Oh but a greater evil befalls you your own precious Souls are endangered by Neglect 8. Suppose a Red Cross with a Lord have Mercy upon Vs were set upon your doors and the Pestilence were within your house seizing on you one after another and you had nothing else to do but to get ready to dye would you not spend some time in Prayer for your selves and Families Behold a worse Plague is upon you of Sin and will you not Pray 9. Suppose upon every Omission of Family Prayer you should lose a Limb or member of your Body first one finger then a Toe should be cut or torn off till all be gone and you dismembred would not this force you to this duty and yet your Precious Souls are in hazard which are ten thousand times more worthy than a Limb yea than the whole Body by wilfull Neglect 10. Suppose a Gallows were set at your door and you must be hanged thereupon the next time you go out of your door when you have not Prayed in your Family would you venture to be hanged rather than omit this duty do you love your lives no better Oh! but Eternal death is far more dreadfull and are Eternal torments Rev. 21.8 that lake that burneth with fire Brimstone nothing to you is the second death easie and shall not Sinners be damned for their Omission of good as well as Commission of Evil Be it known to you Numb 32.23 that if you will not do so i. e. as God Commands Behold ye have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out it will hunt you as a Blood hound and haunt you as an evil Spirit in conscience here and in Torments hereafter if God said to Cain for a defect in his Sacrifice Gen. 4.7 if thou doest not well Sin lies at the door i. e. guilt shall be charged upon thee and you know how it dog'd him though he failed but in the manner of it not acting Faith on Christ for acceptance Oh what will become of you that fall short even in the matter also and do nothing of what God Commands you yea you think it is a needless ceremony and mock them that do carefully constantly and conscientiously perform this duty wo unto you if you dye in this Sin you are undone forever But one word more if any offer themselves to be members of particular Churches and partake of the Lords Supper I should judge them not fit to be Communicants except they Pray in their Families and if any be admitted and perform not their duty I should think them as worthy church-censures as those that are Idle and omit working in their particular callings which is injoyned 2 Thes 3.6 12 14. what censure this is lesser or greater whether only withdrawing familiar converse with the offender or upon obstinacy publick Excommunication I leave to the judgment of the Learned But * Si quis renuit libeâ—os suos alere reprehendunt eum pudefaciunt eum urgent eum Si adhuc renuit publice in eum proclamant in Syna goga dicentes 〈◊〉 crudelis est non vult alere liberos â—unâ—vel ipsis voluâ—ribus immundis crudelior nam illae pullos suos alunt c Dr. Lightfoot in Evang Mathaei Borae Hebraicae cap. 18. 17. p. 215. Dr. Lightfoot tells us out of the Rabbins that if any refuse to nourish his children they must reprove him make him ashamed urge him if he still refuses they must publickly proclaim in the Synagogue such a one is cruel and will not nourish his children he is more Cruel than the unclean Fowls for those nourish their Young ones and may we not say the same of such as neglect these needfull Family-excercises for the Souls of their's Chap. VII Directions how to set up an Altar in Families and how to manage Family-Worship I Have now done with persuasives to this great Excercise of Family-worship whether all that I have said will prevail I know not but loath I am all this should be in vain it 's pitty so needfull an Exercise should fall to the ground and all that I have said should rise up in judgment against you I again renew my motion in the name of the Lord Jesus you that are young set up your families with God whatever you have of the World beside to set up with this will be your treasure your Palladium your defence you cannot miscarry if you begin with God you that are old have been house-keepers long set up this altar turn over a new lease begin a new life you are not too old to learn nor too good to be taught better thrive late than never though you begin at the eleventh hour you shall not be rejected Death looks you in the face look up to God and be saved say not I will go to Hell because I have been long traveling in that road Be not ashamed to undo all you have done or misdone unravel this confused skein what stick you at Is not the Infinite God worthy of your love Fear worship are not the Souls of your Families precious is not heaven worth your seeking having Oh! say you I would fain set up an Altar in my Family to the Lord I would offer him a Sacrifice and Worship God but I know not how to set about it