hearts, they must be got out of the family; and Psalm 101 will both direct, and vindicate you, in so doing. It is better they should submit upon interested views, than not submit at all. Their secret dislike to religion may be conquered by prayer; at least it will not render your prayers vain and ineffectual upon the whole; since Christ prayed even with Judas. God hath given you authority over your families for their good, and in this instance you ought strenuously to use it.. Once more, I fear it is a very common excuse,

7. That it hath been so long neglected, that you know not how to introduce it..

You would not think this a sufficient plea in the mouth of a thief, a drunkard, or a whoremonger that he had been so long accustomed to his vices that he could not leave them. You imagine that to introduce family worship will be owning your guilt; in effect. telling your family, that you have been in the wrong hitherto, and making yourself mean and little in their eyes. I believe this objection hath great weight with many it hath been urged against making very desirable and useful alterations in the church. But consider, sirs, is it any reproach to a man to acknowledge his errors and to amend them? It is a common saying, "The wise change their minds often; fools never." Will any

but fools and brutish persons think worse of a man for so doing? And is their judgment to be regarded, where God and conscienceand eternity are concerned? If you are backward to the work on this account, your ministers will be ready to assist you in making a beginning, and would do it in the tenderest manner they could; and so as, if possible, not to lessen, but increase, your esteem and respect in your families. But if But if you still say, you are ashamed: I answer, it is a mean and... cowardly shame. A young man at Rome, coming out of a house of ill repute, saw the virtuous. Cato coming along the street, and immediately drew back. Cato went up to him and said, "Come out, come out; it is no shame to come out; it was a shame to go in." It is a shame to have neglected your duty so long; not, to enter upon it. It will be your glory to own your former neglect; and you will appear honourable in the sight of God, and angels, and all wise and good men. While you neglect it, you are living in sin; for omissions are sins and the servant that knoweth his Lord's will and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. If you still plead this shame; pray consider how shame will be estimated at the great day. Then some shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt. "To be hurried away from the bright and glorious presence of the blessed God, under the notion of one that would not call upon

him to be separated from angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, and be an associate with devils and wicked men ? men? When it is asked, why is he driven into darkness and cast into those regions, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? the answer must be "he would not call upon God. He had a family, but there was no religion in it; he never cared to keep up God's interest in his earthly station."* Think, whether this will not be a greater shame, than to begin a holy religious course, that hath been neglected hitherto.

Thus have I considered and endeavoured to obviate, the several excuses, which are made for the neglect of family worship. I have dwelt longer upon the subject, than a serious, holy christian may think necessary; who hath no objection against this duty, nor needs so many arguments to persuade him to it. But I insist upon these things, in order to convince gainsayers; and, as far as I can, leave those inexcusable, that will persist in this neglect. And, upon the whole, I entreat that these particulars may be carefully weighed. You know best, what are your pleas against this duty; whether all, or any, that I have mentioned. Judge yourselves therefore as in the presence of the heart-searching God. But remember, He cannot be mocked; and,

* Howe.

therefore, be not deceived. If your own consciences tell you, I have sufficiently answered your pleas; then remember, that God will be a witness against you; this discourse will be a witness against you; your children and servants, yea, and your own consciences will be witnesses against you, if you defer it any longer. And lo, as it follows after the text, "their good is not in their hand:" these caviliers against serving God and praying to him, have no true and lasting prosperity: and every good man will add, with Job, "the council of the wicked is far from me." I will never join with them in their impiety and neglect and God grant that it may be far from us all!

AMEN.

DISCOURSE V.

A SERIOUS ADDRESS TO THOSE, WHO NEGLECT FAMILY WORSHIP.

JEREMIAH x. 25.

Pour out thy fury upon the heathen, that know thee not, and upon the families that call not upon thy name—

WHO knoweth the power of thine anger? said Moses; even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath." What then must fury be, even his heaviest indignation? Who would not tremble at the thought of a drop of it falling upon him? how much more then a torrent of it poured forth? Yet this is, in effect, threatened in the text, as being imprecated by an inspired prophet, And upon whom will this fury be poured out? undoubtedly upon the "heathen, who know not God; for they had devoured Jacob and made his habitation desolate." But how are these heathen described? As families that call not upon God's name.

A