THE Substance of what I lately preach'd concerning Family Religion and Worship, I now send you, at your Desire, in Three Letters. The First recommends the Duty with the Grounds of it: The Second answers some Objections, and Difficulties as to the Practice: The Third directs the man­ner of Performance, &c. The Success of these plain Discourses, through the Blessing of Heaven, was beyond Ex­pectation; to bring the daily Worship of God into several Houses, where be­fore there was none; and to have it constant where it was perform'd but seldom, and uncertainly; and to be now every Day, instead of once a Week, [Page 4]and every Morning and Evening in­stead of Prayer at Night only.

Divers of our Brethren in this City can say the like, and I hope more, of the good Effects of our Agreement to preach on this Subject about the same time. It was seasonable to more than we ima­gined: And there may be divers who have since begun to worship God in their Families, who are asham'd to own that they neglected it so long. Tho not a few, with humble Thankfulness to God, have acknowledg'd their Conviction, and Reformation of that Neglect. Ma­ny Servants and Apprentices assure us, that God is now daily worship'd, and the Holy Scriptures read in the Fami­lies where they live, who had no such thing before, save only on the Lord's-Day.

I had no thoughts at first of publish­ing any thing on this Subject, because there is a great deal to this purpose already printed in ^* other Practical Books, from whence I have had Assi­stance; [Page 5]and some others of my Bre­thren, I did hope would be prevailed with to print their Sermons, (and am glad to hear that it is now doing, or resolved to be done.) But you, and o­thers who do constantly attend my Mi­nistry, do hope to profit further by the Perusal of those things, which in the Delivery were of some use.

This is reason enough to me for appearing again so soon in Print. I may say in this case as one (whose Name I honour) doth upon some­what a like Occasion, that as in all the Removes of my Life, I have been still led to that place, which was most remote from my own Thoughts, and never design'd or contriv'd by my self; So it hath been, as to what I have pub­lished; there hath been (for the most part) some unexpected Providence, and Occasion sufficient to satisfy me, that I ought to do it; while those Writings, which I most affected, have been stifled in the Conception; and those which I have most labour'd in, are like to be bu­ried in the Dust: Hereby I am made to know that God is the Disposer of all.

In this first Letter I shall collect the Substance of what may recommend and [Page 6] prove the Duty of Family Religion and Worship; at least what I think is suffi­cient to do so, tho it be not all that can be said. I begin with the Necessity of it, in order to a National Reformation.

There is not a more common Sub­ject of Complaint, than the grow­ing Corruption of Manners, and the Prevalency of Debauchery, and Irre­ligion among us. We must shut our Eyes, and stop our Ears, if we are not acquainted with it: Who is not sen­sible of the Justice and Truth of such a Complaint? All serious People pro­fess to bewail the want of Reformati­on; and many are apprehensive of im­pending Judgments upon that Account. But what Hope of a National Refor­mation, if it begin not in Families? If they, who have the Care and Govern­ment of these lesser Societies, will not faithfully do their part; neither Magi­strates, or Ministers can expect Suc­cess in doing Theirs. Nations will be wicked, and Churches will be corrupt, and Cities will abound with all manner of Impurity; if particular Families, out of which the Members are all com­posed, be disordered and irregular.

They who are not taught the Know­ledg and Fear of God betimes, no won­der if they run into Atheism and De­bauchery as they grow up. That so many are thus corrupted in Principles, and Conversation, must needs be very much owing to the Neglect and Mis­carriage of Parents, and Heads of Fa­milies. Reformation must therefore begin in Families: And a whole Street would soon be made clean, by every Man's Care as to his own House, and sweeping before his own Door. The Psalmist began that in his own Family, which he design'd should reach to his whole Kingdom: Psal. 101.

Is it strange, if they who have lived many Years in such Families, where God was not worshipped, where there was little or no Concern about Reli­gion, (it may be not so much as the Form, and the Shew of it) if they are ignorant and careless, dissolute and profane, when they come to have Fa­milies of their own? If they be as lit­tle solicitous for the Souls under their Care, as their own Parents and Masters were of theirs, during their Minority? If there be no reading the Holy Scrip­tures, no instructing of Children and [Page 8]Servants, no Prayer and Praise offered to God in the Family, as such; how unlikely is it, that such who are brought up in their Youth in such Houses, should afterwards be Exemplary for Religion in their own?

It lies more upon Parents and Ma­sters, to recover, and preserve serious Godliness in the World, than either upon the Civil Magistrate, or the most diligent and faithful Ministers of Christ, in their places. And whence can we hope for any useful Magistrates, or faith­ful Ministers, if they are not formed to be capable of being such, by the wise and good Instruction of holy Pa­rents, and the Blessing of God there­upon, in their tender Years? It is cer­tain, they are like to profit little by the preaching of the Word, if they have not Understanding and prepared Minds, by the Instructions of Parents and Masters at home; at least little in comparison of others who have had that Advantage. One great reason why People do not better understand Sermons, and profit more by them, is, because they never well understood their Catechism.

It is in vain therefore to talk against the Badness of the Times, and the Looseness of the Age, unless you will resolve that Reformation shall begin at home; and every one be at the pains to Reform his own little Family.

It is from thence that Wickedness doth spread and diffuse it self over a whole Kingdom. One ignorant, athe­istical, erroneous, or wicked Family may do much to corrupt, defile and destroy several others, when the Branches thereof are separated: As by a Son going into one Family, and a Daughter into another, and a Servant into a third: They carry and communicate their evil Principles and Customs, and Prejudices, to the Infection of others. It cannot reasonably be expected that Persons, when they come abroad in the World, should ordinarily prove better than their Education. Whereas, as one observes, a Religious Family is, on the contrary, a diffusive Blessing, like a Stock of Bees, which sends forth Swarms and Honey into Neighbouring Parts. Especially as the Members here­of come hereafter to have Families of their own. Therefore to shut Reli­gion out of Families, or not promote [Page 10]it there, is the means to thrust it out of the World.

This has been observed by the very Pagans, as the proper way for a pri­vate Man to be a Publick Good, and serviceable to the Welfare of his Coun­try, viz. by ordering things well at home, with Wisdom and Care, in his own House and Family. And there is hard­ly any thing whereby so much Evil is done to the Publick, as by the Careles­ness of Parents in the Instruction of their Children, and the Negligence, or ill Examples of Masters with respect to their Servants. Among some of the Heathens, a Penalty has been laid upon the Parents, when the Children were ill-conditioned: and they might be sued in the Courts of Judicature, if they neg­lected the Education of their Children.

And how much the Safety, Pleasure and Comfort of our Lives depends up­on the faithful Discharge of Relative Duties, Experience will teach us. What greater Comfort can a Parent or a Master have, than to see the Success of his Endeavours for the Good of those under his Roof? A natural Parent may say it, as well as a spiritual one, I have no greater Joy than to see my Children [Page 11]walking in the Truth. It is said of Abra­ham, Heb. 11.9. that he dwelt in Tents with Isaac and Jacob; Heirs with him of the same Promise. How comfortable is it when Father, Son and Grandson, are all Heirs of the same promised Salvati­on? Especially if God bless your En­deavours towards it, that they who come from your Loins may serve the Lord. There is a double Blessing where the Father is Godly, and the Son so likewise. To see them alive to God, who were dead in Sin, will revive the Heart of a Religious Parent, as it did old Jacob's, to know that his Son Joseph was alive. To have Wife and Children bear the Image of God, and our Servants to obey, and serve, and please their Heavenly Master; and by our Faithfulness, and Care, and Diligence to be brought to know, and love, and worship, and honour him, and be accepted with him; What an unspeakable Delight must this be! when the Savour of Religion descends from the Head to all the Members of the Family, as the precious Ointment, pour­ed on the Head of Aaron, ran down to the Skirts of his Garments. You then may, and will love them with a higher [Page 12]kind of Love, than bare natural Af­fection.

In short, you will love your Hus­bands, Wives, and Children, and holy Relations, with another sort of Love than other Persons do theirs. It is a more fervent, more pure, more faithful, more comfortable Love, which is superadded by Religion, and results from their Love to God, and Participation of his Image. You love them, as the Friends and Brethren of Christ, as Heirs of the same Inheritance, as begotten again to a Divine Life by the same Spirit, as born of the same Immortal Seed of the Word, as nourish'd by the same Spiritual Food, as under the same Bond of the Covenant, as of one Hous­hold of Faith, as Souldiers under the same Colours and Banner of Christ, as called to the same blessed Hope of the Gospel, as Travellers to the same Heavenly Country, and Coheirs of the same glorious, everlasting Kingdom. You cannot love your unsanctified Re­lations in this manner, whatever Natu­ral or Civil Bonds of Union there may be between you and them. It will please you doubtless, to see them thrive and prosper in the World, whom you [Page 13]tenderly love; but it must much more do so, to see them faithful to God, live to his Glory, and ripen for Hea­ven. Whether you live or die, you may then comfortably resign them, and trust them with God, who loves them better than you, and will be sure to take care of them. With what Plea­sure can you think of the Sin and Misery which they escape? What Wickedness such a Child would else have com­mitted on Earth? and what Torments he must have endured in Hell, if he had been wicked? Their Love, Ho­nour and Obedience to you, (which the Grace of God will teach them) will also add to your Joy; in your Health and Sickness, or old Age, they will pray for you. And if they die, you can look forward to the everlast­ing Happiness of their Souls, as well as your own, and the hopes of meet­ing them with Comfort in the Day of Reckoning.

And what an Honour is it to any Family, to have serious Godliness trans­mitted from Father to Son, and from the Son to the Grand-Child? To be able to say, My God, and my Father's God, and my Grand-father's God? [Page 14]2 Tim. 1.5. as Pliny reports, ^* it was counted a great Honour and Felicity, that in one Family of the Fabii, there were three Presidents of the Senate one after another; and in one House of Curio's, there were three Orators one after another.

Besides, how Beautiful and Pleasant a Thing is a Religious Well-ordered Fa­mily! How Comfortable is it to dwell in such an House? Where God is Wor­shiped, and his Laws observed, and his Day sanctified, his Word read, his Au­thority owned, and his Laws made the Rule! Where it is an Honour, and not a Reproach to eschew Evil and do Good! God promises to bless the Habitations of the Just, and how sweet will his Presence be unto such! Whereas, to live in a House where the Name of God is never used, but in jest, or scorn, or prophane Oaths; where the Inhabi­tants are as so many Brutes, that live from day to day, as if they had no Souls to save, no World but this to mind, and no Expectations beyond the Grave; where Worldliness and Sen­suality, filthy Talk, and Intemperance, [Page 15] &c. have infected Superiours and In­feriours. Who would dwell in such a House? There cannot generally be Peace and Union, Love and Concord in such Mens Dwellings. Family Jars, Contentions and Sorrows are occasioned by Sin, which Family Religion would do much to prevent and cure.

If Children are a Grief to their Pa­rents, and Thorns in their Eyes, (as a Wicked Son is the Calamity and Shame of his Father, and Heaviness to his Mother;) they may thank themselves, as of their own Planting: if they did not with Love and Diligence, with Wisdom and Faithfulness seek their Sal­vation. If Servants neglect their Du­ty to you, how can you wonder, when you have neglected yours to them? You must bear the Fruit of their Sin, if you do not teach them the Principles of Religion, which should make them better; and teach them to keep a good Conscience by giving them your own Example. But if your Endeavours should not succeed for their Conversi­on, and Salvation, you will yet have much more Peace than otherwise; as having done what you could towards it. Whereas, without such Indeavours, [Page 16]it must be an afflictive piercing Thought when any of them Die, or when you your selves must; to consider that you did no more to prevent their Dam­nation; and that such and such, through your Unfaithfulness, are like to Perish for ever, who sprang from your Loins, or went to Hell out of your House.

Moreover, what Evidence can you have of your own Piety, and Sinceri­ty towards God, if you do not thus indeavour the Spiritual and Eternal Good of those under your Charge? Abraham would command his Children, and his Houshold after him, that they should fear the Lord. Joshua resolves to engage all his House to serve the true God with him; though a Ge­neral and a Great Man, did not think it beneath him to own Religion before all the World, and endeavour to pro­mote it. He would not serve the True God alone, if he could prevail with Others to join with him: Proposeth his own Example to the whole Nation; and that as far as in him lay all his Family at least should be Religious. Cornelius was a devout Man, and feared God with all his House. We may, with­out being uncharitable, suspect the [Page 17]soundness of their Religion; who are unconcerned for the spreading of it in their Families. How is it consistent with Faithfulness to your own Souls; to have litle or no Care concerning theirs? If you are wanting in using the means for their Salvation, you shake the ground of Hope concerning your own.

