A Practical Discourse of Prayer, Discourse · Part 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. Of Private or Family Prayer.
HAving ſpoken of the firſt branch of continued Prayer, even Publick Prayer; we muſt now ſpeak of Private or Family Prayer, required alſo implicitely in this undefinite injunction, Pray without ceaſing: reſpecting the families in the Church Family prayer diſtinguiſhed.of Theſſalonica, as well as the whole Church collectively conſidered. Family Prayer is either extraordinary or ordinary, both are dutyes in their ſeaſons, Of extraordinary Family Prayer, ſuch as to which faſting is joyned is that 1 Cor. 7. 5. That ye may give your ſelves to faſting and prayer, namely, conſidered as members of the family privately, as of the Church publickly, whether upon occaſion of removal, which may and muſt be done by one family alone, ſometimes, as well as by many families joyning together at other times, Ezra 8. 25. That we may ſeek a right way for us and our little ones, &c. upon occaſion alſo of publick loſſe of ſome pious rulers, as thoſe of the Jews, did for Joſias, 2 Chron. 34. 24, 25, 26. unto which alluſion is made, Zach. 12. 11, 12. And many other occaſions might be inſtance on this way. Ordinarie private Praier in families, is either occaſional or more properly oeconomical; occaſional Private Praier is when divers godly acquaintance of ſundry families doe meet in ſome one family to pray and to edifie one another, unto which ſuch places look Mal. 3. 16. Jude 20. Col. 4. 12. James 5. 13, 14, 15, 16. of which I might declare the manifold precious uſes and benefits, but I forbear: that which we intend chiefly to ſpeak to, as our duty implicitely here injoined, is not that which is Praier in the family, but that which is properly oeconomical, or Praier of the Chriſtian family, Eph. 6. 18. Pray with all Family prayer proved to be a duty. Rom. 16. 3. 5. Col. 4. 15.manner of Prayer, reacheth alſo this manner of Praier by the family. Chriſtian families are, or ſhould be Churches, wherein the Maſter of the family ſhould offer up acceptable Praiers and Praiſes to God. Paul writing to Philemon in his Epiſtle, verſe 19. mentioneth not his Praier alone, but others with him. I truſt through your prayers I ſhal be given to you, ver. 22. and ver. 2. hee mentioneth the Church in his houſe: Cornelius is commended for his prayer alwaies, or upon all occaſions, Acts 10. 2. He prayed to God alway, viz. as in his houſe alone, ſo with his family: hence ſuch care had that the prayers of man and wife bee not hindred. 1 Pet. 3. 7. meaning their joint praiers together in the family as well as thoſe ſeverally made in their cloſets. Pour out thy wrath upon the families which call not on thy Name. Jer. 10. 24. Which notion of families comprehendeth houſholds, as Joſhuah 7. 14. The families ſhall come by houſholds, and a ſad curſe then is upon the houſhold which are not conſcionable of this duty of houſhold or family praier. God would have the houſes of his people dedicated, Deut. 20. 5. namely, to holy uſes, and this of houſhold prayer eſpecially; and Pſalme 30. Title, David therefore mentioneth the dedication of his houſe: hence ſuch care alſo in the godly Patriarchs in the removals of themſelves and houſhold, ſtill to be building Altars to call upon God; ſo Abraham, Gen. 12. 8. & 13. 18. And thus did Iſaak. Gen. 26. 25. Thus did Jacob. Gen. 33. 20. and 35. 1. God chargeth Jacob to goe up to Bethel and there make an Altar to him, and verſe 2. 3. Jacob applyeth the charge to his houſhold, ſaying. Let us ariſe, and goe up to Bethel; and as a godly man, Jacob muſt pray alone, and did, Gen. 32. 25▪ 26, 27, 28. with Hoſ. 12. 3. 4. he made ſupplication: but conſidered as a Maſter of a family, it is not enough to ſend away his houſhold over Jabbock, and make ſupplication alone; but he muſt pray, and offer up ſacrifice with his family: yea, in that ſenſe Jacob rightly expoundeth the charge of God, bidding him to ariſe, and goe up to Bethel, to refer to his houſhold too,—let us goe up to Bethel. Gen. 35. 1, 3. compared: his whole houſhold, wives, children, ſojourners, ſervants, all muſt goe up to Bethel, and joine in the worſhip, none muſt be abſent. Reaſons inforcing this duty.