or manage it to any purpose so as may be acceptable to God profitable to my Family or comfortable to my own Soul I Pray you give me some directions on this behalf I answer that I shall very willingly but first I do solemnly require your promise to set about it in the name and strength of Christ and do thy best you can to do it right my Instructions I shall reduce to two heads viz. 1. Preparatives to it 2. Management of it For the Preparatives to your setting up this Family Altar I shall but give you these four 1. See your heads and hearts be well stock't your heads with sound Knowledge and your hearts with Saving-Grace without either of these you 'll not be fit for this undertaking without the former you 'll have no skill without the latter you 'll have no Will to the Work but go to it as a Bear to the stake 1. Be sure you get Scripture knowledge a knowledge of God the object of worship of the Mediator by whom only you must have access to the Father a knowledg of the Holy-Ghost that must help your infirmities a knowledg of your selves of Divine Truths Precepts Prov. 19.2 Promises that the Soul be without knowledg it is not good otherwise you will Worship you know not what or you care not how or regard not why you 'll degenerate into Formality and Superstition it 's worth nothing what you find in Isa 19. having told us of an Altar in ver 19. he tells
Ignorance or Negligence if you be barren in your addresses to the throne of Grace some good Devines have proposed a method and words in Scripture-phrase which I will not now trouble you with but if you daily use to read the Bible you will find patt expressions flowing into your mind in Prayer which will prove pertinent matter upon all occasions when you read Scripture think now God is speaking to me and thereby furnishing me with matter to speak to him in Prayer this passage suits my case I will improve it in Confession Petition Deprecation or Thanksgiving in my addresses to God and thus you will arrive to an habit of free-conversing with God and it becomes Governours of families to be more imployed in reading Scriptures than others Deu. 17.19 Josh 1 8. 1 Tim. 4.14 so God appoints Kings Captains Ministers to be daily exercised in this duty because they were to be helpfull to others so must you if you consult with Gods word you go in unto God so some observe by comparing Psal 73.17 of going into the Sanctuary of God with 2 Sam. 7.18 then went King David in and sate before the Lord. i. e. he went in to God to intimate that Reading and Praying are near a kinâ— the one is an help to the other if you read much it will help you to Pray much it will help you to read and understand Be much imployed in both 3. Learn to understand and improve the Lords Prayer Mat. 6.9 12. Consider the Prologue Parts and Conclusion of it get some Succinct and plain Exposition of it do not Cantingly Formally and Superstitiously blubber it over as a Charm but use it as a Comprehensive Platform of Praying I am not altogether against the use of the words in the Lords Prayer Nay I would rather you kneel down with your Family and said nothing but the Lords Prayer than that you should use no Prayer at all only see you understand the meaning of it and do not rabble it over as a Parrot but do it seriously and take heed of Mocking God Hypocrisie is a sin as well as Atheism to pray otherwise than Christ hath taught is not only Ignorance but a gievous sin saith an Ancient * Aliter orarâ— quam doâ—uit non ignorantâ—a Selaest sed et Culpa Cyprian Serm. 6. a orat Domini et cum ipsuâ— habâ—amus apud â—atreâ— Advocatum â—o peccatis nostriâ— Advocatâ— nostâ— verba prommus id ib. this referrs both to the matter and manner of praying for saith he the Father will acknowledge the words of his Son when we Pray to him in his name qui habitat intus in pectore ipse sit et in voce let him be in our voice that dwells in our hearts quia Deus non vocis sed cordis auditor est God is not the hearer of the voice but of the heart But we are now speaking of Family-Prayer wherein God requires both voice and heart and I am giving helps for the matter of Prayer and this is a certain truth that all and only the things that are to be asked of God are comprehended in the Lords Prayer that 's the summe and substance of the petenda things to be asked if you do not always utter the words you must express the Sense therefore it 's fit you should understand them for every word hath it's weight Our Father which art in Heaven thou art the common Father of all Mankind our Father in Christ we humbly and reverently prostrate our Selves at thy Footstool in confidence of entertainment through thy well-beloved Son and our Advocate give us child-like affections to thee and endeared love to all thine and tender Compassion to all others Hallowed be thy name let thy Glorious Titles