requires except we do it in a holy serious and reverent manner A. No. Q. 57. Which is the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment is Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six days shalt thou labour and do all thy works 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 for in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that is in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it Q. 58. VVhat is required in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word expresly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath unto himself Q. Doth the fourth Commandment require any espeâ—ial time to be kept holy A. Yes Q. What time A. Such as God hath appointed in his Word Q. Doth the fourth Commandment then determine of the special time for divine worship as the three foregoing Commands do of the Object means and manner of worship A. Yes Q. Hath God left us to keep what time we please A. No. Q. What proportion of time hath God expresly set apart in his word to be kept holy to himself A. One wdole day in seven Q. Is this Commandment to be understood of the seventh day in order that is the last of the seven or the seventh in number that is one in seven A. Of the seventh in number Q. Hath God left the determining which day in seven it should be whether the first or the last to some other precept A. Yes Q. Is the fourth Command then a Moral precept that is to say of perpetual force binding Christians now as well as Jews heretofore to the observation of it A. Yes Q. Doth it cease to be of force A. No. Q. 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath A. From the beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ God hath appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath and the first day of the week ever since to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath Q. Which day of seven was at first appointed for the Sabbath A. The last Q. Which day of the seven did God since appoint to be the Sabbath A. The first Q. When was the seventh or last day of the week appointed to be the Sabbath A. From the beginning of the world Q. Was it only from the time of the giving of the Law of Moses A. No. Q. Was it ordained for man in Paradise at the beginning of the world A. Yes Q. How long did the seventh or last day of the week continue to be the Sabbath A. Until the Resurrection of Christ. Q. How long hath the first day been the weekly Sabbath A. Ever since the Resurrection of Christ. Q. Was the Resurrection of Christ and the finishing the work of our Redemption on the first day of the week the reasons why Christians do keep it as the Sabbath A. Yes Q. And is it therefore called the Lords day A. Yes Q. And is the first day of the week or the Lords day a Christian Sabbath A. Yes Q. How long doth it continue to be the Sabbath A. To the end of the World Q. What is the meaning of the word Sabbath A. A day of holy rest Q. 60. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day even from such worldly imployments and recreations as are lawful on other days and spending the whole time in the publick and private exercises of Gods worship except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy Q. Is the Sabbath to be sanctified A. Yes Q. In what sense is God said to sanctifie the holy Sabbath A. By making it holy Q. In what sense are we said to sanctifie the Sabbath A. By keeping it holy Q. Did God sanctifie it by way of consecration Q. Yes Q. And must we sanctifie it by way of application i.e. applying it to those ends and exercises for which God did consecrate it A. Yes Q. Is the rest of the Sabbath a part of our sanctifying it A. Yes Q. What kind of rest must it be a meer civil rest A. No. Q. Or a meer carnal and bodily rest such as the Oxe and the Asse must have on the Sabbath A. No. Q What rest then A. An holy rest Q. How long must this be A. All that day Q. From what must we rest from spiritual employments and recreations A. No. Q. From what then A. From worldly employments and recreations Q May we not do our own work upon the Sabbath day A. No. Q. Nor follow our own sports and pastimes nor spend the time in our ease and sloth A. No. Q Fro n what worldly employments and recre tions must we rest from such as are sinful in themselves and unlawful at any time A. Yes Q. And not only from such but even from those that are lawful at other times A. Yes Q. And how must we spend the time A. In the exercise of Gods worship Q. May we spend it idly A. No. Q. In what exercise must we spend it A. Both in the publick and private exercises of Gods worship Q. May we stay at home and spend our time in the Private Exercises of Gods Worship with the neglect of the Publick A. No. Q. May we not rest satisfied in giving attendance on the publick worship but must we also be careful at home in the Private A. Yes Q. May not worldly business be done in any Case upon the Sabbath day A. Yes Q. What works then may lawfully be done on the Sabbath day besides the works of Piety A. The works of Necessity and Mercy Q What do you call the works of Necessity A. Such as could not be done before and cannot be deferred