1. Becauſe Gods promiſed, actual reſpects & Reaſons why. 1. From Gods acceptance.acceptance of his peoples praiers indifinitely, are extendable to his peoples praiers with the family, as well as congregation, or thoſe in their cloſets: while they ſpeak there alſo he will heare. Eſay 65. 24. His eares are open to their cryes there alſo, Pſal. 34. 11. Cornelius his prayers then alſo came up in remembrance before God. Act. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4. Paul is given to the prayers of Philemon and his houſhold-Church. Philem. 1, 2, 22. compar'd
2. Becauſe the Lord poureth out a ſpirit of grace & ſupplication to be exerciſed with the ſeveral houſholds in their Tribes, as well as alone by the husbands and wives apart, Zach. Reaſ. 2. From Gods fitting his Saints for that ſervice.12. 11, 12. They ſhall mourne (in their prayers which with contrite hearts they poure out,) the families apart, and their wives apart; whether in an extraordinary way of prayer with faſting, or in an ordinary.
3. Becauſe family occaſions being alſo ſanctified by prayer, 1 Tim. 4. call for it: as Saul with his militarie family would firſt Reaſ. 3.ſeek God for good ſucceſſe. 1 Sam. 13. 11, From family occaſion.12. So ſhould the guides of other families before their families ſet about their occaſions. Yea, family ſins call for this plaiſter to be as large as the ſore: out of fear Job would ſanctifie his family day by day▪ when to go abroad a feaſting. Job. 1. 5. Hee ſent and ſanctified them, and roſe up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job ſaid, it may be that my ſonnes have ſinned, and curſed God in their hearts: Thus did Job continually.
4. Becauſe family prayer is a ſpecial Reaſ. 4.meanes to ſeaſon the family with a religious fear and reſpect to God and his ways. Act. 10 From family piety promoted,2. Cornelius a devout man, and one that feared God with all his houſe, he prayed to God alway. Godly Oneſiphorus houſe is a very ſeminarie to the Church. He who is ſo much exerciſed this way hath a Church in his houſe, as before ſhewed. A godly praying Abraham the Maſter, will come to have a gracious praying Eleazar the ſervant, who is the fitteſt for choiceſt ſervice. Gen. 24. 12.
5. Family Praier is a ſpecial means to Reaſ. 5.prevent family diſorders; and to keep every one therein, in their ſtation and duty. When the Apoſtle Col. 3. 18 to Chap. 4. 1. had From family diſorders prevented.injoined husband, wife, father, child, Maſter and ſervants, the ſeveral parts of the family their general duties, he cloſeth all with this, as an help and means to all the firſt, Coloſ. 4. 2. Continue in Prayer, &c. When each one in the family heareth their ſeveral ſinnes confeſſed, pardon thereof begged, grace againſt them pleaded for; it is a quickning admonition and help againſt them. It helps to wean their hearts from inordinacies in matter of cares, fears or deſires & the like, reſpecting worldly matters, or occaſions. Let your moderation appeare to all men. Bee careful for nothing, ſaith Paul. Phil. 4. 5, 6 But what meanes ſhould wee uſe for that end? In every thing by prayer, make your requeſt known to God, ver. 7. The peace of God ſhall guard your hearts and minds. Theſe are ſacred fruits of prayer in the family, as well as congregation, or cloſet. 6. Becauſe ſervants Reaſ. 6.uſually want frequent opportunities of From want of opportunities to ſervantsſecret praier, and this way by the advantage of family prayer they are much helped.
7. Becauſe Chriſt himſelfe is a patterne Reaſ. 7.herein, of whom as we read, that hee was From Chriſts example.oft exerciſed in ſecret Praier alone. So twice it is recorded of him, as thus praying with his family privately, or with his Diſciples which ordinarily abode with him. Luke 9. 18. As he was alone in a certaine place praying, when he had done, one of his Diſciples ſaid to him, Lord, teach us to pray, &c. It is a ſigne that his Diſciples were with him then in private at his Praier; and that his praying in ſuch ſort was a lively means to doe them more good, and to quicken and enamour them with holy deſires to pray in like ſort. Now let us proceed to conſider of ſome caſes and queſtions touching this.