And Family Prayer and Instruction, and the Holy Examples of Good Men in their Houses, is one of the First Means which God commonly makes use of to Convince, and Turn, and Sanctifie such as were Ignorant and Carnal. At least, Education making the first Impression on their Minds, whatever Change may be afterwards made by free Conversation, somewhat of the first good Tincture is like to abide.

Ordinarily I say, through the Bles­sing of God, this may be hoped for; tho it must be confessed, that where the Advantages of Education are mis­improved, it is observed, many of the Children and Servants who have been bred in good Families, prove worse than others. If they forsake God, he hath said, He will forsake them, and cast [Page 18]them off for ever. It is a Judicial Act in God, when Children cast off the God of their Fathers. If they turn Apostates, they many times run deep­er into Sin, and further from God than others, as Cain, Cham, Ishmael, Esau, Eli's Sons, Absolom, yea Solomon, Rehoboam, Manasseh, and few compara­tively recovered. The Light and Means they sin against provokes God to aban­don them. Upon the same grounds we may give an account, why there are more Atheists in such places, where the Christian Religion is professed, and the Power of it rejected, than a­mong any other sort of Men, even than there were among the Heathens them­selves. For ^* God hath designed to Mag­nifie his Word above all his Name, above all other ways of the Revelation of himself to the Children of Men. There­fore where this is despised and rejected, Reason or the Light of Nature shall not have the same Power and Efficacy, as on them who never enjoyed the Light of the Gospel, or so much of it. From the same Reason, that the Children of [Page 19]Professors are sometimes irrecoverably Profligate, there is more Common Ho­usty and Justice to be found among ci­vilized Heathens and Mahumetans, than among false and degenerate Christians. Their Hearts are judicially hardened, and their Eyes blinded. And the Con­tempt of Gospel Light must needs beget, and leave on the Mind such a depraved corrupt Habit, as cannot but incline unto the worst of Evils. 2 Pet. 2.21. And as all Atheism springs from a Re­solution not to see things Eternal, and invisible to Sense; where-ever Men are resolved not to see, the greater the light is which shines about them, the faster they must close their Eyes. It is not therefore to the Disparagement, but Honour of the Gospel, that so many avow themselves to be Atheists, in those places where the Truth of it is known and professed: For none can have any inclination thereto, till they have re­jected the Gospel, which immediately exposeth them to the worst of Evils. They take shelter from their Fears in downright Atheism, which alone pretends to give them security against the Light of Divine Revelation. And what means can be used for the reco­very [Page 20]of such? The most rational Ar­guments to prove the Being and Exist­ence of God, may be of good use to shame, and expose their foolish Preten­ces. But Men under the Power of Atheistical Thoughts, are insnared in­to them by a Love of some Lust, and a desire to live securely in Sin; and no Arguments from Reason, are like to prove an effectual Cure to the Predo­minant Love of Sin, and an Habitual Course in it, where Men have rejected the Means and Motives unto that end declared in Divine Revelation.

Parents however have sufficient en­couragement to hope for success in their faithful Endeavours: There be many can speak of God, and praise him as their Fathers God, from Age to Age. If they neglect their Duty to Children, (which is ordinarily the reason, why so many miscarry) they cannot challenge God, for not perform­ing his Covenant-Promise, but must condemn themselves. But whatever the Success be, every Parent, and Head of Family is obliged to Honour God, and Promote Religion, and do what good he can for the Souls of others, within his Sphere.

This all in their several Places are bound to endeavour, as they have op­portunity. You must be faithful to Christ and his Interest in every Rela­tion, and in every Capacity. If you are obliged to serve and worship God in a single Capacity, as Private Persons; by virtue of the same Dedication of your selves to Him, you are bound to serve and Honour him in every Relati­on, as Husbands, Parents, Masters, and Heads of Families, in every State and Condition, according to your Capaci­ty. And by Family Prayer and Wor­ship God hath greater Honour, than by Secret Prayer; tho therein you may more particularly, and largely express the state of your own Soul.

And of how great Consequence, to the Eternal Salvation, or Ruine of Souls, is your Care, or Unfaithfulness herein! How can you serve the Devil more ef­fectually, than by furthering the Dam­nation of all under your Roof, through the neglect of your Duty to them? And without giving them Assistance, and Help to a Holy Life, they will have continual Temptations to Sin. In that House wherein God is not ser­ved, honoured, and worshiped, the [Page 22]Devil's Interest will prevail. And since they have an Everlasting Happiness to attain, and Endless Misery to escape, they will have little reason to thank you, for whatever else you can teach them, or do for them; if you will not instruct them, and assist them in This, their most Important Concern.

It might be hoped, that if Parents did their part in the use of God's first appointed Means, to sanctify their Children; he would usually bless their Indeavours in order to his saving Grace. And when serious Religion is once got into a Family, it has been observed, for your Encouragement, that ordinarily the Grace of God doth not soon leave it: tho there may be some sad Interrup­tion, yet it appears many times again in Grand-Children, and Great Grand-Children; as in the Seed of good Je­hoshaphat and others, 2 Chron. 20.21.22. Chap. Jotham had Ahaz, but Ahaz had Hezekiah; and if not in the direct Line, yet collaterally. So that by this means you may transmit Religion to Posterity, from Generation to Generation; as Sin is propagated from Father to Son, and from one wicked Family diffused to ma­ny others: And you perpetuate your [Page 23]own Name and Honour too; for God­ly Children occasion their Parents to be called to Memory. By beholding Ti­mothy's Piety, the Apostle is minded to remember his Mother, and Grand­mother, Eunice and Lois, 2 Tim. 1.5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned Faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois, and thy Mother Eunice; and I am perswaded that in thee also. The Piety and Care of holy Wo­men is recorded with Honour, Acts 16.1. Behold a certain Disciple was there, named Timotheus, the Son of a certain Woman which was a Jewess, and believed; but his Father was a Greek.

Such is the fingular Usefulness of the holy Government of Families to re­form the World, and destroy the King­dom and Interest of the Devil, that there is hardly any thing that Men have more Objections against, or more Eva­sions and Excuses to extenuate the Nog­lect of their Duty, or perswade them­selves it is none, than in this Case. One of the most common and prevailing Cavils is this, That if they bring their Chil­dren and Servants to the Publick Worship, to be taught by the Minister, there is no positive, express Scripture for the Wor­ship [Page 24]of God in their Families, to call them together, to pray with them, and read the Scriptures, &c.

But in how many other cases is it granted, that the want of a positive ex­press Command will not conclude such or such a Thing to be no Duty? The Baptism of Infants, the Sanctification of the first Day of the Week as the Christian Sabbath, the Admission of Wo­men to the Lord's-Table, and other In­stances may be given, which may be proved to be Matter of Duty, without positive express Command. The Apo­stle is said to confound the Jews dwelling at Damascus, proving out of the Scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ; Acts 9.21. it must be by the Harmony of the Holy Scriptures, and by Deductions from ex­press Texts: for he did not bring any one particular Scripture out of the Old Testament, to prove in so many Letters, that Jesus was the Christ. Nor did our Lord in his Proof of the Resurrection of the Dead against the Pharisees, out of the Old Testament, Mat. 22.37. There are no such words as the Resur­surrection of the Dead mention'd in that Passage, from which he proves it. I am the God of Abraham, &c.

'Tis an Argument of a very perverse Mind, to insist so much upon positive Scriptural Proof of that as our Duty, which must be acknowledged to be so much for our Benefit and Advantage, and for the Publick Good.

There is reason enough to believe, that they who pretend there is no ex­press Scripture for this kind of Duty, would little mind it, if there were never so many, and never so express. for if Men were true to God, and their own Souls, in those things for which we have the most positive, and express, and repeated Authority of the Holy Scriptures; they would not raise such a Scruple. There is an express Com­mand to Repent of Sin, and to Believe on Christ, and to make your Calling and Election sure; to Redeem your Time, and walk Circumspectly; to do good unto all; to pray every where, and all sorts of Prayer; and in every Calling, Station and Relation, therein to abide with God; to live by Faith upon the invisible World; to prepare to die, and to remember the Judgment-Seat of Christ, before which we must be made to stand, to answer for all we have received and done in the Body, &c. [Page 26]there are Express Scriptures about these things: And did we believe them, re­member them, and obey them; we should soon see Reason, and Evidence sufficient for all that Duty of worship­ing God, and promoting Religion in our Families, which I would now press.

I know there be some Arguments used from Scripture upon this Subject, which many think will not conclude all that which they are brought to prove. As that because we read of the Church of God in such a Man's House, Rom. 16.5. (when it is like­ly there were no common Assemblies of Christians at Rome) that therefore every House should be as a Church, by daily Prayer and Praise to God: For the House of God is an House of Prayer, and a Church is God's House. I will not urge this, because a House might be called a Church, only on the Account of the Church sometimes assembling for Divine Worship in such a Man's House. I grant the smallest Congrega­tion of the Faithful met to worship God, may bear the Name of a Church. However, I do not believe this Ar­gument, because I believe it true of many in this City and Nation, (and [Page 27]wish I had no ground for it) that they have had frequent Meetings in their Houses for Prayer and Preach­ing, and divers Christians have respr­ted to the Worship of God there; and yet the Master of the Family lived in the neglect of Family Prayer, and the daily Worship of God in his House.

Neither will I urge the Example of our Saviour Christ, his praying with his Disciples: Though much may be ga­thered from his Pattern, as having a Family, whereof he was the Master, and his Twelve Apostles Members. (Constant Residence in one House is not necessary to constitute the Relation be­tween the Head of a Family, and the Members of it.) We read of his in­structing 'em, praying with 'em, and praising God, by singing together, &c. But I will not lay too much stress on this Example, because though our Blessed Lord did occasionally pray with his Disciples, as we find in several places of the Gospel-History; yet his Case and ours are vastly different. What was suitable for his Disciples, was not pro­per for him. He could not ordinarily be their Mouth in Prayer, for what they daily needed: He could not for [Page 28]himself ask the Forgiveness of Sin, and the Mortification of Lust, and the In­crease of Grace, &c.

But there is enough from the Holy Scriptures, to convince those that will seriously consider it, of the Duty of Fa­mily Religion, and Prayer as a part of it. For Instance, we read of Joshua, that he resolves for himself and Family, I and the Men of my House will serve be­fore the Lord: That is, the Men who dwelt with him in his House. And we read of Cornelius, Acts 10.2. that he was a devout Man, one that feared God with all his House, and gave much Alms to the People, and prayed always. He was a Roman Captain over the Italian Band, which attended the Roman Go­vernour's Person as his Life-guard, and therefore probably of that Nation. This Cornelius is said to be a Devout Man. Whether he were a Proselyte to the Church of Israel or no, is doubtful, be sure not a Proselyte of the Covenant, or of Justice, for such were Circumcised. If he were an Uncircumcised Proselyte, or a Proselyte of the Gate, he was not incorporated into the Commonwealth of Israel. The Apostle Peter had a Vi­sion first to authorize him to go to [Page 29]him. And the Christians of the Cir­cumcision exprest their Resentment for his Conversation with him, till they knew his Warrant, Acts 11.3. Yet this Roman, this Souldier, this Centuri­on was accepted of God, as being pre­pared to believe in Christ, assoon as he should be revealed to him. He was a devout and good Man; and not only good himself, but chose such to be in his Family, as feared God. He was full of good Works, and constant in Prayer: and God testified his Accep­tance of him, Thy Prayers, and thine Alms are come up as a Memorial before God, Vers. 4. Of a Truth I perceive, says the Apostle, that God is no respecter of Persons; but in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness, shall be accepted, Vers. 39. Here is a surpri­zing Example of a devout Souldier, a devout Roman, spreading Religion in his Family; One that feared God with all his House, and prayed always. The Fear of God is an usual Expression, compre­hensive of all Divine Worship, 2 Kings 17.36, 37. Let all the Earth worship him, Psal. 66.4. Let all the Earth fear him, Psal. 67.7. And Prayer being the prin­cipal part of it; we may suppose, that [Page 30]as he feared God, and all his House, so he prayed with all his House unto God. And he himself seems so to explain it, I prayed to God in mine House at the ninth Hour; or with my Houshold, as it may be rendered. He afterwards called to­gether his Kindred, and his near Friends, when Peter came; but mentions not the calling of his Houshold, as what was usual and supposed.