until after the Sabbath Q. May works of mercy be done upon the Sabbath day such as visiting the sick feeding our bodies and our beast c. A. Yes Q. And why is this Commandment delivered as to all in general so especially to governours of families Is it because it is not enough for them to sanctifie the Sabbath themselves but they must also look that it be strictly observed in and by their families and because they are apt to hinder their housholds in and by business of their own A. Yes Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment forbiddeth the omission or careful performance of the duties required and the prophaning the day by idleness or doing that which is in it self sinful or by unnecessary thoughts words or works about worldly imployments or recreations Q. Doth it forbid the omission
No. Q. What is the Word to be with reference unto us A. A Rule Q. Is any other Rule sufficient for our direction A. No this is the only Rule Q. Can we receive sufficient directions from our own wisdom or the light of nature to come to glorifie and enjoy God A. No. Q. Can we receive sufficient direction from Gods works of Creation and Providence A. No. Q. Is the Scripture a sufficient Guide A. Yes Q. In what do the Scriptures direct us H. How we may glorifie God and enjoy him for ever Q. Can we never learn then how to glorify God here or to enjoy him hereafter without the guidance and directions of the Scriptures A. No. Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what God requires of man Q. Doth the Scripture teach us all matters of Faith or all that we are bound to believe A. Yes Q. And all matters of practice or what we are bound to do A. Yes Q. Is not a Christian bound to believe any thing as a point of Faith but what is taught in the Scriptures A. No. Q Nor bound to do any thing as necessary to Salvation but what is taught in the Stirptures A No. Q. 4. What is God A. God is a Spirit I finite Eternal and Unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Q Is God a man like unto us A. No. Q. What kind of substance is he then A. A Spirit Q. Is he a corporal visible Substance A No. Q Is he a Spirit without body or bodily parts A. Yes Q. Is be an infinite or finite Spirit A. An Infinite Q. What do you mean by infinite A. Without bounds or limits Q. Is God an eternal Spirit A. Yes Q. What is to be eternal A. To be from everlasting to everlasting or without beginning or end Q Is God unchangeable A. Yes Q. Is it proper to God only to be Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable A. Yes Q. Are these then incommunicable attributes in God viz. his Infiniteness Eternity and unchangeableness and such as are not to be found in any Creature A. Yes Q. What is God Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable in A. In his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Q May a Creature be wise holy just good and true A. Yes Q. Are Wisdom Power Holiness c. proper to God only A. No. Q. Are these communicable attributes then A. Yes Q. But are they in the same manner in the Creatures as in God A. No. Q. Is any Creature infinite eternal or unchangable in being wisdom power c. A. No. Q. Is God infinite in being A. Yes Q. Doth he fill all things and all places A. Yes Q. But is he not besides his general and essential presence which is equally every-where by a special and gracious presence amongst his people A. Yes Q. And by a special manifestation of his presence in Heaven A. Yes Q. Is God infinite in his Wisdom A. Yes Q. Is there any thing that God is ignorant of A. No. Q. Doth he know our very hearts and thoughts A. Yes Q. Is God infinite in power or Almighty A. Yes Q. Is nothing too hard for him A. No. Q. Is God infinite in holiness A. Yes Q. Does he love or allow of sin A. No. Q. Is God infinite in justice A. Yes Q. Is there any thing unjust that God doth A. No. Q. Is he just in all his Decrees Actions and Dispensations A. Yes Q. Is God Infinite Eternal and Unchangable in Goodness A. Yes Q. Is he good in himself and is all goodness from him A. Yes Q. Is God infinite in his truth A. Yes Q. Can he erre or be deceived A. No. Q. And is God eternal and unchangable as well as infinite in his being Wisdom Power c. A. Yes Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one A. There is but one only the living and true God Q. Is there a God A. Yes Q. Are there many false Gods A. Yes Q Were not the Heathen-idols Gods A. No. Q. Is there but only one true God A. No. Q. And is he the living God A. Yes Q. 6. How many persons are there in the God-head A. There are three persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God the same in substance equal in power and glory Q Are there many persons in the Godhead A. Yes Q. How many A. Three Q. Do all these three persons subsist in the same essence or God-head A. Yes Q. Are there three God-heads A. No. Q. Which of these three persons was made man for us and became our Redeemer A. The Son Q. Is the Son God as well as the Father A. Yes Q. Is the Holy Ghost God A. Yes Q. Are there three Gods then A. No but one and the same Q. What are these the same in in personal properties