Queſt. Who muſt pray in the family? Queſt. 1
Anſw. The Maſter of the familo in ſpecial Who muſt pray in family. Its the Maſters duty.wiſe. Husbands muſt dwell with their wives as men of knowledge, that their prayers be not hindred. 1 Pet. 3. 2. Namely, by any defects of theirs in the buſineſſe of praying with them (as well as otherwiſe) for want of abilities that way, Coloſſ. 4. 1. The Apoſtle writing to Maſters of their duty, Coloſſ. 4. 1. adjoineth in the next place, (as nextly concerning them as heads of the family,) Continue in prayer. OnelyOnly Cornelius of all the houſe who feared God is mentioned as praying alwayes. Acts 10. 2. If the reſt feared God; ſurely they prayed oft alone. But in the family Cornelius himſelfe was more conſtantly imployed as the mouth of the reſt. For indeed, every gracious Maſter of a family is an holy Prieſt to God. Revel. 16. not as a gracious man only For he is or ſhould be an holy Prieſt.to offer for himſelfe, but as a gracious Maſter alſo in relation to his family, to offer up ſacrifice of praier and praiſe on their behalfe. And the Prieſts of old, as Maſters of families, had their offerings for themſelves and families, Levit. 21. 11. as well as officers to the Church, they had their offerings for the Congregation, verſe 15.
2. In that prayer being one ſpecial part 2. To undertake in matters for God for the family.of Gods ſervice and worſhip, a godly Maſter undertakes for himſelfe and houſhold to attend it. Joſh. 24. 15. But as for me and my houſe, wee will ſerve the Lord: namely, jointly as well as ſeverally; and ſo to pray together as well as aſunder. And if the Maſter be the chiefe undertaker that way, it is fit he ſhould be the chiefe actor in it.
3. In that Maſters of families ought to 3. He is to be a Prophet in his family.teach their children diligently the word and precepts of God, and ſpeak of them in their houſe when they ly downe, and when they riſe up, namely, the firſt that they do dayly at morning, and the laſt thing at evening. Now if to be ſo in inſtructing their family; then to be a praying too for a bleſſing on that and other exerciſes and endeavours, Deut. 6. 7. Yea, practically they will inſtruct them in obedience to the firſt and fift commandements, when they give ſuch good examples to their families of praying to the Lord with them and for them. Abraham had both wayes inſtructed his family. Gen. 18. 19. And ſo had Chriſt and John Baptiſt alſo their reſpective families. Luke 11. 1, 2. Teach us to pray, as John taught his Diſciples, practically as well as doctrinally.
Queſt. May not, yea muſt not the wife in ſome caſes pray with the family? Queſt.
Anſw. Yes, In caſe of abſence or ſickneſs In what caſes the wife muſt pray in the family, even in caſes 1, Of husbands abſence or ſickneſſe.of her husband, for ſhe is to be a help like him. Gen. 2. 18. Namely in all ſuch communicable duties and ſervices reſpecting the family. So is the law of kindneſſe to bee in the good wifes mouth, to inſtruct them as occaſion is offered. Prov. 31 26. In which (as in ſundry other reſpects) her husband may and muſt truſt to her. verſe 11. If God call him from home, hee hath a gracious wife to whom he can ſafely leave the truſt of his family for matters of Religion, ſuch as family worſhip of God is, as well as thoſe of this life. If that an adulterous wife can pretend this as a part of her religion, that when the Goodman was not at home, ſhe had payed that day her vowes, Prov. 7. 14. Godly Matrons ſhould really make conſcience of that which the other doth hypocritically pretend. The godly wife will look well to the wayes of her houſhold. Prov. 31. 27. that they be well exerciſed this way as well as any other way. The wife is compared to the Moon, the husband to the Sun, & Gen. 37. 9. So Jacob and his family are repreſented. Now the wife then as the Moon, may and muſt chiefly give forth her ſpiritual light and influence in the family in the abſence of her husband, who is as the Sun thereto.
2. In caſe of the unregeneracy, and ſpiritual inabilities of the husband, ſhe is to ſupply his defects.
Queſt. Whether may not a godly ſervant performe this duty of prayer? Queſt. 1
Anſw. Yes, firſt in caſe of the abſence or ſickneſſe of both the family▪guides. A A godly ſervant may alſo do it in ſome caſes.godly Oneſimus may this way amongſt many others be profitable to his Maſter. Philem. 11. Secondly, in caſe of ſpecial praying abilities given ſuch an one, and denyed the guides of the family. In this reſpect alſo ſuch a ſervant may be owned and improved as a brother. Philemon 16. This way alſo God may, and often doth make ſuch of his Saints a bleſſing to the places and houſes where they are. Ezek. 34. 26. Zach. 8. 13.
