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
Answ 1. God loseth not his Authority to Command because man hath lost his Capacity to Obey it is his Duty still though he cannot perform it in such a due manner as God requires He is bound to Pray as a Creature though he cannot do it as a Child Better do it as men can than not do it at all Prayer is a natural duty Jonah 3.8 The Ninevites must cry aloud and mightily to God and it was not in vain Act. 8.22 Simon Peter bids Simon Magus Pray though in the Gall of bitterness 2. We must distinguish betwixt a resolved and a returning Sinner We bid not a Thief pray that he may meet with a Booty that 's abominable Psal 66.18 Isa 55.6 7. or men Regarding Iniquity in their hearts But in a complex sense we bid them Turn from their evil ways and so Pray Prayer must be joyned with Repentance as Prayer is Medium Cultus so it is Medium Gratiae as means of carrying the heart to God in Worship so it is a mean to obtain Grace Prayer is the Souls motion God-ward desire is the Soul of Prayer and who dare say to the wicked desire not God Christ Faith By Praying men may learn to Pray right Luk. 11.13 For God gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Oject 4. There 's wicked Children or Servants in the Family how dare we joyn with them For whose sake God may justly reject us Answ 1. If the Praying Governour be Godly and pray right he need not fear non-acceptance Christ was heard in his Prayer though Judas was present What think you of poor Ministers Prayers in mixt Congregations Act 27.35 Certainly the presence of unworthy Persons prejudiceth not the entertainment of sincere Worshipers 2. Prayer is Gods institution to make bad good some have been much wrought upon by the Prayers of others God heard Stephen for Paul in time if it advantaged not at present Mr. Weems said of Mr Bruce he knockt down the Holy Ghost upon us all Deny them not this means of Conversion Object 5. This setting up a Family-Altar for so constant Prayer savours of Forms and will fill the Country with Formalists and Hypocrites Answ 1. Forms are not simply condemned but Forms only wanting the power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3 5. Our business is not to make Hypocrites but Converts By Form is meant a Mask Vizor or Appearance opposed to Substance and Reality But we persuade and direct to sincerity as to Priciple Manner and End of Religious Exercises 2. But a Form of Goliness is better than none at all Men cannot have the Power of Godliness without the Form no more than you can have the Kernell without the Shell He that Prays doth something towards Duty but he that refuseth to Worship God at all bids open defiance to God's Commanding Authority and saith I scorn to bow so much as a Knee to God in Prayer This is a presumptuous Sin Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his heart will not seek after God Let him answer it as he dare The Text saith 1 Tim. 4 8. Bodily Exercise profiteth little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a little 1 King 21.27 i. e. for a little time or for a little i. e. in some outward respects as in Ahabs fasting though it reach not so far as the Eternal Salvation of the immortal Soul However this is better than a total neglect Object 6. But such kind of Praying Morning and Evening is a stinting the Spirit a limiting God to mans time when the Spirit moves not to it Answ 1. Christ and his Apostles had set times for Prayer Jesus oft times resorted into the Garden Judas knew his stated hour and place John 18.2 And the Apostles had an hour of Prayer Acts 3.1 Was this stinting the Spirit Indeed this Objection is levelled against Preaching Singing Supper and all stated Ordinances how do men know that the Spirit will move at such a season 2. It 's one thing to stint another to lie in the walk of the Spirit Men are bound to wait at the posts of Wisdoms Doors and are blessed Prov. 8.34 and in the road of further blessing for the wind of the Spirit bloweth where and when it listeth Joh. 3.8 And no body will say he limits the wind that waits in the Heaven for a fair gale to wast him over Besides Isa 64.7 God expects that men should stir up themselves to take hold on God Self-excitation is God's appointment to get the heart into frame How often doth David begin low and end high 2 Tim. 1.6 We must stir up the gift of God in our hearts A Dead Dull Senseless Heart is no supersedeas from Duty Omission upon indisposition doth but harden the heart and indispose for Duty and gratifie Satan yea and displease God Object 7. This Family-Prayer is but a singular invention of brain-sick novellists not used of old and is more adoe than needs Answ 1. In Scripture-times it was used and in the purest Primitive-timess Basil saith Mane orto die in precationes properare that Christians made haste to Prayers by day-brake in the Morning Chrysostom saith we go not a mensa ad lectum from Table to bed but to Prayers lest we be more bruitish than bruits It were easie to produce instances from Cyprian Augustin c. of Primitive Christians frequency in Prayers You will say butt these were Church prayers Answer Churches were mostly then in Houses yet some instances prove also daily Family-Prayers And Godly Persons in all Ages have used it 2. Can men be too Devout Doth not our Lord say Luk. 18 4◠Mat. 6.33 Mat. 22.37 one thing is needful Seek first the Kingdom of God Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart Mind Strength Can you do too much for God Can you be too oft with God Eccl. 7.16 Alas you cannot be over-much righteous in the internals of Religion no nor in the externals as long as you keep to commanded duties and one duty cross not another Nay when we have done all that 's commanded Luk. 17.10 yet still we are unprofitable Servants we have but done our duty Joh. 12.3.4 It was Judas that said Wherefore is this wasted Godly Souls still complain of defects Whom did you hear complain on their death-bed that they had served God too much or been too religious Object 8. They are no better than others that pray in their families they can lye cheat be covetous proud passionate censorious hard-hearted Ans 1. Take heed what you say act not the Devil's part to be false-accusers taking up a false report or without proof It 's well known that now a-days if persons be strict and serious in Religious duties many pick quarrels with them take advantage against them aggravate their faults these mens Motes are Beams Act. 28.22 yea Mountains this Sect is every where spoken against there needs no further
abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh And who will believe you are in earnest when your Lips are sealed up in Silence tell your Wife Children Servants at due seasons of the preciousness of Souls the necessity of grace excellency of Christ the Concernment of Eternity the near approach of Death the great account of Judgment and the importance of Watching Praying And put them upon going alone by themselves and praying as well as they can And as such Discourse will familiarize these Solemn Truth and Duties to them so it will make them willing to joyn with you in Family Worship If you will not own God before your Relations sure you will not own him before Enemies Gordius the Martyr being perswaded to keep his Heart to himself Oh! no saith he it is fit that this Mouth of mine which was made by God and for God should speak of God and for God Oh! Friends will you take your leave of God in the Morning or Evening Sacrifice and never own him till the return of that Family Service God forbid Are not the Souls of yours committed to you Must you not give an account of them And is not faithful speaking to them for God one way of discharging trust 2 Cor. 9.13 profess your Subjection to the Gospel and your example may prevail on all about you for God is much glorified thereby 10. Observe answers of Prayers and gather up Experiences As this will furnish you with matter of Prayer so it will help you in the due manner of managing it How did the Lord assist my Heart in such a Duty What quickenings What meltings What Communion with God What further degrees or strength of grace got I in such a performance What power against such a Corruption What strength against Temptation What further Ability or Incouragement in and for Gods Service Or make your remarks upon your Family what person is informed reformed conformed to the ways of God What Convictions or Impressions have I observed on the Spirit of such a Child or Servant What Miscarriages to be reproved or bewailed What evils have been prevented or removed How the Lord hath blessed or prospered your undertakings That God may have the glory your selves may have the use or profit of what you have met with in your Families David saith Ps 8 8. Ps 5.3 I will bear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his People and to his Saints In the Morning I will direct my Prayer unto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dispâ—â—iom â—ibi◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est spiculâ—â—or instâ—r speculatoris observaturus â—â— venias mihi auxilio and will look up the words are very Emphatical First his great care and exactness so to Order Direct and Compose both his Person and Prayers in such a manner as to be well pleasing to God Then will I stand as a Watchman upon my Watch-Tower to consider what answer he will give me The Altar which I have made shall be my Watch-Tower also on which I will stand to expect some blessed Answer What help the Lord will afford me By this means you may suit the condition of your Family and not shoot at Rovers But always find matter from things daily occurring to present before the Lord yea and those very occurrences will excite suitable affections of Joy and Sorrow to quicken you in Prayers or Praises This is what Solomon prescribes in Prov. 27.23 Be thou diligent to know the State of thy Flocks and look well to thy Herds Whether it refer to a literal Inspection of Shepherds in a proper Sense or Metaphorical in a Political as Magistrates Ecclesiastical as Ministers or Oeconomical as Governors of Families It 's a great Duty in all respects est praeceptum oeconomicum saith Mercer it properly and principally belongs to House-holders Else how can you accommodate your Counsels Admonitions of them or Petitions for them or your Sympathy or Compassion with them Thus I have disparcht my Instructions both Preparatory for erecting this Family Altar and also directed in the due manner of managing this Family Worship both for matter and manner And now you cannot plead Ignorance or Imbecillity I have in my weak Capacity reacht out my Hand to help you your way is lined out yea some have written down words and forms of Prayer to assist you and you have godly Ministers to whom you may repair for further direction and if still you wilfully live in the neglect of this known Duty your Blood â—e upon your own Heads yea the Blood of your Families will also be required at your Hands God Almighty make you willing and able for the Discharge of your relative Duty But if after all this you will not speak a word to God for your Poor Languishing Gasping Dying Families to keep them out of Hell I leave you to that Justice which will shortly plead with you at another rate than we poor Ministers can do and will take vengance on you for your willful neglect and Disobedience to the Calls of God Chap. 10. A Resolution of several Cases of Conscience concerning the Worship of God in Families MY last work is the Answering of Sundry Cases of Conscience some whereof have been propounded to me others are ordinarily incident in this point concerning this Family-Altar and Sacrifices in Families 1. Query Whether may an House-Holder take upon him to Preach expound Scripture dispense the Seals of the Covenant as Baptism and the Lords Supper to the Members of his Family seeing he is a Priest Answ 1. Ministerial Authoritative teaching by vertue of others is one thing and charitative subservient teaching is another A Master of a Family Deut. 11.18 19 20 21. Heb. 5.4 must teach all under his Charge as a Master yet not usurp the Office of a Minister without a just due Call His teaching must not be in opposition but in subordination to Ministerial Instruction As Families are Subordinate to Churches 2. Masters of Families must not take upon them that they are not fit for or presume beyond their Capacity incurring the guilt of proud self-conceitedness or vain ostentation as to undertake to interpret the Original or give the Sense of dark Prophecy or obscure Scriptures or determine knotty Controversies Yet may declare when it lies in their way what they have read or heard from Learned Pious Men or got in publick Preaching 3. Yet it is safest ordinarily to pass by those abstruse and difficult points and insist upon plain practical fundamental catechistical Truths or take occasion from the Chapter read in the Family to infer such a seasonable word suppose of admonition as I have heard a godly Father say this is for you look to 't this aims at you in such a case and with serious Exhortations press it home upon Conscience Or inform the ignorant in such or such a point requiring them to remember it 4. But as for administring Baptism and the Lords Supper they may not