And the praying always, or continu­ally, can hardly bear a less Sense, than the doing of it every Day: As the daily Sacrifice which God appointed the Jews, is called the continual Sacrifice, which was offered Morning and Even­ing, Dan. 8.11. So Mephibosheth is said to eat Bread at the King's Table con­tinually, 2 Sam. 9.7. that is, at Meal­time every Day. Nature and Scrip­ture both seem to concur to recommend Morning and Evening as the proper Season for Prayer. It is good to give Thanks unto the Lord, and to sing Praises to thy Name, O most High; to shew forth thy Loving-kindness every Morning, and thy Faithfulness every Night. Ps. 92.1, 2. God is to be worshiped by all Persons, and all People, Ps. 22.27, 28. Ps. 66.4. and by Social Worship, Psalm 34.3. [Page 31] Acts 12.12. The general Nature of Worship, and all the Essentials of true Divine Worship is found in the Wor­ship of God by Families, as such. The Object, the End, and the Rule is the same.

And since there are many Commands in Scripture concerning Divine Wor­ship, and this part of it, Prayer in parti­cular, which are of general Extent, such as of praying always, and giving thanks always, and continuing in Prayer and Thanksgivings with all Prayer and Sup­plication in the Spirit, every where lift­ing up holy hands, in every thing giving thanks, &c. 'twill be hard to obey all these Commands, and yet live in the neglect of Family-Prayer. For by the Light of Nature we may from hence be able to determine the Performance of this Duty, to be every Day, as a proper Time, and in every House, as a proper Place for it. But if it were on­ly permitted us, we are greatly want­ing to our own Interest to neglect it. These general Rules and Precepts do at least warrant, and make lawful our Pray­ing together every Day. We have leave to pray together, and shall we not use it? What if God should have forbidden [Page 32]us; if he should put any of our Families under an Interdict; and say, You shall not pray to me: I will not receive a Sacri­fice from you. Your Neighbours may pray to me every Morning and Night, I'll hear them, and accept them. As for you, you shall have no Family-Altar, or Sacrifice. Who would not be griev'd to be forbidden such a daily Privilege? Who would not then use it, if they might? And because the Evening and Morning do make one Day, as the Be­ginning and the End do comprehend the whole; he that prays every Morning and Evening, may be said to pray continually, to pray always, to pray without ceasing.

Doth not the Light of Nature, which instructs us in the Being of God, and the Immortality of the Soul, oblige us to endeavour the good of those in our Families? And as one proper means of their spiritual Welfare, it may direct the Master of a Family to pray with them; there being Family-Sins to be confessed by us, and forgiven by God; there being many Temptations every day to be resisted, Wants to be supplied, Duties performed, Graces exercised, Crosses prevented, Mercies acknowled­ged, &c. in Families, as such: with re­spect [Page 33]unto all these, Family-Prayer and Worship is an excellent Means.

Some of those who had not the Ad­vantage of Scripture-Revelation, have yet had their Houshold-Gods. The Ea­stern Nations had their Teraphim; the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans had their Lares and Penates, a Sort of Family-Gods, to rule, preserve, and defend them in their Houses; whom they wor­shiped and sacrificed unto in their Houses: and several of them had a par­ticular Room, set a-part for an Orato­ry to that purpose. The Heathen Po­ets, Hesiod, Homer, and others, mention their daily Sacrifices to their Gods every Morning and Evening; that they might prosper, and succeed by their Favour in all their Affairs: and their Practice may be urged for our Conviction. It seems a Prescription of the Law of Nature, that every Society wherein Men do unite, and joyn according to the Mind of God, should own their Dependance on him, by some Worship common to that Society; and as per­formed in the Name of it; especially is it so, as to an Houshold or Family, which is the Foundation of all other Societies. Hence there were Sacrifices [Page 34]peculiar unto Families before the Law, wherein the Father of the Family was the sacred Administrator. So Job of­fer'd Burnt-Offerings for himself and Family, Chap. 1.5. and Jacob for his, Gen. 35. And such Family-Sacrifices were famous among the ^* Heathens. [Page 35]And shall the Pagans out-do us? Shall they be sensible of their Dependance in their Families on some Superiour Aids, so as to worship Stocks and Stones in their Houses, rather than have no Worship at all; and shall Christians live contentedly without the Worship of the true God in their Families? All People will walk every one in the Name of bis God, and shall not We resolve to walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever? Mic. 4.5.

IN SHORT, If God be the Founder, the Owner, the Governour and Bene­factour of Families; If such little Socie­ties be of his Appointment, and do both need and receive daily Mercies from him; it is but fit he should be wor­shiped, and owned every Day in par­ticular Families. Before the giving of the Law to Moses, how was God wor­shiped [Page 36]but in Families? Family-Wor­ship was the first kind of Social Wor­ship: Religion was at first confin'd to single Persons; upon the Increase of Mankind it begun in Families. Every Ruler of a Family was then a Priest to his own House, or offered his own Sa­crifice, and governed his Family, not only as such, but as a Religious Socie­ty: Afterwards Religion spread into larger Societies. This was the first Power God intrusted Man with, to be the Head, and Ruler, and Father of a Family; to take care of the Wel­fare of that little Society, and of all that belonged to it: Especially to take care of Religion, and the Worship of God there. He was not only the Civil Governour, but the Priest, though not by proper Office, for that results not from the Light and Law of Nature, but depends on Institution, as ty­pical, and representative of the Priest­hood of Christ. I mention this, because it is commonly said, that the Priesthood be­longed to the Firstborn, as a Branch of the Primogeniture; and that the Priest­hood of every Family was in the Pos­session of the Firstborn, till the time of the Levitical Law. But this is [Page 37]not ^* proved from Scripture; what is commonly alledged from Numb. 3.41. of the Levites being taken instead of the Firstborn, will conclude no such thing. God having delivered their Firstborn in Egypt, Exod. 12.23. called for them to be sanctisied to him, Chap. 13.22. upon the Account of the spe­cial Propriety he had in them by that Deliverance; and not on the Account of any special Service, for many were un­fit for that by reason of Age: and which is observable, God requires as well the Firstborn of Beasts to be sanctified, and redeemed. When therefore God would settle a way of Worship, he gave the Israelites liberty to redeem them, and instead of the Firstborn, he pitched on the Tribe of Levi for his own Service.

Besides, we find in Scripture, that the Younger were ordinarily preferred be­fore the Firstborn, as Abel before Cain, Seth before Japheth, Abraham before his Elder Brethren, Isaac before Ishmael, Jacob before Esau, Judah and Joseph be­fore [Page 38] Reuben, Ephraim before Manasses, Moses before Aaron, and David before the rest of his Brethren, although that was after the Law. From the Begin­ning doubtless the Father of the Family was the High-Priest to it, and the Du­ty of sacrificing was committed to him, and herein it is ^* probable he had the special Assistance of the Firstborn of the Family, whereby he might be initiated into his future Duty. But that Office of a Priest was not confin'd to the Elder Brother, for Abel offered Sacri­fices in his own Person, while his Fa­ther and his Elder Brother were alive, as Abraham did after the Flood, while the Eldest Son of Noah was living; and when the Younger Sons of Noah were separated, and dispers'd into several distinct Families, they did not lose the Right of solemnizing the Worship of God thereby.

When the World increased, and lar­ger Societies were set up, the Power of a Parent as Head of a Family was in some respects broken, and Parents had not the Power of Life and Death over [Page 39]their Children, as before: But much of the Power of a Parent, and Master o­ver his own Family, is continued by God; and therefore Children and Ser­vants are commanded to obey their Parents and Masters, as well as to obey Civil Magistrates. Now I would ar­gue thus, That if Family-Worship, at first, did not exclude personal Religion, and private Prayer to God by one alone, as doubtless it did not; then the publick Worship of God (when many Fami­lies meet together) should not exclude Family-Worship, or the daily Invoca­tion of God in particular Families, by as many of such a little Society as can come together. There is the same rea­son why Family-Worship and Religion should continue, after the publick Wor­ship of God by many Families together is set up, as that Personal Religion, and secret Prayer should continue a Duty, after God began to be worship'd in Fa­milies.

I shall not insist upon Queen Hester's keeping a Fast with her Maids, which was extraordinary; nor, enlarge on the Example of Jacob, who built an Altar, and called on the Name of the Lord, and called on his Family to pre­pare [Page 40]for it, Gen. 35.2, 3. Saying to his Houshold, and all that were with him, Put away the strange Gods, and let us build an Altar to Jehovah, &c. His Grandfather Abraham circumcised all the Males in his House, brought 'em under the Bond and Seal of the Covenant; and where­ever he resided with his Family for any considerable time, he built Altars, and offered Sacrifices. That dreadful Curse imprecated (or denounced rather, and predicted) upon the Families that call not upon God's Name, (though princi­pally meaning Tribes of People; and by calling on the Name of God, worship­ing the true God in opposition to Ido­latry;) yet deserves to be considered, because by parity of Reason, it may extend to the lesser Societies, where the True God is not owned, and worshiped.

God has also promised to bless the Habitations of the Just, and he has of­ten owned by his Providence his ac­ceptance of Family-Religion and Wor­ship. When all the Old World had neglected God, and corrupted their Ways, the true Religion continued but in the Family of Noah; He and his were saved from the Universal Deluge, when the rest were swept away by the Flood.

Agreeable to this is a Passage, fre­quently mentioned to this purpose, in Suitzerland in the Canton of Bern, An­no Christi 1584, when a whole Village, consisting of ninety Houses, were over­turned by an Earth-quake; there was but one Family excepted, and but one half House preserved; and in that half of the House that was pre­served, the Master of the Family was earnestly praying to God, with his Wife and Children, while the Earth­quake destroyed all his Neighbours.

For the Instruction and Teaching of Children and Servants, as a part of Family-Religion, there are sufficiently express Scriptures. To bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; To train them up in the way wherein they should go; And consequent­ly to teach them to pray to God, and praise him. And the Example of a Parent or Master is one of the best ways of teaching them. The Apostle tells us, 1 Tim. 5.8. That he that doth not provide for his own House and Family, hath denied the Faith, and is worse than an Infidel. He that doth not provide Food and Raiment for those of his own Houshold, comes under this [Page 42]Character. And if he be so bad, who takes no care of the Welfare of their Bodies, what shall we think of him who has no Concern for their Souls; not to instruct them in their Duty to God, not to pray with them, not to read the Holy Scriptures to them? He, it may be, feeds and clothes his Chil­dren and Servants, as a kind Father and Master, and as an English-Man, but carries it to their Souls like a Bar­barous Indian, or a Careless Insidel. As much more worth as the Soul is than the Body, so much worse is that Man that is careless of the Souls in his Family, than he that is careless of their Bodies: Such a one the Apostle says, has denied the Faith, he cannot with any Face pretend to be a Christian.

How shameful then is it, for Men to be admitted to the highest Privileges of Christians, I mean to the Table of the Lord, and yet neglect the Worship of God in their Families? We find in Exod. 12.47, 48. that no Proselyte might presume to come to the Passover, unless his whole House, as well as himself, were circumcised, and professed the Jewish Re­ligion. If this Law, as well as its Equ­ity, were still in force, how few would [Page 43]now come to the holy Sacrament.

He that doth not provide for his own, is worse than an Infidel. He that would suffer their Bodies to starve, and does not give them sufficient proper Food, deserves this Censure and Reproach: much more doth he who neglects their Souls. It is not indifferent to you, whether your Children and Servants be sed, and clothed, and have necessary Provisions, or no; whether they be nourished, or whether they be starved: And is it nothing to you whether they be saved or damned? You would not be accessory to the Murder of their Bodies, and will you not be as careful to avoid the like, and greater Guilt with reference to their Souls?

If Parents had no Trust and Charge commited to them from God (who saith, All Souls are mine) with relation to the Souls of their Children; if Ma­ [...]ers were to give no Account to God of their Servants, but whether they gave them Food and Wages, &c. they might be concerned as to these things. But you are Stewards intrusted with the Care of their Souls, as well as their Bodies. And it will be sad hereafter, for a Child to say before the Bar of [Page 44]Christ, There stands my cruel Father or Mother, who never prayed with me, or instructed me in the Matters of Re­ligion, and so I minded it not. The like for a Servant; he lived so many Years with such or such a Master, and never had any Assistance from him to further his Salvation.

Certainly as to Children, Parents are more especially obliged, as having greater and nearer Obligations to them, than any Ministers or Pastors can have to their People. Your Chil­dren are Parts of your selves, and if you are not concerned for their Souls, you are unnatural and cruel to them: It is from you, their immediate Pa­rents, that they receive their corrupt­ed Nature, their Pollution and Misery; and therefore you are bound to en­deavour their Recovery and Cure. You will also condemn your selves, in being sollicitous for their Bodily Welfare (which most are to an excess) while you neglect the Salvation of their Souls. And by your Care of their Souls, you provide for their Bodily Welfare too. God hath promised to bless the Poste­rity of his Servants. Tho the Church was continued in the Line of Isaac, yet [Page 45]God promised to bless Ishmael for the [...]ake of his Father Abraham. I will make him a great Nation, for he is thy Seed; Gen. 21.13. But remember they must die, and they are capable of Grace and Immortality; and will you only provide for them as you do for your Beasts? Plutarch taxing the Abuse of Parents, who strive to leave their Chil­dren Rich, and not Vertuous, saith, they do like those who are sollicitous about the Shoe, but neglect the Foot. They depend on you for their Mainte­nance and Livelihood, and so you have an Advantage to promote their Good; they will hearken to your Counsels, when they will not regard what a Mi­nister can say. You have an Interest in their Affections, joyn'd with an Au­thority over them; they are with you in their tender Years, and so your Work is the easier.

