The Influence of Family-Worship on Visiters, Guests, and Neighbours
As ‘’none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself,” it is right and seemly that this principle of devotion to the Lord should be impressed on the domestic organization. The Christian household is not for itself; by grace it may be as a city set on a hill. Family- Worship is a means of carrying out this influence.
Good and evil are constantly and rapidly propagated from house to house. What we denominate public opinion and public character, are very much dependent on this agency, which is not less certain than the silent but mighty transmission of the electric fluid in the material world. The dialect of towns and provinces is thus originated and fixed; modes of drSss, and furniture, and living, are carried from circle to circle; extravagance and vice circulate by the same channels; as do likewise political opinions, and even religious sentiments. Such are the action and reaction between man and man, that we never go into a neighbour’s house, or receive a neighbour into our own, without giving or receiving some imperceptible impression; and by the sum of these are our character and manners formed.
Families differ very widely in respect to their freedom of intercourse. While some are shut up within themselves, others keep open doors, and are frequented by numbers of visiters and guests. When the friend whom we cherish is under our roof, he should be made to discern the reigning principle of the place. In a dwelling where there is no worship he may be pardoned if he say ‘’ Surely the fear of God is not in this place.”* But in a religious household, even the casual visiter must sometimes be made sensible, that there is a perpetual reference to another world. Suppose him to be under the Christian roof, at the appointed hour of prayer. It is well in every such case, if the service is not omitted or postponed. He may be a stranger to such solemnities: he maybe even careless or profane. Yet when he sees the whole family gathered, with stillness and de-
* Gen. XX. 11.
coram; when he hears the word of God read, and joins in the psalm of praise, and kneels with the rest in an act of worship, it will not be marvellous if he be drawn to some new and serious reflection. The impression may be greater than we suppose, from the very influence of novelty. These acts of divine service will have a tendency to show him, that here, at least, is a circle in which God is continually recognized. If a householder himself, he will necessarily be led to contrast with this the condition of his own domestic aflairs; and if he is a professing Christian, living in neglect of this duty, he will doubtless experience a pang of conscience. Example is powerful: he may see his way more clear, to make his own habitation a house of prayer.
“Some years ago,” says Mr. Hamilton, of London, “an Irish wanderer, his wife, and his sister, asked a night’s shelter in the cabin of a pious schoolmaster. With the characteristic hospitality of his nation, the schoolmaster made them welcome. It was the hour for evening-worship, and when the strangers were seated, he began by reading slowly and solemnly the second chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians. The young man sat astonished. The expressions, ‘dead in trespasses and sins,” children of wrath,” walking after the course of this world,’ were new to him. He sought an explanation. He was told that this is God’s- account of the state of man by nature. He felt that it was exactly his own state. ‘In this way I have walked from my childhood. In the service of the God of this world we have come to your house.’ He was on the way to a fair, where he intended to pass a quantity of counterfeit money. But God’s word had found him out. He produced his store of coin, and begged his host to cast it into the fire, and asked anxiously if he could not obtain the word of God for himself. His request was complied with, and next morning, with the new treasure, the party, who had now no errand to the fair, returned to their own home. Perhaps by this time the pious schoolmaster has met his guest within the gates of the city, outside of which are thieves, and whatsoever maketh a lie. But I cannot enumerate all the conversions which have occurred at the Church in the house.”
“A few years ago,” says the same writer, ‘’ an English gentleman visited America, and spent some days with a pious friend. He was a man of talent and accomplishments, but an infidel. Four years afterwards he returned to the same house, a Christian. They wondered at the change, but little suspected when and where it had originated. He told them that when he was present at their Family- Worship, on the first evening of his former visit, and when after the chapter was read, they all knelt down to pray, the recollection of such scenes in his father’s house, long years ago, rushed on his memory, so that he did not hear a single word. But the occurrence made him thi?2Ji:f and his thoughtfulness ended in his leaving fhe howling wilderness of infidelity, and finding a quiet rest in the salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ.”
By this pleasing incident we are led to observe that the influence of Family- Worship is peculiarly great upon guests who abide for some days or weeks in a Christian house, even if they have been brought up at home without such privileges. All that has just been pointed out here operates more freely and for a longer time. The beauty of holiness, and the pleasantness of the ways of God, are silently brought before their contemplations. We could name instances in which such a sojourn in a pious family has made deep impressions on worldly minds, in favour of evangelical religion. This ought surely to rest on the thoughts of Christian householders, in the way of duty. We are, perhaps, ready enough to make our guests welcome, to provide for their lodging and refreshment, to show them the wonders of our environs, and to invite friends for their entertainment; but besides this, we owe a duty to their souls. It ought not for a moment to be thought possible, that a dear friend or relative should stay weeks, or even days, in our house, without receiving some spiritual advantage. How often have the visits of careless young persons to godly families been made instrumental of their salvation. Among the means tending in this direction, we know none more fruitful than that which forms the subject of this volume.
