of the guilt and depravity of human nature, and not endeavour to awaken a conviction thereof in their confciences? Can I fee clearly my own need of fuch a Saviour as Chrift, and not hold him up to their view, in every light that may attract their hearts and affections to him? Can I be perfuaded of the infinite pleasure which the experience and practice of religion afford, and not from the bottom of my foul with that they may largely participate of that divine pleasure ? Can I, in fine, believe there is fuch a place as heaven, and not long, and pray, and use my utmoft endeavours, to bring my children, friends, and fervants thither alfo? O no. Religion is not a mere fpeculation: it "is an operative principle, and thefe fruits of it are a noble evidence of its exiflence and prevalence in our hearts.

3. The regular maintenance of family worship, is the next duty to be confidered.

We shall not here enter particularly into our obligations to this duty-that will be attempted hereafter* but only, following the line we have already pursued, defcribe it, and fhew the influence of religion to qualify us for the right difcharge of it.-By Family Worship, we mean the affembling our children and fervants together, at convenient feasons, for the purpose of reading the fcriptures, and offering prayer and praife to God. The mafter of every family ought to be king and priest in his own house. It is his province to determine the proper time for thefe folemn and pleafing exercises, and the manner in which they should be conducted. The feveral members of this little community being gathered together, a por.

*Difc. III.

tion of fcripture should be distinctly read; this, followed, if the fituation and circumftances of the family will admit, with a fong of praife to God; and then the mafter, or fome other perfon properly qualified, fhould devoutly prefent the fupplications of the whole houfe to Heaven.

Certain prudential rules it may not be improper here to lay down, fubmitting them to the judgment and piety of thofe who prefide in families.-The morning and the evening feem each a fit feason for this focial exercise. That time, however, should be chofen which may best conduce to the right discharge of the duty: not a late hour of the morning, for that* will clash with the hurries of business; nor a late hour at night, for that will indifpofe perfons to ferious attention. The fervice, for obvious reafons, fhould not be protracted to an undue length: the whole may perhaps be comprehended within about a quarter of an hour.-Every one in the house should confider it as his duty to attend.-The fcriptures fhould be read in regular order, that so their connection may be understood, and the whole in a course of time gone through. A particular attention should be paid to the circumftances of the family in the prayers addreffed to God. And as variety and brevity should be aimed at, to prevent tediousness, fo formality fhould be carefully guarded against, that being an evil which too often attends the frequent returns of thefe perio. dical exercises.

Family worship, thus conducted, with a due regard to the important ends of it, muft, I think, ftrike every good man as a most reasonable and pleafing service. The fcriptures authorife it, and many intimations oc

cur

cur therein to direct us in fome of the circumstances that relate to it. But thefe I forbear to mention here, as alfo to combat the difcouragements fome pious minds labour under refpecting the right discharge of this duty; it being our intention more particularly to confider thefe matters in the next difcourfe. How ftrange, this duty fhould be neglected! Yet fo it is in too many families. And in most inftances, to what is the total neglect of it owing but a want of religion? Nor is it indeed to be wondered, that they who have no fenfe of their dependence on divine Providence, and no tafte for the exalted pleasures of devotion, fhould account a fervice returning fo frequently upon them, tedious and unprofitable.

But it is to thofe mafters of families who have religion at heart, that we mean here to address ourfelves. You, Sirs, feel your obligations to him that made you, preferves you, and faves you. It was his providence that led you into this focial connection, gave you the partner of your cares and joys, and bleffed you with the hopeful offspring, which, like olive plants, furround your table. He pitched your tent for you; he commanded you to erect an altar to him. And can you find it in your hearts to refufe obedience to his command? or to decline a fervice in which you have already found your account? Think how great the pleasure the good man fometimes feels, whilft officiating at the head of his family in this little temple confecrated to Heaven! Recollecting the many undeferved favours he has received, how gratefully does he acknowledge them! Calling to mind his own and their fins, how penitently does he confefs them! Feeling the moft anxious concern for their

beft

L

best interests, how earnestly does he request not only
temporal but spiritual bleflings! Viewing the bleffed
God in the character of an indulgent parent, how paf-
fionately does he commend them to his protection and
love! And, amidst the various viciffitudes of life,
trufting under the fhadow of his wings, with what
exultation of heart does he fometimes cry out,
"God, how excellent is thy loving-kindness !"

Can fuch a scene as this be contemplated, and any
heart among us, in which parental affection and ge-
nuine piety are united, remain indisposed to this duty?
Be perfuaded then, O! be perfuaded, Sirs, to fall in
with the dictates of confcience, and the command of
the bleffed God. Say with Joshua, As for me and
my boufe we will ferve the Lord.
In this little con-
gregation the great God will not difdain to dwell.
"He loves the gates of Zion, and he loves the dwel-
"lings of Jacob too +." Who knows but divine life
may be communicated, as well as cherished and main-
tained, within your confecrated walls? Who knows
but it may be faid of this and that child, of this and
that fervant, and of this and that friend who fojourns
with you-said of him in the nobleft sense of the ex-
preffion-" He was born there ?"

4. The next duty to be confidered, is the obliging our families to attend regularly on the public worship of God.

By Public Worship we mean the offering homage to God in a larger circle than that of our own families. Many families are to affemble together, at stated feafons, in one place, for this purpofe. This practice, under various forms, hath obtained from the be

ginning

* Pf. xxxvi. 7.

Pf. lxxxvii. 2.

Ibid. ver. 6.

ginning over almost all the earth. It is the dictate of nature, and the exprefs appointment of fcripture. The fervice required under the Mofaic difpenfation confiited of numerous rites, which are now most of them abolished. Under the prefent, all that is expected of us in this focial connection is, that we prefent our joint prayers and praises to God; that fome one, duly qualified for the important office, explain and enforce the great truths and duties of religion to us; and that thofe who truly fear God profess their faith in Chrift, and their love to him, by the celebration of the two inflitutions of baptifm and the Lord's fupper.

Now, as every pious man will feel himself obliged to pay a due regard to public worship, fo they who have families must be fenfible it is their duty to oblige their children and fervants to attend regularly upon it. At an early hour the mafter of a house, at the head of thofe under his care, fhould appear in his proper place. The affairs of his family fhould be fo adjusted, as that not one member of it, except neceffity require, be absent. A paffion for novelty, which may induce any of them to wander about to various places of worship, should be checked. His eye should properly watch their demeanour during divine service, that it be ferious and attentive. At the close of the two stated services, the whole family fhould retire to their own home. Vifits, except where offices of merey are required, fhould be interdicted, and all focial intercourfes for the purpose of mere amusement avoid

Opportunity fhould be given every one to recollect seriously by himself what he has been about. And a fuitable exercife in the evening, wherein the younger part of the family may have an opportunity

of