This is well described by an eloquent ^* Pen. ‘God was confident concer­ning Abraham, that he would teach his Children; and Parents have great Power by strict Education, and pru­dent [Page 46]Discipline, to form the Minds of Children to Vertue. Joshua did un­dertake for his Houshold, I and my House will serve the Lord; and for Chil­dren we may better do it, because till they are of perfect Choice, no Go­vernment in the World is so great, as that of Parents over their Children. They rule over their Understand­ings, and Children know nothing but what they are told, and they be­lieve it infinitely: And it is a rare Art of the Spirit to engage Parents to bring them up well in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. They are Persons obliged by a superinduced Band; they are to give them In­structions and holy Principles, as they give them Meat. It is certain Parents may better stipulate for their Children, than the Church can for Men or Women. They may be Hy­pocrites, and the next day may change their Resolution, and grow weary of their Vow; and that is the most that Children can do when they come of Age; and it is much in the Parents whether the Children shall do any such thing or no —. For Education can introduce a Ha­bit, [Page 47]and a kind of second Nature, a­gainst which Children cannot kick, unless they do some Violence to themselves, and their Inclinations. And altho it fails too often, when­ever it fails, yet we pronounce pru­dently concerning future things, when we have a less Influence into the Event, than in the present Case.’ This would succeed oftner, if Parents were faithful in their Duty to them while young. It would commonly suc­ceed if you begun betimes, according to the Comparison which one makes of Childhood and Youth, to Water spilt on a Table, it rune after you that way which you draw your Finger. They may be prejudiced against a holy Life, or settled in a way of Sin, be­fore they are capable of profiting by publick preaching: But your teaching them at home, as it may begin sooner, so will prevail more: and they will ac­knowledg your Teaching to be with more Authority than ours. I fear, saith a great ^* Divine, that many of those, who are otherwise good People, do [Page 48]little understand, or consider the Au­thority, which their Teachers have over them from Christ. They know, it may be, to value their Gifts, but think not themselves bound to learn of them, and obey them in the Lord, by virtue of their Office. However, the Obligation of Ministers to teach you and your Children, will not can­cel your Duty of Teaching them at home; no more than that because Ma­gistrates must govern you and your Children, you should therefore not go­vern your own Families.

How many yet misimprove all these Advantages, to do the Devil's Work, and teach their Children the way to Hell, by inducing them to sin betimes; by instructing them to be proud and revengeful, to backbite and rail, to speak filthily, to curse and swear, to scorn Holiness, and the Word, and Ministers, and Ways of God. How much worse, says one, are such Parents than the Devil himself! As it is worse for a Mother to dash out the Brains of her own Child against a Wall, than for a Wolf, or a Dog, or a Bear to kill her Child. It is in your Hands to do them the greatest Kindness, or Cruelty [Page 49]in all the World: And if you saw a Burning Furnace, much more the Flames of Hell; what would you think of that Parent, who could find in his heart, to cast the Child into it, or to put him into the hands of one that would?

If therefore you love them, shew it in those things wherein their greatest Interest is concerned. Do not say you love them, and yet be so unmerciful as to damn them: And what can you possibly do more to damn them, than to bring them up in Ignorance, and Sen­suality, and neglect of God? The De­vil damns none but by tempting to Sin, and drawing them from Godli­ness; for there is no other way to Hell. But it is no great wonder; for you do by Your Children, but as you do by Your Selves: You say, you desire not to damn your selves, but yet you do it: So it is with respect to them. Shall he that casts his Child into the Sea, say he intends not to drown him? Or he that sends him into a Pest-house, or a Stews, say he intends not to indanger his Health? Or that trains him up in Thievery, and Robbing, say that he in­tends not to have him hanged? It is all one in effect; for the Law determins [Page 50]it, and the Judge will take care to have it done.

As ever you would not be charged by God with the Murder of their Souls, and have them cry out against you in everlasting Fire, as the Means of their Ruine, be now faithful and diligent for their Salvation. It will be sad for those, who dedicated their Children to God by Baptism in their Infancy, that afterwards they should bring them up for the Devil, the World, and the Flesh; as God complains, Ezek. 16.20. Thou hast taken thy Sons, and thy Daugh­ters, which thou hast born ƲNTO ME, and these thou hast sacrificed to be devou­red. That Sin in the Israelites, to sa­crifice their Sons and their Daughters to Devils, Psal. 106.37. was less than that of Negligent and Prophane Pa­rents, who sacrifice not only the Bo­dies, but the Souls of their Children to Satan, and so bring them forth to the Murderer, Hos. 9.13.

Upon the whole, I hope I have said enough to recommend and urge the Duty, till I hear what is further ob­jected, besides the want of express po­sitive Scripture. Some of the most con­siderable [Page 51]Objections, I shall consider in the next Letter. Let Conscience be faithful, and if you admit of Convicti­on by what you have read, take heed how you stifle it, or delay to do that, which you cannot deny but you ought to do.

I Am sensible that a great deal more might be said, and more Methodi­cally, to prove and urge so impor­tant a Duty, as Family Religion and Wor­ship, than what I have mentioned in the former Letter. What is done in the midst of many Interruptions, now a little, and then a little, cannot be expected should have that Beauty, Order, and Exactness of Method and Connexion, which you may think necessary. However, I proceed to what I promised, in answer to some Objections: Only let me premise, that it is foretold concerning the days of the Messiah, when the Spirit of Grace and Supplication shall be poured out on the House of David, and on the Inhabi­tants [Page 53]of Jerusalem; when the Multitude of the Isles shall rejoyce, and all Flesh shall see the Glory of the Lord; That Holiness to the Lord, (which was the In­scription on the Mitre of the High Priest) shall be upon the very Bells of the Horses, and the Pots in the Lord's House, or the Ordinary Pots in the Kitchins of the Temple, shall be like the Bowls before the Altar, ^* which received the Blood of the Sacrifices; Yea every Pot in Judah, and Jerusalem, shall be Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts: That is, the Utensils of Private Houses shall be dedicated to God, every Family shall be a Temple, wherein God shall be worshiped.

And as God required of the Jews a Continual Burnt-Offering, or a daily Sa­crifice of two Lambs; the one in the Morning, the other in the Evening: It may be expected that so often (at least) he should be worshiped every Day in the Families of his People. Our daily Sacrifices, by Prayer and Praise, under the fuller Dispensation of Gospel-Grace, should not be fewer or less frequent than theirs of another sort.

But I hope I have said enough in the Former Letter to recommend the Wor­ship of God in Families; Doubtless one Advantage of it would be, to sit us for those other Duties, and Parts of Worship, which are sometimes urged to excuse the Neglect of this. For how many are ready to say, we pray to God every day in Secret, and we joyn every Week with others in Publick Worship; and what need of any more? Whereas one part of our Duty is so far from interfering with the other, that the one will help to the better performance of the other. By pray­ing in Secret, you will be inabled to pray in your Family: and by both these may obtain Assistance and Success in the Publick Worship of God; and by at­tending upon the Publick Worship, you will be fitted for the other parts of your Duty in Secret and Private. You are obliged to pray in Secret, if you had no Families; and it is very doubt­ful, in a numerous Family, whether all the Members of it do daily pray in Se­cret, or not.

If it be said, that there are very ma­ny of those who make a great Professi­on of Religion, who yet live in the [Page 55]neglect of Family Worship; I answer, that is no wonder, because there be ma­ny who profess to be what they are not; who have a Name to live, and are dead. But if they be real, upright Christians, they are either under the Power of a present Temptation, or under the Conduct of an erring Mind, as misled by some False Teachers, &c. and so they will neglect this Duty no longer, than till their Errour be re­moved; or the present Difficulties in the way of this Practice are got over; which many say they would be glad of, but cannot yet attain.

As in some Families it is pretended they have not Time every day for such Work: My Trade will not allow me, I have a Charge of Children that must be maintained, and my Business must be minded; or I am obliged to be Abroad early and late; I cannot read the Holy Scriptures in my Family, and pray every day with those of the Family, for want of Time.

I have often thought of this Objecti­on this Winter, and how the Provi­dence of God has removed it, as to a great many Families, to their sad Dis­appointment and Sorrow. What else [Page 56]mean the many Complaints of Starving Families, for want of Trade? They have Time enough now to pray, for they have no Work. Let such reflect upon themselves, and consider how righteous it is from God, that whereas, while they had Trade and Business, they would not find Time to pray, God should punish their Neglect by blasting their Endeavours; and now they want Trade, and would be glad of Work to employ their Time.

But what need is there for any to be so long in Family-Worship, as to hin­der the Business of their particular Calling? Though it may be, all in the Family cannot come together, yet some may, and possibly the greater part, if a little Prudence, and Consi­deration be used, as to the choice of the Time.

And if less time were spent in the Morning, in most cases there might be more redeemed in the Evening. Many might redeem time from the Coffee-House, and from the Tavern, and from time-wasting Clubs, and Meetings by appointment, without Business; while their Children and Servants at home are exposed to Temptation, and the [Page 57]Worship of God neglected there, or hudled over slightly, towards midnight, between sleeping and waking.

Every one will grant, that Success in his Trade and Calling depends upon the Blessing of Heaven; but most live as if they believed nothing of it. For it can hardly be denied, that to be­gin the Day with God, and heartily implore his Blessing, is the best way to have it. If what you get be not ac­companied with the Divine Blessing, you will have little Comfort in such increase. And how can it be proved, that it is your Duty to grasp so much Worldly Business, as is inconsistent with the worshiping of God in your Fami­lies, and having time to mind the Souls of those committed to your Charge? Business, you say, must be minded. Your lawful proper Business, it is true, must be so, in its place: But, as one says, this Devil of (pretended) Business, has destroyed and damned more Souls, than all the Devils in Hell besides.

How easily can God, by Sickness, or grievous Pains, unfit you for the busi­ness of your Calling, or disable your Servants by Sickness, if he be provo­ked by your neglect of him in your [Page 58]Families? He may either blast all your Diligence; the Curse of God shall blow upon you; you shall labour much and get nothing. Or he may disable you and yours from following your Trade and Business. O how easily can God make you know, that if you will not find a time to pray, you must have a time to be sick, as well as others! How soon, and suddenly may he sum­mon you by Death to his Judgment-Seat! Think now, whether, when you shall appear there, you will pretend the want of time for this Work. Let Conscience speak the Truth; Is it not that you want a Heart? God allows us a sufficient Time for our particular Calling. If our Hearts were filled with Love to God, and awed with his Holy Fear, we should not rob him of that which belongs to his Service. The Grace of God to sanctify our Hearts, would answer and remove a thousand such Pretences.

There be many, who cannot plead the want of Leasure, who pretend the want of Parts, and Gifts to instruct and teach others, or to pray with them. But let them seriously accustom them­selves to secret Prayer, and they may [Page 59]quickly learn to pray in their Families. Get but your Hearts affected in a due manner with Family Wants, and Sins, and Mercies; and you will soon be a­ble out of the abundance of the Heart, to express your selves sufficiently well: For it is not fine Words, and good Language that God regards, and is pleased with, but a serious, reverend, holy, thankful Heart. You do not want words to express your Desires in other Cases; nor would you here, if you were to beg your own Life, or that of a dear Relation, of an earth­ly King or Judge. It is a shame for Christians, who have lived long under the Ministry of the Gospel, and have such Advantages of the Bible in a known Tongue, and of so many useful practical Books, to pretend the want of Gifts for this Duty. However, ra­ther use a Form, and take the Assistance of a Book for a while, than wholly neg­lect the Duty. Almost all the Old Di­vines (called Puritans) acknowledg­ed the Lawfulness of a Form of Prayer, and advised the use of one in this Case. It is better to own and acknowledge God, and do something in this kind, though with some Imperfection, than [Page 60]affront him, and despise him, by a to­tal neglect. And for some Masters of Families, (I know not, all Circumstan­ces considered, but) the use of a good Form, may be more advisable, and more for the good of those with whom they joyn, than to pray without One. All things should be done for Edifiea­tion; and for those to use a Form, who cannot otherwise do so well, is for Edi­fication: And Experience will prove that some cannot do so well without one.

