cient to establish this duty, and therefore be a sufficient answer to any objections, it may be proper to consider some of the objections usually made.

One objection sometimes offered is, I HAVE NO ABILITY TO PRAY IN MY FAMILY. I have no talents or gifts for this work, and should only expose myself. It has been remarked, "This is almost the only case in which people are apt to have a very mean opinion of their own abilities. But this is not the language of Christian humility." Let me reply to the objection in the words of Milner. "It is acknowledged that many are unfit for such an undertaking, and there are those who are forward to attempt things, for which (at least till they have more experience) they are not qualified. But we have good and sound forms of prayer,* easily procured, which you may make use of on these occasions. Surely if you attend to this practice, in a hearty, conscientious way, avoiding an unmeaning cold formality, which is the too common bane of things of this nature, you may expect the divine blessing to accompany it to yourselves and your households."

Another objection is, I AM AFRAID OF BEING RIDICULED, or thought unnecessarily precise and strict. This, though not much brought forward, has frequently great weight with those who neglect this duty. Now, here, I say, the irreligion of others is the very reason why you should be faithful to God. Imitate here the holy example of Noah, Abraham, Joshua, and all the servants of God. If your religion were real, though you stood alone in the whole world, it might still be said of you, in the striking expressions of Milton

* As those of Cotterill, Knight, Bean, Swete, and Jenks, and Short Prayers for every Morning and Evening, by the Religious Tract Society. Some prayers are also added at the end of this Treatise.

-"faithful found

Among the faithless, faithful only he;
Among innumerable faise, unmoved,
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified,

His loyalty he kept. his love, his zeal ;

Nor number, nor example, with him wrought

To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Though single."

Paradise Lost, Book V.

you

whether

Perhaps, in this very thing, God is bringing the touchstone to your character; he here tries you will indeed confess Christ before men. Remember, then, "If we deny him, he will also deny us; if we confess him before men, he will also confess us before his Father and the holy angels in heaven." Some have regular family worship in general, but when they have any friend in the house, unaccustomed to this service, they are induced by the fear of man, or perhaps the pretence of not giving offence, to neglect it. This conduct is utterly unworthy of a true Christian.

Others object, I HAVE NOT TIME FOR THE DUTY; I am engaged in business from morning to night. Is this true, then surely you, who have so much to do, above all men, ought especially to seek the favour and help of God. His blessing maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it; but without it, all your endeavours and labours will profit you nothing; they will never make you happy. But have you never any leisure for amusement, for vanity, trifling, and folly? Remembering that God knows how you employ all your time, will you venture to say, that you cannot collect your family together for a few minutes in the morning and in the evening? Have you time to provide food for their perishing bodies, which last but a few days, but no time to dispense the bread of life for their never-dying souls? The want of time proceeds in most cases from indisposition to the duty;

or, at best, from want of due management. If you appoint those stated and fixed times which shall be found most convenient, and keep to them regularly, you will find that it will be as easy to collect your family togeth er, and as indispensable to have regular family prayer, as it is to have your daily meals.

Some bring an objection of another kind. I SHOULD

MEET WITH OPPOSITION FROM SOME IN THE FAMILY.

Are you only an inferior member of the family? you should still at proper times, use what influence you have to obtain so great a blessing;* and if, after doing this, you cannot, God will not lay the sin to your charge. But whatever weight this objection may have with those in inferior stations in the family, sure I am that this objection should have no weight with the master, or the head of the family. Do not have thus plainly to confess that you fear man rather than God. Remember, that you are responsible for the duties of that station in which you are placed. Be firm, and of good courage in this matter; and, whatever you may give up of your own ease and inclination in worldly things, for the sake of quietness and rest, give NOTHING up, where it concerns your duty, the good of immortal souls, and the glory of God, to be firm and resolute. See Ps. ci.

But you say, I DO PRAY WITH MY FAMILY ON A SUNDAY. It is certainly better thus to collect your family together on the sabbath, than not at all: but you are required to instruct your family, not merly on Sun

* I know an instance of a child in a family, where this duty was neglected, upon her return from a visit in another, where it was daily performed, being the instrument of effecting a reform in this particular, by only asking her parents, Why can we not have daily family prayer?? The remonstrance of the child,

through God's blessing, was effectual.

day, but when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deut, vi, 7. Your limited performance of the duty shews that you do not really love and enjoy it; if you did, you would be more frequent in practising it. And I may appeal to you, whether you and your family do not generally find it a weariness, (Mal. i, 13.) after the duties of the sabbath, to be engaged in a service which daily custom and habit have not yet made necessary and delightful.

But is not the real, though not the avowed objection, this, I AM AFRAID OF TOO GREAT A RESTRAINT ON MYSELF? I am afraid that more will be expected from me; that I must be more consistent in my character, and more circumspect in my conduct. Look well into your hearts, if this be not the real difficulty; and if it be, only consider what a sad mark it is of a man's spiritual condition, when he is afraid of a restraint on his sins. Job. xxi, 14, 15.

Howe observes, "we should look on family religion, not merely under the notion of a duty, and as imposed, but as a PRIVILEGE, and a singular vouchsafement of grace that there may be such a thing."

"It hath been accounted so even in the very Pagan world. A divine presence, to have a Numen at hand, and ready; how great a privilege hath it been reckoned! In the dark and dismal days of Popery, when that hath been regnant, what a terrible thing it has been counted to excommunicate a nation, to put it under an interdict. Now let us consider this matter so. What if instead of being bidden to pray in our families, we should be forbidden to pray in them. Make but that fearful supposition. Suppose there should be a special interdict on your house, and that by some particular signification of the mind of God from heaven it should be said, I will

have no worship of God out of this house; from your house I will accept no sacrifice, I will hear no prayer.' What a terrible doom were this! What a dark and horrid cloud would be drawn over that habitation, if it should be said, 'Here shall be no prayers, here shall be no mention of the name of God! So that as in a like case represented to us in reference to the people of the Jews-the poor forlorn members of that family should say, we may not make mention of the name of the Lord, (Amos vi, 10.) what a dismal thing were this !"*

Trusting, then, that the reader is now satisfied as to the duty and privilege of daily family prayer, and only wishes to know how he may best practise it; we will make some remarks with reference to the DUE PERFORM

ANCE OF FAMILY WORSHIP.

Every head of a family should consider himself as the minister or priest of his own family. It is, if we may use the expression, his Parish, and he should consider that he is as responsible to God for the welfare of the souls thus committed to him, as the minister is on a larger scale. The sin of omission lies at his door if it be neglected. "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven," may be applied to their spiritual as well as their temporal wants. Let the head of the family, then, consider it his duty and his privilege to conduct family worship.

A preparation of mind for this duty by taking a few moments of retirement for self-recollection and prayer, has been found by many to be highly advantageous.

Where circumstances will admit of it, read the Scriptures, and sing a Psalm or Hymn, as well as pray with your family.

* Howe's Works, vol. 5, p. 413. The whole Tract, entitled, "The Obligations to Family Religion and Worship," is well worthy of a serious and attentive perusal.