matter of prayers in the Family THe prayers of the holy men of God in Scripture are framed according to their own estate and the estate of the Kirk for the time conforme to that perfect prayer of our Lord Matth. 6. Luke 11. So many as can conceive a Prayer ought to make use of the gift of God Others who are rude weaker may begin with a set forme of prayer but so as they be not sluggish in stirring up in themselves according to their daily necessities the spirit of prayer which is given to all the children of God in some measure And I will powre upon the house of David upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace supplications they shall look upon mee whom they have pierced they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely son shal be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first born Zecha 12.10 And for this end they may beginne with these following particulars and other the like I. Let them confesse to God how unworthie they are to come in his presence how unfit to worship God and especially to pray and therefore earnestly aske of God the spirit of prayer II. They are to confesse their sinnes all the sins of the familie accusing judging and condemning themselves for them till they bring their soules to some measure of true humiliation III. They are to give thanks to God for his many mercies to his people and to themselves and especially for his love in Christ and for the light of the Gospell IV. They are to powre out their soules to GOD in the name of Christ by the spirit for forgivenesse of sin for grace to repent to beleeve and to live soberlie righteously and godly and that they may serve God with joy and delight walking before him V. They are to pray for such particular benefites spirituall and temporall as they stand in need of for the time whether it bee morning or evening health or sicknesse prosperitie or adversitie VI. They ought to pray for the Kirk of Christ in generall for all the Reformed Kirks and for this Kirk in particular and for all that suffer for the Name of Christ for all our Superiours the Kings Majestie the Queene and their Children for the Magistrates Ministers and vvhole body of the Citie asvvell for our neighbours absent in their lavvful affaires as for those that are at home VII The prayer may be closed vvith an earnest desire that God may be glorified in the comming of the Kingdome of his Son and in the doing of his vvil and vvith assurance that themselves are accepted and vvhat they have asked according to his vvill shall be done Prayer and thankesgiving before and after meat PRayer and thankesgiving are to be joined vvith our ordinary meales before after not by a child or a servant except for themselvs vvhen they take meat apart but by the Master of the family all lifting up their hearts to God from a deep feeling of their ovvne indigence from an carnest desire of the blessing of God upon themselves and their refreshment and from the lively sense of the fatherly care and good providence of God tovvard them B see ching the Lord that their eating and drinking and vvhatsoever they doe may be to his glory and for enabling them to the duties of their callings and that he vvould increase grace in their hearts make them content vvith their condition of life and make them meet for the Kingdome of heaven and so forth as Christian prudence shall direct This Familie Exercise to bee begunne without delay THe great mercies of God to this land the late renevving of our Covenant vvith God and the many svveet fruites vvhich shall bee reaped by this religious exercise doe call upon us for a present doing vvithout delay against all excuses vvhether of old age and former negligence or of vvorldly businesse and hinderances or of the mockings of Atheists and prophane men And therefore all Families must be instantly ordered Discipline exercised against swearers cursers lyars drunkards prophane or negligent observers of the Sabbath idle bellies and such others and till the Catechisme appointed by the Generall Assembly come to our hands the short Catechisme which hath beene in use may be still used and all made to understand the Ten Commandements the Beliefe Lords Prayer and doctrine of the Sacraments and all other parts of family exercise above expressed are to beginne so soone as may bee In confidence that the holy Spirit which our Heavenly Father will give to them that aske him shall helpe our infirmities If yee then being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11.13 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered And hee that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8.26 27. And I will powre upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon mee whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely son and shall be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first-born Zech. 12.10 Blessed and preserved shalt thou be when thou comest in and blessed and preserved shalt thou be when thou goest out from this time forth and even for evermore Deut. 28.6 Psal 121.8 FINIS
thine hands Happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy table Psal 128.1 2 3. And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three moneth and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his houshold 2. Sam. 6.11 And thou shall know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace thou shalt visit thy habitation shall not sin Job 5.24 Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house about all that he hath on every side Thou hast blessed the work of his hands his substance is increased in the land Job 1.10 Even as the neglect thereof maketh families to be companies of Atheists and dens of theeves bringeth down upon them the curse of God The fool hath said in his heart There is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord Psal 14.1 4. Powre out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not and upon the families that call not on thy name for they have eaten up Jacob and devoured him and consumed him and have made his habitation desolate Jer. 10.25 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked but he blesseth the habitation of the just Pro. 3.33 The house of the wicked shall be overthrowne but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish Prov. 14.11 III. This is a great help to the Kirk and Common-wealth whereof Families are the seminarie Without it neither good Lawes in the Citie nor the word of God in the Kirk are duely regarded And God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth Gen. 6.12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial they knew not the Lord. And he said unto them Why do ye such things for I hear of your evill dealings by all this people Nay my sons for it is no good report that I heare ye make the Lords people to transgresse If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkned not unto the voice of their father because the Lord would slay them 1. Sam. 2.12.23.24 25. So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem 2. Sam. 14.23 2. Sam. 15. 1. King 1. Upon these and the like reasons it vvere good that all housholders should say vvith Joshua I and my Family will serve the Lord Josh 24.15 I and my maides will do the like Esther 4.16 The parts of Familie Exercise I. THe parts of Familie Exercise are 1. reading of Scriptures in a constant course that all in the Familie may profit in godlinesse and may make the better use of the publick ministerie And that from a childe thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus 2. Tim. 3.15 Neither have I gone back from the commandement of his lips I have esteemed the words of his mouth more then my necessary food Job 23.12 II. It is not enough that the members of the Familie come to the Kirk to be catechised but they must in a plaine and easie manner bee instructed at home in the grounds of Christian Religion and that doctrine which is according to godlinesse Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Honour thy father mother which is the first commandement with promise That it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture admonition of the Lord Ephes 6.1 2 3 4. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up And thou shal binde them for a signe upon thine hand they shall be as frontlets between thine eies and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house on thy gates And when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying What mean the testimonies the statutes the judgments which the Lord our God hath commanded you Then thou shalt say unto thy son Wee were Pharaohs bond men in Egipt and the Lord brought us out of Egipt with a mightie hand Deut. 6.6 7 8 9 20 21. For I know him that he will command his children his household after him they shall keepe the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which hee hath spoken of him Gen. 18.19 III. Prayer and thanksgiving morning and evening before and after meales with singing of psalmes when and where it may be had The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even Exod. 29.39 And it was so when the daies of their feasting was gone about that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all For Job said it may be that my sons have sinned cursed God in their hearts Thus did Job continuallie Job 1.5 Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and hee shall heare my voice Psal 55.17 For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving For it is sanctified by the word of God prayer 1. Tim. 4.4 5. And be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in psalmes hymnes spirituall songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord Giving thanks alwayes for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes 5.18.19.20 IV. That godlinesse may be practised there must bee exercise of discipline in vvisedome and patience by admonition reproof and correction for such faults as are proper to be censured in the Familie and if servants vvil not amend by remooving them And for this end diligent observing and vvatching over their vvayes is necessary And it was so when the dayes of their feasting was gone about that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up earely in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts Thus did Job continually Job 1.5 If a man have a stubborne and rebellious son which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother and that when they have
chastened him will not hearken unto them Deut. 21.18 Hee that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house hee that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Psal 101.7 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever but the son abideth ever John 8.35 If I did despise the cause of my man-servant or of my mayd servant when they contended with me Job 31.23 And the asse said unto Balaamâ— Am not I thine asse upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day was I ever wont to do so unto thee And hee said Nay Num. 22.30 Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a childe but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him Prov. 22.15 He that spareth his rod hateth his son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 V. To observe the providence of God and to make use of the works of his justice and mercy both past and present that he may bee known to bee the Lord For I know him that hee will command his children his household after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which hee hath spoken of him Gen. 18.19 Remember that thou magnifie his work which men behold Every man may see it man may behold it afar off Behold God is great and we know him not neither can the number of his years be searched out Job 36.24 25 26. VI. Private Fasting and Humiliation when by publick calamities or the private distresse of the Familie God calleth unto it And it came to passe when I heard these wordes that I sate downe and wept and mourned certaine dayes fasted prayed before the GOD of Heaven Neh. 1.4 Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shuschan faste yee for me neither eat nor drink three dayes night or day I also my maidens will faste likewise so will I go in unto the king which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish Esther 4.16 And the land shall mourne every family apart the family of the house of David apart and their wives apart the family of the house of Nathan apart and their wives apart Zech. 12 12. And Cornelius said Foure dayes ago I was fasting untill this honre at the ninth houre I prayed in mine house and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing Acts 10.30 And for afflicting our souls and strangthening our faith the Scriptures to bee read and the prayers to be powred forth must bee pertinent for the time The dutie of the Master of the Familie TO the Master of the house belongeth not onely the ordering and ruling of the house in wisedome the providing of things needfull with diligence and the giving of good example in all godlinesse gravitie but also the performance of all the parts of Familie Exercise as to reade to catechise to pray with and for the Familie to exercise discipline to shew and set forth the works of God and to direct and order the times and manner of Humiliation And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up And when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying What mean the testimonies and the statutes and the judgements which the Lord our God hath commanded you Deut. 6 7 20. For I know him that he will command his children his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which hee hath spoken of him Gen. 18.19 Heare ye children the instruction of a father and attend to know understanding Pro. 4.1 And they said unto him Where wilt thou that we prepare And hee said unto them Behold when ye are entred into the citie there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the house where hee entreth in Luke 22.9.10 And upon just and necessary causes disabling the Master of the Familie or drawing him away they ought to be performed by some other member of the Familie Who then is a wise and faithfull servant whom his lord hath made him ruler over his houshold to give them meat in due season Mat. 24 45 And Abraham said Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go childlesse and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus Gen. 15.2 And it came to passe from the time that hee had made him over seer in his house and over all that hee had that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house in the field Gen 39 5. And in all these Familie Exercises whole government of the house the Mistresse of the Family hath a speciall hand I will therefore that the younger women marry beare children guide the house give none occasion to the adversary to speak reprochfully 1. Ti. 5.14 Prov. 31. from vers 10. to the end The aged women likewise that they be in behaviour as becometh holinesse not false accusers not given to much wine teachers of good things Thal they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their children To be discreet chaste keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2.3 4 5. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard they took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly Acts 18.26 The times of Familie Exercise THe fittest times for Familie Exercise must be chosen by the wisedome and discretion of the governours of the Familie as the morning before they put their hands to worke and the evening when the dayes worke is ended and the time of rest draweth on and such other houres as may bee best spared from the dueties of their particular vocation Upon the Lords day the Familie is to be brought to the Kirk they are to behave themselves quietly and religiously as in the presence of God and when the publick worship is ended the family is to be conveened and the Master of the Family beginning and ending with prayer is to take account of what they have heard with instruction admonition and exhortation that they may profit in the knowledge and obedience of the will of God But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid servant nor thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates Exod. 20.10 And the morrow after they entered into Cesarea and Cornelius waited for them and hee called together his Kinsmen and near friends Acts 10.24 The manner and