I deny not, but the Spirit of Grace is a Spirit of Supplication, and ready to assist and enable us in some measure to pray: so that if you neglect not the Gift that is in you, you would increase in this, and other Gifts by Exercise. The Holy Scriptures will furnish you with Matter and Expressions; and if you study your own Hearts, and ob­serve the state of your Family, you will be competontly able to apply them: And God will afford you that Assistance of his Holy Spirit which is needful. As in the Case of Moses, he excuses himself from speaking to Pha­roah, as God would have him, because he was not cloquent, but slow of speech. [Page 61]The Lord said to Moses, Exod. 4.11. Who veaketh the Dumb to speak? Who hath made Man's Mouth? Have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy Mouth, teach thee what thou shalt say. His Call to speak to Pharach was Extraordinary, and so was his pro­mised Assistance from God. Yours to Family Prayer is Ordinary; and the Or­dinary Help, and Assistance you therein need, you may likewise expect.

It is a greater Disconragement to o­thers from the daily Worship of God in their Families, that they are often composed of such Persons, as care not to joyn in such Duties: Or they are such Scoffers, that it is a scruple whe­ther they should be suffered to be pre­sent, if they were willing. Some had rather pray alone, than indeavour, or desire such Company; they think they had better leave them out, than have their presence, who will not heartily joyn in the Requests that are made to God, and who desire not his Grace, or seek his Favour.

To such it may be said, That it is the Duty even of wicked Men to pray to God: and you know not what suc­cess their joyning with you may be [Page 62]attended with. Some have dated their first Conviction and Conversion, from Family Prayer and Instruction. You knowing the Sins of those in your Fa­mily, should be very serious in the Confession of Sin; and God may touch their Hearts, and give them Repen­tance. However, if you look to your own Hearts, and do not regard Iniqui­ty there, the Wickedness of others in the Family shall not be laid to your Charge, while you do what lies in you for their Recovery. The Presence of Judas with our Lord and Saviour, when he prayed with his Disciples, did not render them unacceptable to God: For I know, says Christ to his Father, thou hearest me always. If you are sincere in your Worship, the Presence of unwor­thy Persons will not obstruct your Ac­ceptance with God. Another Man's Unbelief will not prejudice thy Faith. If you should scruple to pray in your Families on that account; What think you of a Minister's Prayer in the Publick Congregation? If any neglect Family Worship on this Pretence, they are most likely to be such, as refuse to come to the Lord's Table, because of the Ad­mission of supposed unworthy. Persons, [Page 63]But how is it that they come to hear the Word, and join in publick Prayer in the Congregation, while this Objection is stronger there, than with reference to Prayer in their own Houses?

The Authority of Parents as to their Children is so manifest, and their Du­ty to oblige them to join in the Wor­ship of God is so plain; that it is prin­cipally as to scornful, or stubborn Ser­vants, that this Objection speaks. And as to them, unless they prove much otherwise than you thought they would, you were greatly to blame in admit­ting such: And after trial of other Means for their Conviction and Cure, if they can be removed, you ought to do it, Psal. 101.4, 5, 7. A froward Heart shall depart from me, a Slanderer will I cut off; He that telleth Lies shall not tarry in my sight, or dwell in my House. But where is the Authority of the Head of a Family all this while? Should they not observe your Orders in Matters of Trade and Business, you would quickly let them know you were their Masters. And does that Relation signify nothing to them, while they dwell under your Roof, and are imployed in your Ser­vice? Doth not the Fourth Command­ment [Page 64]suppose a Master's Authority to bring his Family to worship God with him? And your Concern for their Souls chligeth you to endeavour it.

There is one very common Objecti­on, that I fear, has too much of sad Truth for the Foundation of it, viz. That many of those, who pray in their Families, and read the Holy Scriptures there, and keep up the Externals of Religion beyond their Neighbours, do yet live no better, than such as pray not; their Children are no better than other Mens Children; their Servants are no better than other Mens Ser­vants; they themselves no better than their prayerless Neighbours: They are one thing on their Knees, and another on their Feet. They are as vain and worldly, as proud and passionate, as hard to the Poor, as false in their Dealings, as revengeful and inexorable, as others, &c.

Would to God there were no ground for this Objection. Wo be to the World because of such Offences, but wo be to them by whom they come. Who can tell what unspeakable Mis­chief such do, who keep up the Wor­ship of God in their Families, and yet [Page 65]walk disorderly in their daily Conver­sations? Who begin with God in the Morning, and keep Company with the Devil all the Day after. What Stum­bling-blocks do they lay in the way of ignorant Children, and ungodly Ser­vants, and Neighbours, who are ac­quainted with it? They tempt them to be Atheists, and deny God, and make them question the Reality of Religion. But whatever Hypocrisie any such may be guilty of in such like Duties, it will not discharge you from the Obligation to perform them sincerely. You may as well refuse to join in publick Wor­ship, because some constant Hearers are no better than some of those who stay away, and turn their Backs upon all such positive Institutions.

However, it is not the Fruit of their praying, but the want of Seriousness and Sincerity, which provokes God to leave them to the Power of Temptati­on. It is not long of Christ, and of the Holy Scriptures, and of Religion, and of Christianity, that any professing Christians are so bad. No Ruler was ever so severe against Sin, as Jesus Christ; no Law was ever so strict in the forbidding Sin, as the Laws of [Page 66]Christ: The Rule is streight, and the Christian Religion is not to be blamed, because some that profess it are not true to their own Profession: They condemn themselves, and dishonour God, and reproach their Lord and Sa­viour, and without Repentance he will condemn them too; Psal. 50.17. These things bast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self; but I will reprove thee, and set thy Sins in order before thee. I will reject your Sacrifices, I will spread the Dung of your solemn Services be­fore your Face; Your very Prayers shall witness against you.

A Caution yet is needful here, To take heed of bearing false Witness, or easily believing one against our Neigh­bour. Do not hastily credit every Story you are told, against such as pro­fess Religion. For the Devil imploys a great many to do his Work, by de­faming and discrediting such. Every lesser Fall of such a one shall be blazon­ed: Though it were but a single Fault, committed but once, and soon and heartily repented of, and seldom or ne­ver relapsed into; it shall yet be longer talk'd of, and more aggravated, than [Page 67]the customary, continued, foul Miscar­riages of others. This is seen daily a­mong such, whose Hearts are filled with Enmity against real Holiness.

Granting therefore, (what is too no­torious to be denied) that some Few, who pray to God every Day, do yet live as if they believed there were none; yet compare the Families of such as daily worship God together, with the Families of others, that neglect God and Religion; and it is not or­dinarily true, that the former are no better than the latter: The Families of such are commonly the Nurseries of Religion. Was not Noah's Family bet­ter than the drowned World, though there were one Cham in it? as there was one Judas in the Family of Christ Himself? What would you think of a Man, says Mr. Baxter, who, looking over his Neighbour's Garden, when his own is all over-run with Weeds, and wholly neglected, should see in his Neighbour's Ground here and there a Weed, mixt with much better Stuff; and thereupon should say, These Men that bestow so much Pains about their Gardens, in dunging and weeding, &c. yet they have Weeds in their Garden, [Page 68]as well as those that do nothing; there­fore who would be at so much pains? Thus foolishly do People talk of those that pray, and read, and instruct their Families, and hear Sermons, &c. they have their Faults, as well as others; wicked Persons amongst them, as well as others; their Children and Servants are bad, as well as ours. But they con­sider not, that it is not the whole Gar­den that is over-run with Weeds, as yours is, it is but here and there a Weed; and as soon as they spy any, they pluck them up, and do what they can to pre­vent their growth and spreading.

There is some Difficulty indeed as to those whose Lot is cast into prayerless Families, who would be glad with all their Hearts, to have the Worship of God kept up; but have either no power, or prevalency to bring it about. My Lot is cast into such an ignorant, worldly, prophane Family, says a re­ligious Servant, where they call not upon the Name of God from Week to Week, or at most, never more than once a Week. If this be the Case of an Apprentice, and bound by his Parents, who should have chosen better for him; he may bear it the better, as hoping [Page 69]God will not charge it as his Fault. But if you rashly ingaged your selves into such a Family, because it was a place of more Ease, or more Profit; you ought to repent, and beg of God forgiveness; and be afraid lest some spiritual Judgment, and it may be tem­poral too, should follow you. You ought to remove into a better Air, as soon as you can conveniently. But let me beg you, as you tender the Ho­nour of God, and the Credit of Reli­gion; while you stay in such a wicked family, indeavour with utmost Humi­lity, Modesty, Seriousness, and Circum­spection, to adorn your Profession; to leave a Conviction in the Conscience of those with whom you dwell, that seri­ous Godliness doth make the best Servants. How sad is it, if by you who profess Religion, your ungodly Masters or Fel­low-Servants should be hardened, and stumbled, and prejudiced against the holy Ways of God! It may fall out that if you carry it so, as to win the Love of all, you shall have an Opportunity offer­ed, humbly to suggest, and urge some­thing to promote Family-Prayer and Worship; and possibly obtain to have it begun. Be sure, however, that you be [Page 70]more diligent and constant in secret Prayer. The less help you have in the Family, the more should you redeem to be alone with God. But Servants who value the Welfare of their Souls, and their Improvement in Grace, should take heed what Families they chuse to dwell in. Do not, out of choice, place your selves in a House where God doth not dwell; to which the Curse of God ac­cording to his Word, is threatened. You know he dwells in the House of Prayer; His own House is such, and ours should be so too; and he inhabits the Praises of his People.

My case is yet worse, may some ob­ject; I am Son to a prayerless Father, and I cannot leave the House; Or I am Wife to a Husband that minds not God, or his own Soul, much less mine, or any in the Family. The like Ad­vice as was given before to religious Servants, is fit to be taken here; viz. to spend the more time in secret Prayer, and Closet Devotion, and to pray the more earnestly and fervently for such a Relation, who is the Head of a Fa­mily, and yet neglects the Duty of his place. The holy fervent Prayer of a believing Child, or Wife, may help to [Page 71]save an unbelieving Parent, or Hus­band; It may obtain Grace from God to turn his Heart. In the next Sick­ness, or under the next worldly Cross or Disappointment, or Family-strait and Affliction, you may have a Season offer'd with Meekness to suggest this, and other Duties; and who can tell the Success? However, take heed to a­dorn your Profession; and let such near Relations, with whom you are obliged to dwell, be convinced by your Chri­stian Carriage, of the Amiableness and Excellency of a Holy Life, and be made to think and speak well of practical Godliness.

If the Parent, or Husband be either unfit or unwilling to pray in the Fami­ly; can you not obtain that some other may do it in his room and stead? Though it be the proper Work of the Master of the Family, yet in many Ca­ses another may be substituted; even an holy Servant sometimes, with the Master's leave and desire. Or, in his Sickness or Absence, I know not why, in divers Cases, the Wife, who is to share in the Government of the Fami­ly, may not perform Family-Prayer, at least with those of her own Sex; and [Page 72]with all the Family if she be a Widow; and if she be a Wife, why not in the Husband's Absence? For if he do not his Duty in this particular, what rea­son is there, that she may not be the Mouth of the Family to God in Prayer, rather than it should be omitted?

These plain things I offer'd and re­commended with Seriousness to remove the common Objections, Pleas, and Ex­cuses for the neglect of Family-Religion and Worship, and touching the Duty of the several Relations in Religious Fa­milies. If any may be hereby confirm'd, or convinc'd, I know you will rejoyce with me, and bless God.

WIthout farther Preface, I con­tinue to make good my Pro­mise, by sending you the Remainder of my Papers on this Sub­ject, containing some Directions, and Counsels relating to Family Religion.