A. No. Q. In what then A. In substance or essence Q. Is one of these persons greater than the other A. No. Q. Are they equal A. Yes Q. What are they equal in A. In power and glory Q. 8. What are the decrees of God A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his Will whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass Q. What hath God fore-ordained in his Decrees A. Whatsoever comes to pass Q. Doth nothing come to pass but what and when and how God hath fore ordained in his Decrees A. No. Q. To what end hath God fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass A. For his own glory Q. Doth nothing come to pass but God intends his glory by it A. No. Q. Of what date is the purpose of Gods Decree A. It is eternal Q. What did God take up his Decrees for was he moved thereto by his creatures or by any thing in or with him A. No. Q. Did he Decree all things meerly according to the counsel of his Will A. Yes Q. How doth God execute his decrees A. God executeh his decrees in the works of Creation and Providence Q. How manifold are the works of God A. Twofold of Creation and Providence Q. Are the works of Creation and Providence the execution of his eternal Decrees A. Yes Q. Doth God do nothing in the works of Creation and Providence but what he from eternity decreed A. No. Q. 9. What is the work of Creation A. The work of Creation is Gods making all things of nothing by the Word of his Power in the space of six days and all very good Q. Whose work is the work of Creation A. Gods Q. What is it to create A. To make of nothing Q. Can none create or make a thing of nothing but God A. No. Q. What did God make in the Creation A. All things Q. Of what did he make them A. Of nothing Q. By what did he make them A. By the Word of his Power
of the duties required A. Yes Q. What do you mean by the omission of them A. The leaving them undone Q. Doth it forbid the careless performance of the duties of the Sabbath A. Yes Q. And the prophaning of the day A. Yes Q. How many ways may the Sabbath be prophaned A. Three 1. By idleness 2. By doing that which is in it self sinful 3. By unnecessary thoughts words or works about worldly imployments and recreations Q. May we not be idle upon the Sabbath day A. No. Q. May we sleep and loiter away the time A. No. Q. Is it prophaning the day by doing that which is in it self sinful A. Yes Q. Is it enough to forbear that which is sinful though we do neglect that which is good A. No. Q. Is it a prophanation of the Sabbath to let our thoughts unnecessarily run upon worldly affairs A. Yes Q. Or to let our tongues run upon worldly business A. Yes Q. Or to set our hands to worldly imployments A. Yes Q. Must we neither work nor play upon the Sabbath day A. No. Q. But spend all the day in Gods special Service A. Yes Quest. 62. What are the Reasons annexed to the Fourth Commandment A. The reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are Gods allowing us six days of the week for our own imployment his challenging a special propriety in the seventh his own example and his blessing the Sabbath-day Q. Are there many reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment to enforce it A. Yes Q. How many are there A. Four viz. 1. Gods allowing us six days of the week for our own imployment 2. His challenging an especial propriety in the seventh 3. His own example 4. His blessing the Sabbath day Q. Hath God allowed us any days in the week A. Yes Q. What hath he allowed them to us for A. For our own imployments Q. Is it Gods will that every one should have some imployment A. Yes Q. How many days hath God allowed us for our own imployments A. Six Q. And is it his will that men should ordinarily spend the six days of the week in their imployments A. Yes Q. And is this a reason why we should not cut short Gods allowance of one day for his work because he hath allowed six times as much for ours A. Yes Q. In which words of the Commandment is this reason hinted of Gods allowing of us six days of the week for our own imployment A. In these words Six days shalt thou labour and do all thyork Q. Must we dispatch all our work upon the six days that we may have nothing to hinder us upon the Lords day A Yes Q. In which words doth God challenge a special propriety in the seventh day A. In these words but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God Q. In which words is Gods own example urged as a reason why we should work six days and keep holy the seventh A. In thâ—sâ— words sor in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day Q. In which words is Gods blessing the Sabbath day hinted as a reason why we should keep it A. In these words wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it Q. Hath God then blessed the Sabbath-day and appointed it to be a means of blessing unto us A. Yes Q. Doth God require us to Remember the Sabbath-day as a means for the keeping of it holy A. Yes Q. Are we apt to forget it A. Yes Q. And cannot we duly sanctifie it without we remember it before hand to prepare for it and conveniently to dispatch our worldly business in season out of the way A. No. Q. 63. Which is