Attributes Word and Ordinances be manifested through the World dispose all things to the Glory of thy name assist us in our confessing and forsaking our Sins adoring thine infinite perfections believing in thee subjecting our selves to thee attending on thee and aiming at thy Glory in all we are or do or suffer Thy Kingdom come destroy O Lord the Devils kingdom of Ignorance Wickedness advance thy Kingdom in Converting Sinners building thy Church maintaining the power of Godliness and hastning the Kingdom of Glory confirming and preparing our own Souls for our Lords second coming Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven let thy preceptive Will be our rule enable us to comply with it give us knowledge of it conquer the enmity of our stubborn wills enable us to do it singly Sincerely Universally and constantly as Angels and Saints Glorified help us quietly to acquiesce in thy Providential will be it for us or against us Give us this day our daily bread vouchafe to us a competent portion of outward Comforts for our daily supply thy blessing therewith which is the staff of our bread for we depend on thee for all Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors for Christ's sake and satisfaction Pardon all our Sins whereby we are endebted to divine Justice and can never satisfie but lay hold by Faith on the Lord our Righteousness and freely forgive all men their offences against us and Pray God to forgive them And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Evil Lord we have bad Herds prevent occasions of Sin restrain the tempter keep us out of harms way or make us conqerours of World Flesh and Devil let not Sin have Dominion over us For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for Ever Amen We take not our incouragement in our Prayers from any thing in our Selves but from Thee who art the only Soveraign All sufficient God able and willing to help poor Creatures to thee only be ascribed all Dominion Blessing Honour Glory and Power for evermore Amen So be it Thus I have given you a short hint of the meaning of this Excellent Prayer that you may be left without excuse for your willful Neglect 4. Frequent Christian Society converse with Godly Praying persons this will help you in Family Work and Worship not only as it is a good Example but as it assimilates you to them and also as it provokes to an holy Emulation it will make you shame with your selves that such as had no better breeding or higher Education than you have yet attained to such Knowledge Gifts and Elocution this will make you admire the Grace of God in them and think it not impossible but that the same Grace may do as much in you Rom. 11.12 2 Cor. 9.2 Paul sought by the Gentiles Piety to provoke the Jews to Emulation and tells us the Corinthians zeal in Charitable contribution had provoked very many it 's not to tell what Light and Life Eccl. 49.12 and Love may be conveyed from one Christian to another If two lye together they have heat Pro. 27.17 Iron sharpens Iron A â—ow majori discit all â—ll so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his
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
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-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
weight c. Mr. Hildersham the Oracle of his time saith Hildersham on Psal 51. Lect. 12. p. 63. See 3. Arg. for forms I dare not deny but a weak Christian may use the help of a good Prayer-Book in this Case better to pray on a Book than not to pray at all certainly it is the Spirit of Errour that hath taught the World otherwise 2. Yet these worthy men affirm truely that every Christian even the meanest and weakest hath the gift and Spirit of Prayer 1 Tim. 4.14 So saith the latter of these Worthys and must not neglect the gift that 's in him Dr. Preston saith there is no man that hath any work of Grace in his heart but he is enabled in some measure to pray without a set Form of prayer there was never any man in any extream want but he knew how to express himself where he had liberty to speak 3. But Yet considering that some Christians though truely Gracious may for a season be very raw and unfit to open their Cases to God methodically or in apt words and considering it's before a Family that a man is to be the Mouth of and considering that unmeet and undigested expressions expose an Ordinance of God to contempt I could advise some Christians before they pray with others to premeditate and duly weigh what they are to say to God and think of a proper method and some Scriptural expressions to produce them in Prayer as I have before directed 4. As I doubt not the lawfulness of a member in a Family joyning with such a Prayer if the matter be sound and Orthodox so I question but such a Master as Conscientiously useth this practice will so increase