You who are Heads of Families, are in the first place obliged to be very Careful, and Circumspect, Serious and Exemplary in your Lives: (you ought to take heed, that you give no Exam­ple of Vice before Inferiours.) They will sooner Imitate you in what is Evil, than Good. Let them have no Incou­ragement or Countenance given them to Sin, by any thing they see you do. You will quickly lose all Authority, [Page 74]and Power to reprove, or suppress their Evils, if your own Example counte­nance them in it. It is altogether un­likely, that Religion should thrive a­mong Children and Servants, where the Parent or Master gives a Pattern of Drunkenness, or Lewdness, of In­justice, Deceit, and Fraud; or only keeps up the Worship of God, to cloak his own Wickedness, or serve some se­cular Design. Wo to those Parents and Masters, whose Children are Wit­nesses of their Impiety, and like enough to follow them (without a wonderful Grace) to their eternal Ruine. Never Parent had such a wicked Child, said a bad Eather once to a Rebellious Son; Yes Sir, replied the Impudent Youth, My Grandfather had. Some have inquired for what reason the Prophet Elisha cal­led for Vengeance on the Children that mocked him, and stiled him Bald-pate, 2 Kings 2.23. when many of them, it is probable, hardly understood what they said. The Reason assigned, is this, because the Children learnt that Lan­guage from their Parents; and God punished the Parents in the Death of the Children, and both at once. Some of the Heathens have been very wary [Page 75]and cautious, not to speak an uncome­ly word in the presence of their Chil­dren. Certainly the Head of a Chri­stian Family is obliged to behave him­self Wisely in an upright way, and to walk within his House with a Perfect Heart, Psal. 101.2. and in all things to shew himself a Pattern of Good Works, Tit. 2.7. A prudent, grave, chearful, sincere Deportment, as becometh Saints, would recommend Religion, and dif­fuse the savour of it to all about it. But if you give them never so good Counsel, they will sooner be influenced by a bad Life, than by the best of Words. All your good Precepts and Counsels, will be as Water spilt on the ground, if not accompanied by a good Example. What you would reprove, and amend in their Words or Actions, let them be sure to hear nothing of it in your Discourse, and see nothing of it in your Practice: You must lead them the way in Humility and Charity, in the Government of the Tongue, Pas­sions, Appetite; in the Redemption of Time, in Prayer, and love to the Ho­ly Scriptures, and the Ordinances of the Gospel, &c.

How can a drunken or unrighteous Father or Master expect his Children, and Servants should be sober and faith­ful? Can you hope to teach them So­briety, and they see you are Intempe­rate? or Meekness, when they see you cannot govern your Passions? They will sooner learn your Sin, than your Trade. And is not the Money given with such an Apprentice very ill be­stowed? One, Two, Three Hundred Pounds, or more, to have them taught to serve the Devil, and damn their Souls, by the Example of a wicked Ma­ster? But such Masters shall have dou­ble Damnation. Therefore let your own Example teach all your Relations, that Holiness and Unblamableness, in Tongue and Life, which you desire they should learn and practise.

But besides your own Example, you are obliged by all other ways to indea­vour their Spiritual and Eternal Good. You are worse than Insidels, if you pro­vide not what is Needful, and Fit for them as to their Temporal Life; much more if you neglect their Souls. O look upon them with Pity and Compassion; help them, as knowing their Ignorance, their Temptations, and Danger! Re­member, [Page 77]they must shortly die, and be saved or perish for ever. Use all Ad­vantages you have to do them good: Let them not be betrayed to eternal Ruine, by your neglect. Ministers, by publick Preaching, cannot do so much to further their Salvation, as you; and it is very little we can hope to do, without your Assistance. You can speak (sharply enough sometimes) of unfaithful Ministers, who neglect the Souls of their People; but consider not your own Guilt and dreadful Reckon­ing, upon the like Account. You ex­pect more Duty sometimes from One Minister, than Six can perform, while you make no Conscience of neglect­ing your own Duty, in your proper Sphere.

It will be a dreadful Meeting in the Day of Recompence, to have your Children or Servants to accuse their Parents and Masters; saying, I was so many Years in my Father's House; or I lived so long with such a Master, who never concerned himself about my Soul: I had never been a Servant of Sin, and a Firebrand of Hell, if he had done his part to prevent it. The like will be true of ungodly Husbands [Page 78]and Wives, who notwithstanding the Duty and Profession of the dearest Love, do little or nothing to save one another from the Wrath to come. O cruel Husband! O cursed Wife! It was long of You, that I am now a lost, undone Creature; You never did any thing to assist my Salvation, it was long of You, that I came to this Miserable End; You neither by Example, or Dis­course, or Prayer, or Admonition, &c. discovered any Care for your own Soul, or for mine. Yea how many in such Relations, do much to hinder, and ob­struct the Happiness and Salvation of those, whom they are most concerned and obliged to help! For if the one be ungodly, and the other be an awakened serious Christian; the Latter shall com­monly find the greatest Opposition and Difficulty, and Hinderance in Religion, from him, or her, who should have given the greatest Help and Assistance.

Remember therefore, that besides Prayer in your House, you have other Indeavours to use, for the Salvation of those that live with you. You mock God by praying for the conversion of Children and Servants, if you do not otherwise indeavour it: If you do not indeavour [Page 79]to convince them of their Sin, and of their need of Christ and his Grace; if you do not recommend him as the best Master; and put them in mind of the uncertainty of this Life, and of the cer­tain Account they must give to God another day, of all their Time, and Talents, &c. And yet this neglect is now so common, that they are reckon­ed Good Parents, and Good Masters, who will but give their Children and Ser­vants leave to be good, and go to Hea­ven without them: Who will not hin­der their Inferiours from serving God. Whereas, you have much to do of Po­sitive Duty, to ^* inform their Minds, to furnish their Memories, to rectify their Wills, to quicken their Affecti­ons, to keep tender their Consciences, and restrain their Tongues, and watch over their outward Carriage; to make them hate Sin, and love Holiness, and prize the Bible, and delight in the Or­dinances and Institutions of Christ, and like good Company, and dislike all o­thers, &c.

And to what End hath God given you The Authority of Parents, or Ma­sters, if not to prevent Sin, and to pro­mote Holiness in your Families? Hu­mane Nature is so corrupt, that (un­less in some few with whom the Spirit of God begins very early, and the Ef­fects of Holy Baptism are discovered in Childhood) there need to be great Restraints put upon it, by those who have Power and Authority over Young People. Your Authority must be kept up, lest you should be despised by those that you should Rule. Labour therefore to understand the Nature, Use, and Extent of that Authority, with Relation to all in your Family. And the more you grow in Knowledg and Holiness, and walk according to the Gospel-Rule; the better will you preserve your Authority among all your Inferiours. Humility and Wis­dom, and circumspect Walking, will enable you to do them the more good, in the use of that Power which God has given you. The Indulgence, and Allowance of Children in what is sin­ful, you know did highly provoke God in the case of Eli, and how dear did it cost him? That his Sons made themselves [Page 81]vile, and he restrained them not, [...] Sa [...]. 3.13. You must not let Wickedness dwell in your Tabernacle, Job 11.14. or in those of your Family. They will ob­serve your Orders, and regard your Commands; if you do not indiscreet­ly lose your Authority, by not keeping your distance, or suffering them to be too bold with you; or on the other hand making them too strange, so as to be fearful and discouraged, (I here speak especially of Children:) If what you resolve upon, and order, in com­manding what is good, or forbidding what is evil, you see be punctually observed, still managing all with Af­fection and Love; and manifesting the Honour of God, and the Interest of their Souls, and Salvation, to have been your greatest Motive. And remember, that Commendation when they do well is as needful, as Reproof and Correcti­on, when they sinfully transgress; which also ought to be without Partiality, or the causeless cockering, or countenan­cing of one above the rest.

The like may be said, though with some difference, with respect to Your Servants. Be Just, Compassionate, and Loving to them, but lose not your Au­thority [Page 82]as a Master: Be Faithful and Affectionate in your Counseling of them for the good of their Souls. But if they be refractory and stubborn, and slight your Advice, and go on in Sin, and wax worse and worse, and deride serious Godliness in their Fellow-Ser­vants; you must use other Methods, or get rid of them, as soon as you can. You are to take care, that Wicked­ness dwell not within your House, without Admonishing and Reproving of it. You must warn them who are anruly, and of others have Compassion, making a difference. Some must be re­buked sharply, others save with fear, pulling them out of the Fire, Jude 22, 23 Verses.

As to those who have Trades and Families, but God hath not blessed them with Children, or hath taken them away by Death; their Care, and Labour, and Trust is thereby lessened, and they ought to be the more careful with re­spect to their Servants. They have many Considerations to keep them from Repining, or Sorrowing much for the want of Children, upon the Account of the Duty, the Pains, the Care, and Grief of Heart, which they are freed [Page 83]from: For in this dissolute Age, how few Children answer the Hopes, De­sires, and Pains of Parents? Or prove Comforts to them when they grow up? If God had given you Children, or prolonged their Lives; what a Life of Trouble and Sorrow might They pro­bably have passed in this World? be­sides the constant Fear you would have had of their Sin and Damnation: which may be put in the Ballance against the Ʋncertain Comforts of those who have Children, abstracting from that Consolation, which arises from the faithful discharge of Duty to them.

More particularly, it is advisable, with Family Prayer, to joyn Serious Reading of the Holy Seriptures every Day, and frequent Catechizing, or Instruct­ing of Inferiours in the Principles of Religion. Abraham had such Trained, Catechized Servants in his House. These things that I command thee, says God to his Antient People, shall be in thy Heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children, Deut. 4.9. chap. 11.19. Teach a Child in the way he should go, and when he is Old, he will not depart from it, Prov. 4.4. chap. 22.6. 2 Tim. 1.3. Acquaint them by little and little with [Page 84]the great Doctrines of Christianity; give them Line upon Line, and Pre­cept upon Precept, as they are able to receive, and bear it. Acquaint them betimes with the Word, and Works of God, When you sit in the House, or walk by the Way, or lie down, or rise up; by asking them Questions, and putting them upon asking you. Abraham's Ex­ample is approved, and recommended by God in this matter, Gen. 18.19. For I know him, that he will command his Children, and his Houshold after him, that they shall keep the way of the Lord.

Never diel any Age afford better Helps for Catechizing, than this; there being so many excellent Catechisms, or Summaries of Christian Religion, alrea­dy printed, and easy to be had. If any of you want a Method for Regular Catechizing in your Families, as sup­pose upon a Lord's-day Evening, or once a Week; let me mention one, which is practised by many with good Success, in some Counties of this Na­tion; viz. Let the Master of the Fa­ly begin with a short Invocation of God, praying for his Presence, Assistance and Blessing; and then ask the younger sort Three Questions out of the Assemblies [Page 85]Catechism, and upon each of the three Answers, ask the explicatory Questions in Mr. Joseph Allen's Catechism, or Mr. Lye's, so that by answering Yes or No, you will perceive whether they under­stand the matter treated of. After this, read The fuller Explication of those Three Questions in some larger Cate­chism, as that of Mr. Thomas Vincent; and then close with a short Prayer; and if you can, Sing a Psalm. All which may be done in an Hour, and you will find it very profitable both for younger and elder People.

The reading of the Holy Scriptures frequently in your Families, as well as in your Closets, upon the Week-days, as well as upon the Lord's-day, I hope I need not use many Arguments to re­commend. Deut. 11.18. They are able to make us wise unto Salvation, and they are suitable to every Case, that you or yours can be in. They that cannot read, or will not read, or have not so much time to read, may be pro­fited by your reading the Holy Scrip­tures in your Family with them. The Singing of Psalms or Hymns, in Christian Families, where there are enough who are able to joyn in that part of Wor­ship, [Page 86]is also a very commendable and excellent part of Family-Religion, Col. 3.16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admo­nishing one another in Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Especially on the Lord's Day.

And that I would next speak of, be­cause I am perswaded, that no Family-Religion can be duly kept up, without the Sanctification of the weekly Sabbath. What the Jews said falsly of Christ, we may apply truly enough to many a Pa­rent, and Master; This Man is not of God, for he keepeth not the Sabbath Day, and takes no Care that his Family with him do so. You have many helps to understand the Nature of the Duty, and of your Christian Deportment on that Day, in publick, private, and se­cret. You would do well, the Night before to make some Preparation for the Solemnity of that Day; and in the Morning, to possess your Souls with the Consideration of the Privilege you en­joy in such weekly Seasons of approach­ing to God, and paying Homage to him. Serious Godliness has never been found to flourish in any Soul, or in a­ny [Page 87]House, as to any Person, or any Fa­mily, where the strict ^* Observation of the Lord's Day has been neglected. If you begin with God in secret, that will prepare you for Family-Worship; the private Worship of God in your Fami­lies will fit you for the publick; and your careful serious Attendance on that, will help you to return to the Worship of God in your Families, and Closets. You ought to methodize, and time these Duties so, as one may not inter­fere with the other. Sanctify the whole Day to God, improve every part of it; make it not shorter than the other Days of the Week, as many do, by ri­sing later, and going to bed sooner. Bring as many of your Families to the publick Worship with you, as you can. When Elkanah went to sacrifice to the Lord, he and all his House went with him; 1 Sam. 1.21. And if you recollect, and repeat to them aferwards, the Sub­stance of what you, and they have heard preached, it may promote their At­tentiveness in hearing, assist their Me­mories [Page 88]to retain what they heard, and quicken your own Affections. That by reading the Holy Scriptures, by Cate­chising, by repeating Sermons, &c. your Children and Servants may be instruct­ed in the Knowledg of God, his Na­ture, and Works, and Will; in the Knowledg, of themselves, the Immor­tality of their Souls, the Nature of Sin, our first Apostacy, and the sad Effects of it, our Redemption and Recovery by Jesus Christ, his Person, his Offices, his Ordinances and Sacraments, his Promises, Faith in him, the Covenant of Grace, the Properties and Privileges of Believers, the Rewards and Punish­ments of the next Life, &c.