But we must by no means narrow down the efficacy of daily worship, to that which takes place within a particular house. The whole neiy2fhbourhood feels the influence. Let ns not undervalue the power of Christianity. No single believer can abide long in a place without making: it in some deoree better; the true leaven will work; the true light will shine. Nor can any consistent God-fearing household fail of diffusing a hallowed force, in every direction. Bad influences fly thus, why shall not good ones? It is true, from the depravity of our nature, men follow evil rather than good; but it is also true, blessed be God! that divine grace uses the very same channels of connexion for the conveyance of truth and holiness.
Suppose only a single pious family, observing the worship of God, without shame or concealment, in the midst of a wicked society. Their peculiar ways, and this service in particular, will attract notice and beget remark. The visiter, or the passer by, will hear the voice of praise or prayer. The observation will be natural, That house is a house of prayer; God is honoured in that house. Neighbours wdll learn that here is a man who arranges all his business, and fixes all his hours, with reference to the daily household devotion, which nothing is allowed to interrupt. There are occasions in which 130 FAMTLY-WORSniP.
this peculiarity of the dwelling is brought into full lioht. In cases of sudden illness, calamity, or soul trouble, every one will know whither to go for a praying nrian, to kneel by the bed of death, or to speak peace to the troubled conscience. Where such households are multiplied in. any town or neighbourhood, by means of counsel and example, there is a mighty increase given to the expansive Christian principle, such as often changes the whole face of society. How earnestly ought we to pray that this particular means of social and national improvement, may receive an immediate extension, throusfhout our beloved land; and that unfaithful professors, living in neglect of this plain duty, may awake to repentance and reformation! What a change might we expect soon to see in regions where now the feeble piety which exists is like a half-expiring taper, which scarcely reaches beyond its little home-circle!
We are under the humbling impression that this is one of the points, in regard to which, with all our boast of superior privileges, we have not improved on the example of our pious forefathers. Among the
Presbyterians of Scotland, and the English Nonconformists of the seventeenth century, there was probably a far smaller proportion of Christian professors living in prayerless houses than among ourselves. The performance of this duty was made matter of special investigation, by pastors and elders, and even by superior judicatories of the church. And the effect was a diffusion of piety, more unobtrusive perhaps, but not less rapid, and certainly not less sound, than that which, in our day, we are fond of seeking by periodical excitements and doubtful measures. The sacred treasure of one house became the portion of many, and wdiole communities caught the fire which may have been enkindled, in a corner. Such was the case in the town of Kidderminster, which was blessed wdth the labours of that eminent servant of God, Richard Baxter; and his testimony, however familiar, is too valuable to be omitted in this place.
“On the Lord’s day,” says Mr. Baxter, “there was no disorder to be seen in the streets, but you might hear a hundred families singing psalms, and repeating sermons, as you passed through the streets. When I came thither first, there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on his name; and when I came away, there were some streets where there was not above one family. in the side of a street that did not so, and that did not, by professing serious godliness, give us some hopes of their sincerity; and those families which were the worst, being inns and ale-houses, usually some persons in each did seem to be religious. Some of the poor men did competently understand the body of divinity, and were able to judge in difficult controversies. Some of them were so able in prayer, that very few ministers did match them in order and fulness and apt expressions, and holy oratory with fervency. Abundance of them were able to pray very laudably with their families, or with others. The temper of their minds, and the innocency of their lives, was much more laudable than their parts.”
It may sometimes be the case, that a man of humble station, and defective culture of mind, may be called upon to perform this duty in the presence of guests, or strangers, whom he regards as much superior to himself, and this will doubtless be a trial to his faith. But let him not shrink from the service of God. In a majority of instances, those very persons will go away with a higher estimate of his character, for this very act of duty. Each of us should remember the words of David, when he said, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.“* When George the Fourth was in Ireland, as we find recorded by the Rev. Dr. Sprague, he told Lord Roden, that, on a particular morning, he would breakfast with him. He accordingly came, bringing with him two or three of the nobility, and happened to arrive just as his lordship and family were assembled for domestic worship. Lord Roden, being informed that his royal guest had arrived, went to the door, and with every token of respect, conducted him into the house. Then, turning to the king, he said,” Your majesty will not doubt that I feel highly honoured by this visit, but there is a duty which I have not yet discharged this morning, which I owe to the King of kings — that of performing domestic worship; and your majesty will be kind enough to excuse me while I retire
, * Psalm cxix. 46.
12 * with my household, and attend to it.” ‘’Certainly,” replied the king, “but I am going with you;” and he immediately rose and followed him into the hall, where the family were assembled, and taking his seat in an old arm-chair, remained during the family devotion.
In reading accounts of the persecuted Nonconformists, it is remarkable how often we find that they were arrested by pursuivants and other officers, at the time of Family-Worship: this was an hour when they were sure to be taken together. Besides, at a time when the public gifts of Christ’s ministers were restrained by the Act of Uniformity, it was not unusual for neighbours to come in at the season of domestic prayer, and thus the household assembly would often become an unlawful conventicle. Even in our owa day, ministers of the gospel, and other pious persons, have opened their doors to neighbours who thirsted for truth and devotion; and in this way the religion of the family may extend itself with blessings to the vicinity. The household-prayer-meeting cannot have a more auspicious origin. O when shall we behold the day, when every professing
Christian in our Church shall be duly awake to the power of the instrumentality which is lodged in his hands!