in gifts and abilities that in due time he will cast away those Crutches and learn to go on profitably in daily Family Exercise to the edification of all that joyn with him So that in the diligent and humble use of these means many nauseous Tautologies and needless Impertinencies will be paired off which offended intelligent ears The Worthy Dr. Preston saith a Child that cannot go may have a prop to help it but we must not always be Children we must not always use that help 8. Case is What if the Housholder or Governour be loose and careless possibly comes home full of Drink yet will Pray though in no fit case for it or he is unsound at heart Prays but coldly formally may I joyn Answ 1. Thy acceptance with God depends not on the state of him that Prays nor on his zeal but upon thy non acting of Faith in Christ it thou be upright in joyning with the words and endeavoured to lift up thy Heart to God the Lord may graciously entertain thee Gal. 6.5 Rom. 14.12 though the person praying may be Rejected For every one shall bear his own burden and give an account of himself to God Not of others that we joyn with 2. Yet if thou beest certainly assured that the party Praying speaks Nonsense or Blasphemy in stead of Praying thou art bound in Conscience to shew thy dislike of it lest God be Dishonoured and Offended with the whole Family the Man hardned in sin thy own Conscience defiled and thy selt in danger of playing the Hypocrite in pretending to joyn with what thy Soul abhors In this case thou must withdraw and get alone and mourn for it 2 Kin. 5.13 1 Sam. 25.37 3. And 't is also thy Duty humbly and modestly to take a fit season to speak to thy Master as Naamans Servants did to him when they saw him out and you know it did good And Abigail told her Husband Nabal of his fault and danger and his heart dyed within him who can tell what good such a word in season may do He may think of it afterwards Jonathans Preaching Davids Case 1 Sam. 19.4 6. with his Passionate Father Saul did good for a while If you come to a Father or Master humbly and submissively not saucily and malapartly you may win upon them and if you can say little yet if you burst out into tears for their sin it may prove as convincing Rhetorick to them as King Edward's weeping was to Bishop Cranmer and Ridley denying his Sister Mary liberty for Mass who said The King had more Divinity in his little finger than they had in their whole body 4. If still there be no Remedy or Reformation tho' thou must not with cursed Cham discover thy Fathers or Masters nakedness if otherwise it may be helpt yet thou may'st or must acquaint a godly Minister or Christian friend ask their advice and if that be judged expedient that they may speak to thy Father or Master with as much secresie as possible and this runs parallel to our Lord's Rule Mat. 18.15 16. Who knows but a conviction may fasten and if he be obstinate he will leave off his praying in a little time for his sinning will make him give over praying or his praying his sinning 9 Case Suppose I be cast into a graceless and prayerless family how must I do or what is my duty A. 1. Examine thy grounds and ends in coming thither consider thy Call if thy Parents fixed thee there as an Apprentice quiet thy self in God's dispose make good use of this Providence if thou came thither voluntarily without due consideration be humbled for sin beg pardon make sure of a friend above 2. Use all lawful means to remove into a more wholesom Air I say to thee as the Apostle to a godly Servant 2 Cor. 7.21 Art thou called being a Servant care not for it but if thou may'st be made free use it rather Methinks God saith to you as once to Israel Numb 16.21 24 26 31. Depart I pray you from the Tents of these wicked men It 's a wonder the ground doth not cleave in sunder or some Judgment comes not down upon such praverless Families 3. Humbly propound some Expedients for Remedy See if any other Member in the Family will undertake that work or whether the Governour will give you leave to pray in the Family and behave your selves so holily and winningly that the good conceit of Superiours or Equals may be a prologue and preparative to that work 4. If all this avail not for Family-worship and necessity detains you there as you love your Souls spend more time take more pains in secret Abi in Cellam dic miserere mei get into your Cell and say Lord have mercy on me as the old Monk said to Luther Jer. 13.17 or as Jeremiah If ye will not hear it my Soul shall weep in secret places for your Pride Pray for your own Soul that you may not perish with others pray for the Family and all the Members thereof Governours and Governed be not discourraged with their scoffs who knows what the Event may prove 10 Case What if I be cast into a praying-family what use shall I make thereof Ans 1. Give