the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment is Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Q. 64. What is required in the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment requireth the preserving the honour and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations as superiors inferiors or equals Q. Are all sorts of Relations comprehended under the words Father and Mother in the fifth Commandment A. Yes Q. And all sorts of duties in the word Honour A. Yes Q. What doth this Commandment require with reverence to our Relations A. Preserving the honour and performing the duty belonging to them Q. How many sorts of Relations be there A. Three Superiors Inferiors and Equals Q. What do you mean by superiors A. Such as are any way above us whether in Family Church or State Q. Are all that are above us whether in Power or Wealth or age or gifts Superiors A. Yes Q. Doth this Commandment require reverence respect submission and obedience towards Parents Masters Husbands Magistrates Ministers c. as being Superiors A. Yes Q. What do you mean by Inferiors A. Such as are below us in Gifts Place Estate or otherwise Q. Are Subjects Wives Children Servants Hearers the Poor the weak in grace or knowledg comprehended under the name of Inferiors A. Yes Q. And must their Superiors be careful in performing their duties towards them by caring for their bodies and souls governing them with meekness and gentleness correcting and reproving with moderation and wisdom A. Yes Q. Are there duties to be performed to our equals A. Yes Q. May we slight them and carry our selves scornfully towards them A. No. Q. Doth this Command require kindness and affableness towards our Equals readiness to yield to them and prefer them before our selves A. Yes Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of or doing any thing against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations Q. Doth it forbid the neglecting our duty to our relations A. Yes Q. And the doing any thing against it A. Yes Q. May we disgrace or dispise our supe riours or speak evil of them or carry our selves irreverently towards them or oppose and resist them A. No. Q. May we despise and slight our inferiours or be rigorous towards them and careless of their spiritual or temporal good A. No. Q. Is it a sin to neglect to instruct them correct them and keep them under government or to neglect to encourage and countenance them when they do well A. Yes Q. May we be discourteous or envious towards our equals or usurp over them or rigorously stand upon our terms with them A. No. Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth Commandment A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity as far as it shall serve for Gods glory and their own good to all such as keep this Commandment Q. Is there any reason annexed or joined to the fifth Commandment A. Yes Q. What is the reason A. A promise of long life and prosperity Q. How far forth are these and
What is the meaning of Amen A. 1. So let it be 2. So it shall be Useful Questions Whereby a Christian may every day examine himself Psal. 4. 4. Commune with your heart upon your beds EVery Evening before you sleep unless you find some other time in the day more for your advantage in this work sequester your self from the world and having set your heart in the presence of the Lord charge it before God to answer to these Interrogatories For your Duties Q. 1. Did not God find me on my Bed when he looked for me on my knees Job 1. 5. Psal. 5. 3. Q. 2. Have not I prayed to no purpose or suffered wandring thoughts to eat out my duties Mat. 15. 8 9. Jer. 12. 2. Q. 3. Have not I neglected or been very overly in the reading Gods holy word Deut. 17. 19. Josh. 1. 7 8. Q. 4. Have I digested the Sermon I heard last Have I repeated it over and prayed it over Luke 2. 19 51. Psal. 1. 2. 119. 5 11 97. Q. 5. Was there not more of custom and fashion in my family-duties than of conscience Psal. 101. 2. Jer. 30. 21. Q. 6. Wherein have I denyed my self this day for God Luke 9. 23. Q. 7. Have I redeemed my time from too long or needless visits idle imaginations fruitless discourse unnecessary sleep more than needs of the world Eph. 5. 16. Col. 4. 5. Q. 8. Have I done any thing more than ordinary for the Church of God in this time extraordinary 2 Cor. 11. 28. Isa. 62. 6. Q. 9. Have I took care of my company Prov. 13. 20. Psal. 119. 63. Q. 10. Have not I neglected or done something against the duties of my Relations as a Master Servant Husband Wife Parent Child c. Eph. 5. 22. to chap. 6. v. 10. Col. 3. 18. to the 4. v. 2. For your Sins Q. 1. Doth not sin sit light Psal. 38. 4. Rom. 7. 24. Q. 2. Am I a mourner for the sins of the Land Ezek. 9. 4 Jer. 9. 1 2 3. Q. 3. Do I live in nothing that I know or fear to be a sin Psal. 119. 101 104. For your Heart Q. 1. Have I been much in holy Ejaculations Neh. 2. 4 5. Q. 2. Hath not God been out of mind Heaven out of sight Psal. 16. 8 Jer. 2. 32. Col. 3. 1 2. Q. 3. Have I been often looking into mine own heart and made conscience even of vain thoughts Prov. 3. 23. Psal. 119. 