Queſt. May not one not of the family bee occaſionally deſired to pray in it? Queſt. 2
Anſw. Yes, every ones ſpiritual gift being given of God with reſpect to others A godly ſtranger may do it in ſome caſes.good as well as their owne, and members being to lend help to the reſt, as occaſion is offered; yea, as Pauls, and Cephas and Apollos gifts are the Saints to improve occaſionally, ſo are other gifts likewiſe. Many were met together praying, Acts 12. 12. Now one, and then another of other Families prayed by courſe in Marks mothers Family. Only as the Church in that caſe intimateth her caſe to thoſe ſhee would have ſeek the Lord for her, Cant. 5. 8, 10. ſome hints would be given to ſuch, of ſome ſpecial things reſpecting the family, which they ſhould in prayer with them commend to the Lord.
Who muſt be preſent at family prayer Queſt. with the Maſter thereof praying?
All the whole family muſt joyn with the All of the family ſhould be preſent at praier:Maſter of it, as wife, children, ſervants or ſojourners; none ſhould ordinarily be abſent All Jacobs houſhould were to join with him & ſet themſelves to worſhip God with him in Bethel, Gen. 35. 1, 2, 3. only he is principally to act therein, ver. 3. Ariſe, let us go up to Bethel, and there I will build an Altar to the Lord, &c.
Reaſons hereof. 1. From the care of all and each of their ſouls which lyeth upon 1. They are all the Guides chargethe Maſters of the family. It was typed of old by that Exod. 16. 16. they were to provide Manna for all their houſholds according to their eating. Exod. 12. 4. they were to provide a Lamb for their houſhold according to their eating. So Levit. 16. 11, 17. the Prieſts as Maſters of their families, were to offer up Sacrifice, as for themſelves, ſo for the cleanſing of their houſhold ſins. David as a King prayeth with and for his people firſt, that the Lord would bleſs them, 2 Sam. 16. 18. but as a guide of his own houſhold, his care is to return thither to bleſs them, 2 Sam. 6. 20. or pray for a bleſſing upon them, verſe 20. And hence by the bleſſing of God on ſuch Godly care of guides of families as well as on other meanes, families have become Churches, Rom. 16. 4, 5.
The ſecond Reaſon is taken from the proportion 2 They are in extraordinary family praier to be preſent with the guidesof ordinary private Worſhip, and ſeeking of God in an ordinary way, to that of ſeeking the Lord in an extraordinary way. Many cauſes might exempt ſundry of the family in this caſe rather then in the other. Yet in ſuch a caſe Heſter will have all the maids to faſt and pray with her, Eſt. 4. 16 The whole families apart do alſo in an extraordinary manner humble themſelves thus before the Lord, Zach. 12. 10, 12, 13.
The third Reaſon, from the proportion 3 They muſt all attend the Guides in publick praier.of our private Worſhip and ſeeking of the Lord in a private manner to that of ſeeking God in publick with our families. All and every one▪ as far any way capable, are therein to be preſent; as Deut. 12. 7. and 14. 26 and 16. 11. and other Scriptures ſhew; and therefore alſo herein.
The fourth Reaſon, Becauſe the whole 4. They all ſhare alike in family bleſſings.family do or may ſhare in the bleſſings upon the family; and therefore it is meet they ſhould joyn in family prayer and praiſes for them. Both children, ſervants and ſo journers were thankfully to rejoyce before the Lord upon this ground, becauſe God bleſſed his peoples Increaſe and the labours of their hand, Deut. 16. 12. 14, 15.
The fifth Reaſon, Becauſe the whole 5. They are all lyable to family guilthouſhold is ſomething involved in the guilt of the ſin of the guides, who thereby trouble their houſes, Prov. 15. 27. as Achan did his. Meet it is therefore, that all of them ſhould partake in the good gifts and ſervices of their guides, and with them ſeek to divert the evils which may elſe bring judgment on the family.
Queſt. Suppoſing ſome of the ſervants bee Queſt. ungodly, muſt a godly Guide pray with them?
Anſw. 1. Care would be had that wee look out the faithfulleſt to dwell with us. Anſw. 1 Pſal. 131. 6.
2 If others be caſt upon us, yet we are to joyne with them at this family Worſhip, becauſe they are not to be denied the help of any appointed Meanes which may further their Spiritual good, as in publick, ſo in private: we may and muſt pray with and for all ſorts who have not ſinned a ſin unto death, as one means of their being ſaved, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. James 5. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. A ſinner may come thereby to be turned from the error of his way. Only Prayer with ſuch would be ſhaped in many particulars, ſo as their particular caſes may be laid open before the Lord.