In short, do but spend that Day, as knowing how small a part of every Week, one Day is to be solemnly im­ployed in preparing for an Eternal State: do but imploy that Day, under the Sense of the Value of Immortal Souls, your own and others: And think how near the Judgment-Day may be, when you must be accountable to God for all your Time, and especially such sacred Time. Do but spend that Day, as believing the Good or Evil In­fluence it will have upon all the other [Page 89]Days of the Week; The Affairs of your Souls will thrive, or not thrive, as the Lord's Day is sanctified, or neglect­ed: The Souls of your Children and Servants, if not minded then, are un­likely to be minded on the other Days of the Week: And oftentimes it is found, that even your civil, and secular Af­fairs do prosper, or not, according to your Care, or Remisness in sanctifying the Lord's Day.

Moreover, you ought not only to pray with your Families, and worship God with them; but to observe the Necessities of every one in particular, and heartily to pray for them in secret. You would have more Comfort in your Family-Relations, and God more Glo­ry from them; did you more fervent­ly beg of God the Grace which you and they do need. Monica the Mother of Austin, had gracious Answers to her Requests to God, both for her Husband and her Son. How can you strive with God in Prayer for your own Souls, and not remember to do the like for those whose Souls are committed to your Care? O that my Son may live to thee! O that my Daughters may not die for ever! O that my Servants may [Page 90]not serve the Devil! O that there may not be a Son of Perdition, nor a Daugh­ter of Belial, under my Roof! Have mercy on me, O Lord, says the Woman of Canaan unto Christ: For my Daugh­ter is grievously vexed with a Devil. A certain Man, at another time, comes kneeling to him, saying, Lord have mercy upon my Son. for he is a Lunatick, and sore vexed: For oftentimes he falls into the Fire, and oftentimes into the Wa­ter. Such Prayers had success for the Cure of bodily Evils, and may rather be hoped to have so, for spiritual ones. If the Case of your Children resemble this, that any of them fall sometimes into the Fire of Lust, sometimes into the Water of Drunkenness, sometimes into this Sin, sometimes into that, be­ing hurried, and led captive by the Devil; beg that God would dispossess Satan, and that he would have mercy on them, and bring them to themselves. You know not what effect your Prayers may have while you live; nor of what Advantage a Stock of Prayers, laid up, may be unto your Children, after your Death. The largest Portion, the fairest Inheritance, or Estate you can leave them, may be a much less Kindness. [Page 91]Your Interest in the Covenant, and hearty Prayers for their Salvation, is a Treasure, they cannot sufficiently value. Whereas a wicked Father lays up Iniquity for his Children, as you have the Expression, Job 21.19, 20. He may store up Riches, and God treasures up Wrath: And upon Imitation of their Father's Sins, God fills up the Measure of their Judgment, Luke 11.48, 50.

While you neglect not Family and secret Prayer in these respects, you must likewise remember to observe what Answers, God at any time gives to such Prayers; What serious Impres­sions are made on the Minds and Hearts of Children or Servants; how their Knowledge and Grace do increase and grow; what Convictions the Spirit hath wrought on any of them; who is re­formed, &c. and how God hath pros­pered your secular Indeavours, how he favours your Diligence in your Calling; but especially how he rewards your Faithfulness to the Souls of Inferiours. If any of your Children be good, or hopeful, though one it may be, or more be not; bless God for such a Mercy. Let not your sorrowful Complaints as to one, silence your Gratitude for Di­vine [Page 92]Grace manifested in another. All your Children were born in Sin, and might have lived and died in Sin; but you can say, though I have a Cain, I have a righteous Abel, I have a Shem as well as a Cham, a Jacob as well as an Esau, a Solomon as well as an Absalom or Amnon. God hath answered my Prayers, and blessed my Endeavours as to one or more, though not as to all: I will wait, and pray in Hope as to them also. By thus taking notice what Answers of Prayer you have upon this Account, you will know the better how to frame your Petitions to God for them, and to order your Counsels, In­structions, and farther Indeavours for their good: You will know what you have to acknowledge, and be thankful for, and what you have to lament, and beg in Family-Prayer.

And in the Management of that, Care is to be taken to chuse the fittest Time. A good Man will indeavour to order his Spiritual Affairs with Discre­tion, as well as his Temporal ones. In Family-Worship you should indeavour to be short, distinct, methodical, and se­rious; and not make such Duties over­long, lest some of the Family be temp­ted [Page 93]to say, Behold, what a Weariness is it? Labour to be serious and affectio­nate, though ordinarily you be but short: you may be longer on the Lord's Day. Be serious, I say, and affectionate: for he that is the Mouth of others to God in Prayer, if his Heart be drowsie, they who join with him are not like to be affected. You ought discreetly to chuse the Time also: In the Morning you will find, if it be deferred till such [...]or such a Business be first dispatch'd, [...]or if it be not one of the first things [...]one in the Morning; you will find something or other intervene, to hin­der it altogether. And in such Fami­ [...]ies where it can conveniently be done, before Supper; for the Evening is the most desirable Time. Many never kneel down to pray in their Families at Night, till they are fitter to lie down upon their Beds.

In the ordering of these things, let Husbands and Wives, who would fur­ther the Salvation of each others Souls, [...]ointly concur to promote Godliness [...]n their Families. Their first Care should be to indeavour the Salvation of each others Souls. For this they have Scripture-Incouragement, 1 Cor. [Page 94]7.16. For what knowest thou, O Wife, whether thou shalt save thy Husband? Or how knowest thou, O Man, whether thou shalt save thy Wife? It is true, no feri­ous Christian would deliberately chuse to be so nearly related to one, that is a stranger to Christ: And they who are so related, ought to beg God For­giveness for their sinful Rashness. But if they find themselves mistaken in their Choice in that respect, they must use the greater Care to perswade them to be such, as they supposed them to have been: Remembring however, that if they cannot as yet love them, as real Saints, they must yet love them, as Hus­bands and Wives.

But how hopefully may Religion be carried on in the Family, where both are devoted to God, and married to Christ! How should (and may) they build up one another in their Holy Faith, watch over each other, study their Tempers and Dispositions, ex­hort one another daily with Meekness and Wisdom, and strengthen one ano­thers Hands in the Discharge of their respective Duties to Inferiours; indea­vouring the utmost Union in this Work, lest, through the want of it, [Page 95]their Authority be weakened, and their Endeavours be frustrate of any good Success. The Endeavours of both are required: And if Covenant-Mercy de­scend from Parents to Children, 'tis on this Condition, that during their Mi­nority, they take care to bring them up in the Knowledge, Nurture and Ad­monition of the Lord. When they come to be adult, or grown up, there is another Condition on the part of the Children, that they consent to the Terms of the Covenant, and willingly come under the Band of it. But both Parents are concern'd to bring up their Chil­dren for God. Men should not cast all the Care of Children, and Servants on their Wives; and Women should con­sider, as Matter of Duty, their joint In­terest in the religious Government of the Family. I wish it were not a very frequent Case, that they, who should rule, are the most unruly part; and the Cause, that the Family is ungodly, and ungoverned.

There is a great Latitude in the Du­ty of Parents to their Children, to take care of them in Infancy, to dedicate them to God betimes, and bring them under the visible Band of the Covenant [Page 96]by Raptism; and to teach them the meaning of it, as soon as capable; to keep them in subjection while young; to encourage them in all that is ver­tuous, and praise-worthy, and good; and lovingly, and seasonably reprove them for what is evil; to dispose of them with Wisdom and Care, as to their Schools, Callings, and Marriage, according to your Rank and Station, in the best Manner you can. And therein to consider the Interest of their Souls, as well as their temporal Welfare, and prefer it. Beg of God to teach you the true Medium between the Errours of Education, on either Extreme; either that of humouring them in Vanity, and indulging them in Sin, or that of Frow­ardness, Harshness, and too much Se­verity. If your own Parents be living, give your Children an Example of the Honour and Obedience you expect from them, by your becoming Carriage to­wards their Grand Parents.

If you would recommend, and pro­mote Religion among Children and Ser­vants, there is one thing I would beg of you, that you take heed never to speak of God and Sacred things, without the utmost Seriousness, and Reverence. If [Page 97]you do not possess their Minds with an Awe and Reverence of God, and Christ, and the Holy Scriptures, and the Life to come, you will do them little good. You should begin betime to do this. Mothers especially may drop Instruction into their Children, as soon almost as their Milk: At least you may teach them to pray, as soon as they begin to prattle. Timothy re­ceived that Knowledg of the Faith, in his Childhood, from his Mother and Grand­mother, (though his Father was a Greek or a Pagan, Acts 16.1.) which after­wards he publickly profess'd, and ad­hered unto.

And much of the good or bad Im­pression upon their Minds, from what you say, will depend upon the Manner of your speaking: Your words must discover your honourable Thoughts of God, and Holiness, and Holy Christi­ans, and Ministers, &c. They will be apt to like what you commend. En­deavour therefore to speak of Sin, and of wicked Men, with loathing and dis­like; that they may see your Judgment, and learn to form their own. The way to win them betimes to the Fear of God, and Hatred of that which is Evil, [Page 98]is frequently to represent, in your Dis­course, how fafe, how profitable, how honourable, and pleasant a Life that of serious Godliness is. Hereby you re­move, or cure their Prejudices concer­ning practical Religion, as a melancho­ly, burdensome thing. And take heed what Books they read, and what Com­pany they keep, lest their Minds be poy­soned and corrupted by ill Principles, and their Hearts inticed and drawn to Sin; and so all your Instructions fail of Success. Without such Care 'tis in vain to put up Bills to Ministers, Week after Week, to pray for your dead Children, whose Souls you your selves do murder by your Negligence, or ill Example.

But your Counsels and Discourse, back'd by a Holy Example to inforce them, may do much good; and will if these go together: For if Inferiours see you to be unjust, deceitful, drunken, wanton, cruel, &c. all your serious Talk will do them harm, rather than good. Especially if you do not carry it well in your Relations to them; if Parents be very passionate, and hasty with their Children; if Masters be bar­barous, and hard-hearted to their Ser­vants, [Page 99]and remember not how it was with them when they were Servants: I mean not so much, how they fared, as how they desired, and wish'd to have been used, under their Apprentice­ship.

And of all the serious things which may be proper to be recollected; there is hardly any thing of greater Moment, than to instil often into their Minds, the value and worth of Time. That they may be brought to hate Idle­ness, and not care to mispend one Hour: But as they grow more capable of im­proving it, may be still imployed. You cannot insist too often upon the Brevity, and Ʋncertainty of our little Time on Earth; the Swiftness and Irrecovera­bleness of it, and the Consequence of redeeming it well or ill, in order to our future Account. The Devil is al­most sure of those, who are brought up in Idleness, and put no value upon their precious Time. Urge this therefore to Inferiours, and help them to improve their Time, and to begin every Day with secret Prayer alone, and to imploy the other part of it, in what is suitable to their Age, Capacity, Condition, and Relation.

You would do well to put them upon secret Prayer; to advise your Children and Servants, and charge them to pray alone every Day, as well as be willing to join in Family-Prayer. You ought also to teach them, by Word and by Example, to beg a Blessing on their Food, at the usual Seasons of Refresh­ment, and seriously to return Thanks afterwards. We depend on God for our Daily Bread: And our Blessed Saviour did never eat himself, or feed others at his Table, but he blessed, and gave thanks, Mark 8.6, 7. So the Apostle, Acts 27.25. and by Prayer and Thanksgiving is eve­ry Creature sanctified, 1 Tim. 4.3, 4, 5.

It will be of great Moment in order to a religious, well-ordered Family, to be very careful whom you admit to dwell with you. The Case may be so stated, it is true, that you must dwell with such as scorn, and despise Family-Religion, and Worship; But take heed lest you sinfully chuse such Relations, and such Inhabitants. It may be, Da­vid thought that Michal, whom he knew came of a bad Stock, might be prevail­ed with by him, to join in the Worship of God, and in time be brought over to what he desired; but she despised [Page 101]him in her Heart, and mocked at his Zeal, and proved a Snare and a Cross, and made him repent his Choice. Wo to him, who hath a Philistin in his Bosom, as Samson had. Marriage is the turn­ing-point of Life: Your future Reli­gion, and your Eternal Interest, are greatly concerned therein. We find the Wickedness, and Ruin of several of the Kings of Israel, laid at this Door; that they married into a wicked Fami­ly: Such a One, he had a Wife of the House of Ahab, and was quickly drawn off from God, by one who had a wick­ed Ahab to her Father, and a curfed Jezabel to her Mother; and she stirr'd him up to work Wickedness, 1 Kings 21.25.

