remainder are too much employed, upon SER M. their coming home, to have leisure for this 11. most useful part of the domestic œconomy. I am willing to make great allowance for men of business and large acquaintance; though even bufinefs and acquaintance fhould be kept under fuch regulations, as not to interfere with the neceffary duties of religion. But, generally speaking, without much retrenchment of that fort, I judge it would be poffible for most people fo to contrive and lay out their time, as neither to neglect the offices of fecular life, nor the yet more important duty of attending to their own falvation and that of their dependents. And why fhould they not use fuch forecast and prudence to contrive, in a matter of fuch infinite concern to them? If any little affair of worldly interest requires it, we fee how ready they are to form schemes for dispatching their other matters in fuch order and method, that this may not be neglected: And shall they be lefs careful of the one thing neceffary? Shall they not use as much caution and contrivance, to referve the hours that are proper for attending the affair of falvation?

Before I close this head of Family-Religion, it may be proper to add, that tho' fome portion of every evening fhould be allotted to this purpose, yet a larger por

VOL. III.

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SERM. tion of the Sunday evening will justly be II. requir'd, after the fervice of the church is over. That day of holy reft ought not to be abused (as we too commonly fee it in this age) to the purposes of floth or vanity, but confecrated as a time of vacancy from fecular bufinefs, and appropriate to the honour and service of our God. And tho' I am not for recommending fuch judaical preciseness, as would rather four the temper, and make religion burdenfome, than promote the ends of real piety; yet furely fomething fhould be done, to preferve the impreffions of religion fresh upon our minds, and ftrike its influences deep into our hearts. To this end it will be greatly useful, that more time be allotted in the family for reading the fcriptures and other good books, befides the devotions ufual on other days. This will mightily conduce to the increase of fpiritual knowledge, and improve our leifure from worldly cares to the advancement of that bufinefs which is more important. It will, at the fame time, heighten our relish for pious meditations, and fo habituate our minds to the study of holiness, that all difficulties will be eafily furmounted, and our farther progrefs will grow pleasant and delightful.

Where the heads of families are careful to observe this strict regularity and order

of

II.

of their housholds, no doubt, but they will SER M. generally find their temporal intereft promoted by it. For when children and fervants are educated in the fear of God, and not only instructed, but led on in the feveral parts and branches of their duty, this muft naturally dispose them to discharge the duties of thofe relations in which God has placed them, to be faithful, honest, and induftrious in their feveral offices, and reftrain those exorbitances of appetite and paffion, which would be apt to make them dishonest and unruly. What tendency this would have to preferve the publick peace, and prevent thofe riots and disorders which oftentimes arise from the outrageous licentioufnefs of young people, may be easily imagined from the natural result and confequence of things. And this would be the likelieft way to fortify them against the infinuations of deceivers of all forts: Since it is chiefly owing to the neglect of proper instruction, and a religious education, that thofe of a loofer difpofition are fo apt to run into the fentiments of Atheism and Infidelity, whilst those of a more serious turn of mind, do fall an eafy prey to the bold pretences of papifts and enthufiafts.

But if, after all, this pious care and concern to keep up a fpirit of religion, should not be attended with all that vifible fuccefs which might naturally be expected from G 2

it:

SERM. it: Yet, were it but generally exerted, as II. it ought, among us, it could hardly fail of producing a good degree of reformation, and fhewing its effects in fuch amendment of the age, as every good and prudent man would reckon an abundant compenfation for his care and pains. And whether it be generally exerted or not, whether we fee all the fruit we hope from it, or not; yet they, at least, who are careful to difcharge their duty in this matter, will have the fatisfaction to have contributed their endeavour to the reformation of mankind; and fo long as their own heart does not reproach them with any criminal neglect, they will look with confidence towards God*, and be clear of the guilt of that national licentioufnefs, of which the want of proper care in families is the moft undoubted ground and occafion.

And whilst they are aiming to improve others, they will, at the fame time, greatly improve and edify themfelves. Their knowledge and their relish of divine truths will gradually increase, by reading, meditation, ferious difcourfe and prayer; whereas they will be much in danger of lofing that they have, if, by neglecting thefe duties of religion, they fail of proper hints to ftir up their remembrance. An habit of devotion, and a religious frame of mind, 1 John iii. 21.

II.

is not to be acquired or improved, but by SER M. continued use and exercise : And whilft the faithful houfholder aims to cultivate these good difpofitions in his domeftics, he will at the fame time heighten and encrease them in himself. And then it will be eafily imagined, how greatly this must conduce to curb and reftrain our natural corruptions, and to our growth and confirmation in all grace and virtue: 'till we all come, in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift*. To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghoft, be all Honour, &c.