Queſt. Suppoſe ſome one of the family bee more obſtinate, and either refuſe to joyn with Queſt. the Family; or if preſent, doth occaſion uſually wrath and diſturbance there.
Anſw. 1. That rule 1 Theſſal. 5. 14. reſpects all in either relation, and ſo Maſters Anſw. 1 in theirs, to admoniſh the unruly, and when they have done, to have patience towards all ſorts: as Miniſters in their places towards their people, are in meekneſſe to inſtruct them that oppoſe themſelves, if peradventure God may give them repentance, 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26. So are Maſters in their leſſer Aſſemblies; Chriſt the Maſter of his houſhold, (as he calls himſelf, Matth. 20. 25) did not refuſe to pray with them, though Judas was amongſt his houſhold Diſciples, and he knew him to be a Divel. John 6. 70, 71.
2 The help of the Magiſtrate is ſeaſonably to be uſed, if patience in the uſe of fairer means avail not, for he is a terror to evil doers, Rom. 13. 4.
3 If neither means work amendment, ſuch as make deceit their work, and trade in lying, ever and anon telling lies, notwithſtanding all meanes uſed to reclaime them, ſhould not abide in any godly Davids houſe, Pſal. 101. 7. The Bond-ſervants child, who will be ſcoffing at the promiſed Seed, ad perſecuting him, muſt out with his mother and all from Abrahams family, Gen. 21. 9, 10, 12.
Queſt. What is to be done in caſe of occaſional ſcattering of the Family, as when many of Queſt. Jacobs family are occaſioned to be in Dothan, divers miles diſtant from the reſt of the houſehold; or that Moſes muſt be in Egypt, and his family in Midian, Exod. 18. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In anſwer hereunto, let us ſhew ſome caſes wherein it may be lawful for the Guides Anſw. of the Family to be abſent from the whole, or part of the family for a ſeaſon. Let us annex ſome Cautions about it.
To the firſt I anſwer, Such abſence may be lawful.
1. When it is occaſioned by zealous attendance on the means of Grace which they 1. Guides may be abſentwant where they are, as when thoſe of the Tribes are fain to travel far to the Worſhip of God at Jeruſalem, Pſalm 84. 6, 7. and Matth. 15. 32. Diverſe there were for divers dayes abſent from their families attending upon Chriſts Miniſtry, and not reproved for it, but encouraged to it, as appears by the miraculous proviſions made for them.
2. When its occaſioned from the perſecution by the enemies of Grace; as thoſe Prieſts and Levites were forced to flee from Jeroboams to Rehoboams juriſdiction, there to provide for their families, which ſhortly after followed them with other people, 1 Chron. 11. 16, 17.
3 When it is occaſioned from perſonal Callings and Offices to be exerciſed in places diſtant from part of their families, at leaſt as thoſe Levites and Prieſts, leaving their ſuburbs, and part of their families, with their Flocks in their fields, &c. Numb. 35. 2, 3, 4. Nehem. 13. 10, 11. So Moſes for a time diſpoſed of his wife and children to be in Midian with her ſons, whilſt he more fully attends his work in Egypt, Exod. 18. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. in which caſe Seafaring men of Zabulon, Merchants and Mariners are encouraged by the Lord to rejoice in their goings out, Deut. 33. 18. So military men, albeit they had dedicated their houſes to holy Services; yea, the rather becauſe they had done it, they muſt out to the Wars, Deut. 2. 1, 5.
4. When it is occaſioned from neceſſary Travels and journeying, as in that Parable of the Noble man journying far off and leaving Matters to his ſervants, Luke 19. 12, 13 and Matth. 24. 46, 47, 48. So Jacobs ſons go into Egypt once and again from their wives and their children to buy corn, Gen. 42 and 43. So upon more weighty occaſions of publick Meſſages from States, 2 Sam. 20. 2 or of changes, as Epaphroditus Teacher at Philippi, Phil. 2. 25. yet ſent to Rome to miniſter to Pauls neceſſities, Phil. 4. 18. 22. So others 2 Cor. 8. 23.
The Cautions are two: Firſt, That all wiſe and lawful means be uſed for a ſeaſonable compacting of the family in ſuch ſort, that neither they nor we live too ſolitary, leſt that befal us which did Lot and his daughters in the Mountaine, Gen. 19 30, 31, 33.
2 Let us appoint ſome godly ſervants or ſons over that part of the family where neither of the Guides can bee uſually preſent.