A due Care on this Account is to be had in the Choice of Servants also: Such are to be preferr'd, who by Edu­cation, and, as far as you can judge, by Inclination too, will be willing to serve God, and rejoice in the Helps they may have to do so, in a religious Family. And how orderly and beautiful is Fa­mily-Worship, where all in the House do heartily join in it? You complain, you cannot bring your Servants to do what you desire, as to Matters of Religion, [Page 102]when it may be you had nothing of Re­ligion in your Eye, in the Choice of Servants. It may be for a small Sum less with an Apprentice, or for the same Wages to another Servant, you might have had one, whose Education, and Inclinations would have been more in­couraging; and who would thank God to enjoy such Advantages, for the Knowledg and Service of God, as he might have in your House. Servants also in disposing themselves; and Pa­rents in the disposing their Children, ought to consider this. A wicked Ma­ster will commonly chuse wicked Ser­vants, and make them worse. When a Ruler (of an House, or Town, or Coun­try) hearkeneth to Lies, (or is other­wise wicked) all his Servants are wicked, Prov. 29.12. Such a one can't endure the constant Reproof, that is given him by the good Conversation even of a Servant: And therefore will desire no more Religion in a Servant, than not to be unfaithful to his Trust. I wish there be not some Masters, (even a­mongst those, who would be accounted Religious) who are shy of chusing Ser­vants, that have the Character of be­ing so; contrary to David's Practice, [Page 103] Psal. 101.4, 5, 7. It is true, some that have been well educated, have proved very ill afterwards; and Masters have found themselves mistaken, after all their Care in this Matter: But if they did their Duty, to make the best Choice, and use the best Endeavours they could, they may have Peace and Quiet in their own Minds, when they meet with a Disappointment; which otherwise they cannot.

They ought to look to it, whom they admit into their Families; unless they value their particular Calling a­bove their General one: For who can tell the Mischief, that one bad Servant may do in a House? One Sinner destroys much good: as one Joseph may bring a Blessing upon a Family, and upon all that his Master hath in the House. You can hardly expect, that God should suc­ceed you with a Blessing in what you undertake, when you care not with what Tools you work, or whom you imploy: And in the Nature of the thing, there is little reason to hope, that they, who are false to God, and to their own Souls, will ordinarily be faithful to you. We read of those who were no good Men, viz. Laban, and [Page 104] Potiphar, &c. who have thrived the bet­ter for taking good Servants into their Families; but I no where read of a good Man, that was the better for a wicked Servant: We have sad Experience eve­ry Day to the contrary.

But the Welfare and the Comfort of religious Families, depends not wholly on the Duty of the Heads of it; They who are Children, or Servants, are obli­ged thankfully to improve the Blessing of Religious Parents, and Masters, and faithfully to do their Duty in each Re­lation. Without a wonderful Change by the Grace of God, you will never be good Parents to your own Children, (if you live to have any) if you are not good in the Relation of Children. The same may be said for Servants: Nor are they like to be good Husbands or Wives, who were not good in their former Relation as Children, or Ser­vants. Neither are such who are not good in their Family-Relations like to be so in any other: Either good Neigh­bours in a Town, or good Members in a Church, or Magistrates in the State. Ab­salom, a Rebellious Child, proved a Traiterous Subject: Hophni and Phine­as, disobedient Children, proved scan­dalous, [Page 105]and sacrilegious Priests; so in other Instances.

Let Children honour and obey their Parents in the Lord: See that there be inward Reverence, Respect, and Love: Despise not their Persons; slight not their Instructions, Rebukes, or lawful Commands, or Government. Take heed of speaking contemptuously of either of them. He that curseth Father or Mo­ther, let him die the Death, Levit. 20.9. His Lamp shall be put out in Darkness, Prov. 20.20. You should prize their Counsels, delight in their Presence, re­joyce in their Company, sympathize with them in their Sorrows or Joys, and readily deny your selves for their Sakes. The Expressions of outward Ho­nour from Children to Parents, by the Dissoluteness of the Age, are almost out of Fashion: Such as rising up, and stand­ing bare before them, (which is re­quired of the Younger, unto such as are their Fathers only by Age, Lev. 19.31.) to bow before them, and desire their Blessing or Prayers, to speak alway with respect to them, and of them, &c. The Honour that consists in Obedience, may be expressed many ways; as by be­ing content to obey their lawful Or­ders, [Page 106]though in the meannest Services; to be content to have their own Wills crossed, that the Will of their Parents may be fulfilled; by not marrying without their Knowledge, and Con­sent; and by submitting to their just Reproofs, Rebukes, and Corrections; and obeying them especially in the things of God, and for the good of their Souls. There is an Honour due to Parents, which consists in Thankfulness, and Recompence: Readily serving them, and supplying their outward Wants, comforting them in their Sorrows, Suf­ferings, Sickness, Old-Age; being sol­licitous for their Safety, and Welfare, concern'd for their Reputation and Good-Name, praying daily for them; and plentifully, freely, and honoura­bly providing for them, according to your Ability, and their Need. As Jo­seph did when advanc'd in the Court of Pharaoh. This is not Justice only, but Piety. Let them learn to show Piety at home, and requite their Parents, 1 Tim. 5.4. And our Lord reproves the Seribes and Pharisees, who by their corrupt Doctrines would dispense with Children from such an Obligation, Mat. 15.5, 6. Such Children then who are a Grief to [Page 107]their Parents, or purloin their Goods, or waste their Estates, or do not to their utmost minister to the Supply of their Wants, do so far fail of their Duty. The Children of Religious Parents, are especially bound to pay them Honour; and so to walk, as to reflect Honour on them; imitating their good Examples, thanking God for his special Mercies to their Parents, while they lived, doing what they can to honour them at their Death; pleading with God the Cove­nant-Relation of their Parents, to ob­tain a Blessing on themselves, as their Off-spring; and faithfully adhering to the Truth, Worship, and Ways of God, as their Holy Parents did before them.

This Honour is due to Parents whe­ther they be Rich or Poor, Wise or Weak, whether in an honourable Stati­on in the World, or in meaner Circum­stances, whether in vigorous Health, or bowed down under Sickness, and the In­sirmities of Old-Age: Remember still they are your Parents.

It is a Mercy you ought to be very thankful for, to have Religious Parents, and live in a Religious Family. It is a Prize in your Hands, you must give an Account of: And a sad Account it will [Page 108]be, if you remain ignorant of God, and Rebels against Christ, under those Advantages to know, and obey him, which others want. How unthankful are you, if you value it not as a Privi­lege? What work for the Worm of Conscience do you provide, if you im­prove it not! You might have been born of such Parents, as would have wholly neglected the Salvation of your Souls; or you might have been cast into some Atheistical Families, where God is not worshiped from Week to Week. Few are sensible enough of the Obligation they are under to God, by being re­lated as Husband, or Wife, as a Child or a Servant, to such as truly fear God.

I would here call such Children to Repentance, who have neglected, and failed in their Duty to Parents. Let grown Persons reflect on their Child­hood, and Youth, when they lived with their Parents, and since. Have you not been Stubborn and Rebellious, Irreverent, and disrespectful in your Carriage to one, or both of them? Have you not secretly despised them in your Hearts? or openly published their Infirmities? Have you not of­ten [Page 109]disobeyed their lawful Commands? or slighted their wholsom Admonitions? Have you not denyed, or been back­ward to Assist and Comfort them? Have you not secretly coveted their Estates, before their Death? or desi­red that it might be quickly? Did you honour them, inwardly with a good Conscience, from the Love of God, and the sense of his Authority? Let us call our selves to an account, and renew our Repentance before God, for such Sins, that his Pardoning Grace may prevent his Threatned Wrath. And let us take heed to live hereafter as the Children of such, of whom God was not ashamed to be called their God.

Remember the Advantages of your being thus related to Holy Parents: for Temporal Blessings, Ishmael, Solomon, Re­hoboam, and others are Instances of the kindness of God to Children upon the account of their Fathers. But you stand fairest for Spiritual and Eternal Blessings, you are Children of the Co­venant, and Members of the Visible Church of Christ, the Blessing of Abra­ham, I will be thy God, which reached unto his Seed, being now come upon us [Page 110] Gentiles, Gal. 3.14. You have many Helps to serious Godliness, which others have not: You have many Hindrances removed, which make it more difficult for others, who descend from wicked Parents, and live in Ignorant, Irreligious Families. You have more Knowledg of God and Christ, of Sin and Duty. And usually the Spirit of Grace begins more early with such Children, and follows them with more Calls, Offers, Invitations, Strivings, Convictions; and leaves them not till they are Profli­gate, Desperate, and Resolved in Wick­edness: whereof Ishmael a Scoffer, Esau a Profane Person, and the Jewish Na­tion, (who filled up the measure of their Iniquity, by Rejecting and Mur­dering the Lord of Glory) are emi­nent Examples.

Remember your Relation, and think what God and all the World expects from you. There is a great Privilege belonging by Gospel-grant to the Chil­dren of Holy, Covenanted Parents, if they do not forfeit it, by forsaking, and practically disavowing their Fathers God. If you will own him, he will be Your God, as well as Theirs. He hath an early preventive Interest in [Page 111]you, upon which you may lay your Claim to him as Your God, if you will devote your selves to him, and stand to his Covenant. To be ungodly Chil­dren of Holy Parents is the greatest Un­worthiness that can be. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this! Jer. 2.12. That any Persons, or People should cast off their God. Thine own Friend, and thy Father's Friend forsake not, saith Solomon, much less thy Father's God. How re­proachful will be your Wickedness, if you are not better than others! If you who are the Children of the Cove­nant, become the Children of the De­vil, by doing his Works! Shall there be a scoffing Ishmael come out of A­braham's House, or a profane Esau from Isaac's Family, a rebellious Absalom, or a filthy Amnon be found in the Family of the Holy David? God forbid that any of you should find or force the way to Hell, out of such Houses, where God is dai­ly worshiped. Certainly a Wicked Child of Religious Parents is one of the most miserable Spectacles in the World. He is within the Visible Fa­mily of God, devoted to him, made acquainted with his Duty, and can have no excuse for his Sin. What [Page 112]Aggravatious hath such a one's Guilt! They must have stifled more Convicti­ons, and resisted more Grace, than others. And how sure and severe will be their Condemnation! when all the Prayers, and Pains of Holy Parents shall witness against them! and God account such Children, as the Children of the Ethiopian, or Arabian.

And have you no Concern for, or Love to your Parents? Consider how wick­ed Children embitter all the Comforts of their good Parents. A Father of a Fool, saith the Wise Man, bath no joy, Prov. 17.21. While Parents are in bitterness for a dissolute Child, they cannot have that Joy and Comfort in one another, which otherwise they might: nor in the other Children, who are more hopeful: The whole Family is Afflicted, and Disturbed. The Grace of God, by which they over­come their own Corruptions, gives them not so much Comfort as other­wise, when they see the Sin they have mortified and forsaken, break out, and reign in any of their Children. Nor can they rejoyce in God, and Jesus Christ, as otherwise, when according to the Word of God, they hope and [Page 113]believe he is their Friend and Father, and by the same Word know he is an Enemy to this or the other Son, or Daughter, and that the Wrath of God abideth on them: And that if they get to Heaven themselves, such of their Children are not like to follow them there.

Lastly, Let Children and Servants take heed of their Carriage towards One another. Let them indeavour Concord, and Union, and Love; and avoid Con­tention, and Falling out, and the using of provoking, exasperating Language to one another. Let them help one another, as they can, in Health and Sickness, and take each others Con­cernment as their own. Let them watch over one another, as to the Sins, and Temptations they are most in danger of. Let them beware of vain unprofitable Discourse, and Idle­ness; and most carefully put away all filthy corrupt Communication, where­by they may poison the Souls of one another. Let them tenderly bear with one anothers Failings, and prudently conceal one anothers Faults, (where the Concealment of them tends not [Page 114]to the Wrong of the Parent or Master, or of any other; and where the open­ing of them will but stir up Strife.) This would also help to promote Family Religion. I desire and pray that these plain hasty Thoughts, may be servi­ceable to that purpose. With that Hope, I commend them to the Divine Bles­sing, and you to his Grace and Pro­vidence: Let us unite in the Resolu­tion, that whatever others do, we with our House, will serve the Lord, and wor­ship the God of our Fathers; and in that way and manner as to Our Fami­lies, wherein we have, besides their Example, so much other Encourage­ment from the Holy Scriptures, and Reason, and the Practice of the best Men. I am with Respect, and Since­rity,