Prayers for the Use of Families

It, in the title of this volume, the author has used the word “minister,” in rather an unusual latitude, its adjective will serve to explain, and restrict it. The domestic minister, intends, not the pastor, or preacher; not the servant of the Most High God, who officially shows unto men the way of salvation — but he, who adopts the resolution of Joshua — “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.**

The preservation and spread of relig-ion should not depend, exclusively, on a particular order of men, however important their functions may be. //christians, in their respective stations, ought to co-operate with those, who are, by designation, workers together with God.

It ought to be a matter of thankfulness, that the number of ministers, properly so called, who enter into the spirit of their office, and preach the truth as it is in Jesus, is exceedingly increased. But compared with the field, and the vastness of the work, the labourers are yet few. And few they would be found, if multiplied a thousand fold; and we should still need, the property, the talents, the influence, the example, the exertions, and the prayers, of all the subjects of divine grace.

And can their services be dispensed with — now?

God is not the God of confusion, but of peace: and He has said, “Let every thing be done decently and in order.” It is his providence that determines the bounds of our habitation, and furnishes the several stations we occupy; and into these we are to look for our duties and opportunities. Men are often led out of their own proper sphere of action, in order to be useful; but it is ignorance, if not discontent, and pride, that tempts them astray.

As the stream of a river is most lovely and beneficial, when it patiently steals along its own channel, though it makes not so much noise, and excites not so much notice, as when it breaks over its banks, and roars and rolls as a flood; so good men are most acceptable, and useful in their appointed course. Wisdom will estimate every man, by what he is, not out of his place and calling, but in them. There we naturally look after him; there we unavoidably compare him with his obligations; there we see him habit. ually — and there he gains a character, or goes without one

In a day like the present, there will be many occasional cslIU of prblic duty; but it will be a sad exclamation to make at a dying hour, “My own vineyard have I not kept.” In the spiritual, still more than the temporal neg-lect, “He that provideth not for his own, especially those of his own house hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

“You wish to serve your generation?” It is well that it is in your heart; but let it be according to the will of God. And how does this require you to proceed? From public relation into private, or from private into public? Does it order you to waste time and strength, to go to a distance; and begin labouring, where difficulties will be too great, and means too few, to allow of your improving the waste, back to your own door? Or, to begin near,- to cultivate onward; to clear and fertilize the ground as you advance; so as to feel every acquisition already made, converted into a resource to encourage, support, and assist you, in your future toil?

“You long to be useful?” And why are you not? Can you want either opportunity, or materials — you, who are placed at the head of families; you, who are required to rule well your own households; to dwell with your wives according to knowledge; to train up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to behave towards your servants, as remembering that you also have a master in heaven. — Behold, O man of God, a congregation, endeared and attentive, committed to thy trust. Behold, a flock whom you may feed with knowledge and understanding; and before whom you walk as an example in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity. Behold a church in thy house. Behold an altar on which to offer the morning and evening sacrifice of prayer and of praise.

Here, observe these things without preferring one before another; here teach and exhort, and reprove with all long suffering and patience; here officiate — and ‘ye shall be named the PRIESTS of the Lord; men shall call you the ministers of our God.”

The remark of Baxter is worthy our regard — “If family religion was duly attended to, and properly discharged, I think the preaching of the word, would not be the common instrument of conversion.” And Gurnal says — “The family IS the nursery of the church. If the nursery be neglected.

ten upon this subject: and what he, himself, could oflTer in support of the practice, is already before the public*

It is futile to allege, as some have done, that there is no positive and express command lor it in thr Scriptures; when noth-ng- would be more eisy, than to prove the will of God — - from the simp!.;bt deiuction, from the fairest reasonings, and from the most generally acknowledged principles.

The examples of the faithful; the commendations which God has bestowed upon them in his word; his promises and Jireatenings; the obvious and numberless adlantages resulting from domestic devotion, as to personal religion, and relative government: — with regard to th<jse that preside in the family; and as to instruction, restraints, and motives — with regard to relations, children, and servants; all this must surely be enough to induce any man, capable of conviction, to terminate with a broken heart, the mischiefs of neglect; and to swear unto the Lord, and vow unto the Mighty God of Jacob — “Surely, I will not come into the tabernacle of my house; nor go up into my bed, I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumljer to mine eye-lids, until [ find out a place for the Lord, an habitatior for the Mighty God of Jacob.”

As to objections arising from — shame — a want of time — the unfashionableness of the usage — or its interfering with visits or dispensations; all this, in a being, who yet owns himself to be a moral and accountable creature, is unworthy of argument, and would be too much honoured, by the attempt of refutation

There is one thing however, which deserves notice. It is the apprehension of inability to perform this duty. With respect to some, if not many, it is no breach of charity to conclude, that this is an excuse, rather than a reason. It is disinclination, or at least, the want of a more powerful conviction, that hinders them from adopting this salutary usage, rather than incapacity. There are few cases in which the old adage is not to be verified: “Where there is a will, tJiere is a way.” You feel little difficulty in making known vour distresses or wishes to a fellow-creature: and the Lord looketh not to the excellency of the language, but to the heart. The facihty would be increased by practice, and tJie divine blessing.

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