113. Q. 4. Have not I given way to the workings of pride or passion 2 Chron. 32. 26. James 4. 5 6 7. For my Tongue Have I bridled my Tongue and forced it in Jam. 1. 26. Jam. 3. 2 3 4. Psal. 39. 1. Q. 2. Have I spoken evil of no man Tit. 3. 2. Jam. 4. 11. Q. 3. Hath the Law of the Lord been in my mouth as I sate in my house went by the way was lying down and rising up Deut. 6. 6 7. Q. 4. Is there no company I have come into but I have dropped something of God and left some good savour behind Col. 4. 6. Eph. 4. 29. For your Table Q. 1. Did not I sit down with no higher end than a beast meerly to please my appetite Did I eat and drink to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. Q. 2. Was not my appetite too hard for me Jude 12. 2 Pet. 1. 6. Q. 3. Did not I arise from the Table without dropping any thing of God there Luke 7. 36 c. Luke 14. 1 c. John 6. Q. 4. Did not I mock God when I pretended to crave a blessing and return thanks Acts 27. 35 36. Mat. 15. 36. Col. 3. 17. 23. For your Calling Q. 1 Have I been diligent in the duties of my Calling Eccles. 9. 1 Cor. 7. 17. 20. 24. Q. 2. Have I defrauded no man 1 Thes. 4. 6. 1 Cor. 6. 8. Q. 3. Have I dropped never a lye in my shop or trade Prov. 21. 6. Eph. 4. 25. Q. 4. Did not I rashly make nor falsly break some promise Psal. 106. 33. Josh. 9. verse 14 c. Psal. 15. 4. An Addition of some brief Directions for the Morning D. 1. If through necessity or carelesness you have omitted the reading and weighing of these questions in the Evening be sure to do it now D. 2. Ask your self what sin have I committed what duty have I omitted Against which of these Rules have I offended in the day foregoing And renew your repentance and double your watch D. 3. Examine whether God were last in your thoughts when you went to sleep and first when you awoke D. 4. Enquire whether your care of your heart and ways doth increase upon your constant using of this course for self-examination or whether it doth abate and you grow more remiss D. 6. Impose a task of some good meditation upon your selves while you are making ready either to go over these Rules in your thoughts or the heads of the Sermon you heard last or the holy meditations for the purpose in the practice of Piety or Scudders daily walk D. 6. Set your ends right for all that day D. 7. Set your watch especially against those sins and temptations that you are like to be most incident to that day To the most endeared People the Inhabibitants of Taunton Salvation Most dearly beloved aud longed for my Joy and Crown MY hearts desire and prayer for you is that you may be saved This is that which I have been praying and studying and preaching for these many years and this is the end of my venturing and suffering and writing at this prsent time God that knoweth all things he knoweth that this is my wish Oh that I could but come at your souls And that this is the prize and the gain that I run for that I might win souls I seek not other gifts give me your hearts let me but part between your sins and you suffer me but to save you Give me leave to carry you over to Jesus Christ and I will not ask you any more I will serve you gladly I will suffer for you thankfully so I may but save you Do not wonder why I follow you so pressingly why I call upon you so frequently let not my importunity be grievous to you all this is but to save you Christ did not bethink his blood and shall I bethink my breath or ink in order to your salvation What pity is it that any of you should miscarry at last under the power of ignorance or by a prophane negligence or a formal and lifeless profession of strict godliness Beloved I am afraid of you lest as to many of you I have run in vain I cannot but most thankfully acknowledg that considering the paucity of these that are saved there are not a few of you who are the joy of your Ministers the glory of Christ. But it cannot be dissembled that far the greater number give little ground to hope that they are in the
quarreller or a thief or a backbiter or a railer for I denouce unto you from the living God that destruction and damnation is the end of all such 2. Family godliness He that hath set up Christ in his heart will be sure to study to set him up in his house Let every family with you be a Christian Church every house a house of Prayer every houshold a houshold of faith Let every housholder say with Johua I and my house will serve the Lord and resolve with David I will walk within my house with a perfect heart Let me press upon you a few duties which I have been long harping upon but alas I speak it to your shame with many too too many of you to little purpose in general First Let Religion be in your families not as a matter by the by to be minded at leisure when the world will give you leave but the standing business of the house Let them have your prayers as duly as their meals is there any of your families but have time for their taking food wretched man canst thou find time to eat it and not find time to pray in Secondly settle it upon your hearts that your souls are bound up in the souls of your family They are committed unto you if they be lost through your neglect