DISCOURSE I.

THE NATURE OF FAMILY WORSHIP, AND THE OBLIGATIONS TO IT FROM PRINCIPLES OF REA

SON.

ACTS X. 2.

CORNELIUS-A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

THIS is the character of Cornelius; and a noble character it is. What makes it more remarkable is, that he was a heathen and a soldier. He was a devout man, a worshipper of the true God; he feared him, and made a conscience of praying to him alway; he was very charitable to the people among whom he lived. It is likewise observed, that he feared God with all his house, which plainly intimates, that his family was a worshipping Family. His pious care in praying with them, and for them, and teaching them the fear of God, was successful to make them devout and pious; so we read (v. 7.) of a devout soldier that waited on him continually,

was, in modern language, the captain's own man. This example of the personal and family religion of a heathen and a soldier, will I hope, appear very proper to introduce an important design I have before me; namely, to lay before you at large "the na.. ture and obligation of family worship, and endeavour to excite you to the practice of it." You will bear me witness, that I do not curiously pry into the affairs of your families: but it is easy to know, and almost impossible not to know, from children, servants, neighbours, or others, who for a longer or shorter time reside in your houses, whether there be family worship there and indeed were a minister to make a particular inquiry of them, or yourselves, about it, he could not be reckoned impertinent, but must appear to act in character. In some families, there is no more acknowledgment of God, in the exercise of the devotion, than if there were no such Being. In the families of others, he is indeed sometimes acknowledged, but very seldom; on the Lord's Day, perhaps, or on some particular occasion. So criminal a neglect, it becomes me to reprove, and atThere may tempt to engage you to rectify. be some young persons who have lately entered upon families of their own, and others soon may; for their sakes likewise, I engage in this design; and I hope what will be said upon this subject may assist pious families.

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to be steadfast and serious in the practice
of this duty, and to improve these religious
exercises to those excellent purposes, for
which they are required of us. As it is a
duty of great importance, on which the hon-
our of God, the support of religion, and the
good of souls, very much depend, I would
plead its cause very seriously: and that what
I say may, by the blessing of God, be effectu-
al, I would say it in the plainest and most in-
telligible language.
I shall make no scruple
to adopt the sentiments, and sometimes the
language of the best writers upon the sub-
ject, whom I have carefully perused for that.
purpose; a method not less laborious to my-
self, and more respectful to my hearers, than
to have confined myself entirely to my own.
thoughts on the subject. These things being
premised, I propose,

I. To illustrate the nature of Family Worship. -
II. To show you the reasonableness of it.
III. Produce the Scripture evidence for it.
IV. Represent the great Advantages of it.

V. I propose to consider, and endeavour to-remove, the chief excuses which are:made for the neglect of it.

VI. Seriously to urge the Duty upon those who have hitherto neglected it..

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And, in the last place, to offer some advices and encouragements to those who practise it.

Let me intreat, my Brethren, your serious regard to what I shall address to you on this weighty subject; and your earnest prayers that God would assist and succeed me in this design for his glory, and your, and your families' welfare. I am,

I. To illustrate the nature of Family Worship.

And on this head I need say very little. I shall endeavour to prove, that it is the duty of every head of a family daily to offer up serious solemn addresses to God, with his whole family, in their Presence, and with their concurrence; I say every head of a family, including widows and single persons, who have children or servants under their care, as part of their family. It is a duty that belongs to the head of a family as its head, and being invested with authority over the rest, by the great Lord of all, for their good. The whole of family religion is not to be placed in Acts. of worship, properly so called. It includes family government, and discipline; the daily reading of the scriptures to them, and at some times, especially on the Lord's Day, other practical books; watching over the ways of our household, catechising Children, instructing servants; reproving, admonishing, and correcting for irregularities of temper

and conduct; and more especially for sins against God. But Family Worship is the most important part, and will have a great influence to promote the regular and useful discharge of the rest. Family Worship includes the several branches of prayer; a solemn adoration of the great God; giving him the glory of his perfections and government of the world; acknowledging his authority, righteousness, and goodness, and confessing our sins before him it includes offering up our desires to him for those blessings and mercies we want; grounded on a persuasion of our ignorance, weakness and inability to help ourselves, and his boundless power, wisdom and goodness. It comprehends, likewise, a thankful acknowledgment of his mercies; owning our dependence upon him, and obligations to him, for all the blessings and comforts relating to this life, and that which is to come.-These remarks are applicable to all acts of worship, whether in the closet, in the family, or the congregation. But in order to render our Family Worship properly so, it ought to have a special regard to the state and circumstances of the family, by which it is presented, and be suited to their cases: particular Thanksgivings and Petitions should be offered up, by the heads of Families, for themselves, their children, and servants, according to their respective circumstances. But this duty is so plain and clear, that it needs not to be further