will be required at your hands Sirs if you do not you shall know that the charge of souls is a heavy charge and that the blood of souls is a heavy guilt O man hast thou a charge of souls to answer for and dost thou not yet bestir thy self for them that their blood be not found in thy skirts wilt thou do no more for immortal souls thèn thou wilt do for thy beasts that perish What dost thou do for thy children and servants Thou providest meat and drink for them agreeable to their natures and dost thou not the same for thy beasts Thou givest them medicines and cherishest them when they be sick and dost thou not as much for thy swine more particularly 1. Let the solemn reading of the word and singing of Psalms be your family exercises 2. Let every person in your families be duly called to an account of their profiting by the word heard or read as they be about doing your own business This is a duty of consequence unspeakable and would be a means to bring those under your charge to remember and profit by what they receive See Chists example in calling his family to an account Mat. 16. 11. 13. 15. 3. Often take an account of the souls under your care concerning their spiritual estates make inquiry into their conditions insist much upon the sinfulness and misery of their natural estate and upon the necessity of regeneration and conversion in order to their salvation Admonish them gravely of their sins incourage beginnings Follow them earnostly and let them have no quiet for you till you see them in a saving change This is a duty of high consequence but I am afraid fearfully neglected even by some that are godly Doth not Conscience say Thou art the man 4. Look to the strict sanctifying of the Sabbath by all your housholds Many poor families have little time else O improve but your Sabbath days as diligently in labouring for knowledg and doing your Makers work as you do the other days in doing your own work and I doubt not but you may come to some proficiency 5. Let the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of solemn Prayer be daily offered up in all pour families Beware they be not found among the families that call not upon Gods name for why should there be wrath from the Lord upon your families O miserable families without God in the world that are without family Prayer What have you so many family sins family wants family mercies what and yet no family Prayers How do you pray with All prayer and supplication if you do not with family prayer Say not I have no time What hast thou all thy time on purpose to serve God and save thy soul and yet is this for which thou canst find no time Find but a heart and I will find time Pinch out of your meals and sleep rather than want for Prayer Say not my business will not give leave This is the greatest business to save thy self and the souls committed to thee Besides a whet will be no let In a word the blessing of all is to be got by prayer and what is thy business without Gods blessing Say not I am not able Use the one talent and God will increase Helps are to be had till thou art better able But if there be no other remedy thou must join with thine abler neighbour God hath special regard to joint-prayer and therefore you must improve family advantages for the performing of it 6. Put every one in your families upon private prayer Observe whether they do perform it Get them the help of a form if they need it till they are able to go without it Direct them how to pray by minding them of their sins wants and mercies the materials of prayer This was the practice of John and of Jesus Luke 11. 1 2 c. 7. Set up Catechizing in your Families at the least once every week It was my parting dying request that you would set up and maintain this duty constantly in your families Have you done it all accordingly Cannot your consciences witness cannot your families witness you have not Well I thought my parting words would have done something with you I hoped the fervent request of a dying Minister would have prevailed for such a small matter with you What to this day without solemn catechizing in yonr houses Ah what a discouragement to your Teacher is this Brethren shall I yet prevail with you will you reject me now also O let me perswade you before you take off your eyes from these lines to resolve to set upon the constant exercise of this duty Surely I have done and suffered more for you than this comes to will you now deny me I beseech you let me find if ever God do again bring me to visit your houses that the words of a suffering Minister have some power with you I have sent you an help on purpose what shall all my perswasions be but speaking in the wind and all my pains but labouring in the fire Beloved have you no dread of the Almighties charge That you should teach these things diligently to your children and talk of them as you sit in your houses c. and train them up in the way wherein they should go Hath God so commended Abraham that he would teach his children and houshold and that he had many instructed servants and given such a promise to him thereupon and will not you put in for a share neither in