When is family Prayer to bee performed?Concerning the time of family praier morning and evening
Morning and Evening: as of old they had their daily Sacrifice reſpecting the houſehold morning and evening, Numb. 28 3, 4. the two ſpecial ſeaſons of houſhold inſtruction, fitteſt to be ſo ſanctified and honoured, Deut. 6. 4. The widows which ſhew their piety at home in Prayers, there alſo (as well as otherwiſe) are to do it night and day, 1 Tim. 5. 4, 5. Queſt.
Queſt. Whether ſhould not family Prayer be firſt performed in the morning (as much as in us lieth) before any other thing bee done?
Anſw. Yes, when we riſe up its beſt doing Anſw. 1 of it. Deut. 6. 7, For firſt, 'tis meet that God and not our ſelves or others ſhould have the firſt of our daily time. and the firſt fruits of the ſervices of our ſouls and bodies daily: which are given, and preſerved, and daily loaden with his bleſſings by him. The firſt day of the week is now his day, and the firſt of each day ſhould be (as much as may be) devoted in this ſenſe to him. And if it cannot be ſo ſoon in the family, yet let them have it in the cloſet. David would not put off God till noon (as too many of us do) and make no morning of it, for prayer in family, as wel as cloſet, But at morning and evening, and at noon he wil be praying and praiſing of God, Pſal. 55. 17.
2. That at our upriſing the family is unſcattered, which haply ſevered, is not eaſily gathered in any ſeaſon.
3 Then if at all, before heads and hearts are actually buſied, in and on outward occaſions and imployments, are minds and hearts fitteſt for God.
4. It is moſt ſeaſonable, ſanctifying and begging thereby of a bleſſing upon the days occaſions, before we have begun to meddle with them.
5. In the interim of ſome few hours ſpace wherein morning family prayer is deferred, ſome ſad diſaſters may befal ſome of the family, which then muſt needs be the more grievous. Job fearing this, through ſome miſcarriages of his children at their Feſtivals, ſends for them each day, and (as it is) day by day ſanctified them, Job 1. 5.
Let us now wind up all in a word of Exhortation, to a conſcionable performance Ʋſe. of this duty, and attendance thereupon; and Motives to it.the rather,
1 In that the Lord hath honoured family prayer alſo as well as other prayer, with ſpecial 1. Bleſſings got by itreſpect; as to thoſe of Cornelius his prayers with his houſhold, as well as to thoſe in his houſe alone, Act. 10. 2, 4. whence he and his got more clear knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, as that promiſed Meſſiah, in whom they more confuſedly believed before. Beſides the gift of the Holy Ghoſt, which they alſo attained, as the ſequel in the Chapter ſheweth.
2. Even family Prayer haſtens ruine upon the Churches enemies bent to deſtroy them. 2. Enemies ruine haſtned by itWhen God will ſeek to deſtroy Nations which will come up againſt Jeruſalem, Zachary 12. 9. there is a mighty ſpirit of prayer ſhining in good families. He then poureth out upon Jeruſalems Inhabitants ſuch a ſpirit of grace and ſupplication, as that they are mourning in prayer before him, both privately and ſecretly; families apart, and wives, godly perſons apart, Zach. 10. 11, 12.
3 Family prayer is a very good meanes 3. It helps to keep off any curſeto clear even the very houſe from any ſecret curſe, which as a Leproſie by reaſon of ſin, may take hold (as it were) of the very timber and walls thereof▪ as Lev. 34. 34, 35 Zach. 5. 4. Prov. 3. 33. Let us hereby dedicate the houſe to God; but in the practiſe hereof, obſerve theſe things.Rules about it 1. Rid the family of groſſe ſins.
1. Look that the houſhold be beforehand cleanſed of any known and groſſer evils which may lye upon it, or any in it; as Jacobs houſhold-Gods muſt bee put away before hee go up to Bethel with them, there to worſhip the Lord, Gen. 3. 2, 3.
2 Let the Guides of the family, as 2. Let husband and wife carry it wel to each otherthe Husband and Wife, look to it, that their mutual carriage each to other be amiable and regular, that ſo the family Prayers be not hindred, 1 Peter 3. 7.
3 Let there be ſome little ſpace of withdrawing 3 Take a little time to prepare for itfrom other words or works before we ſet about the duty: with one breath, to be ſpeaking, and carnally, or to be but then talking of a very Swine, and forthwith, without any more ado, rudely and unpreparedly to begin ſo ſolemn a ſpeech to the great God, it is very unſeemly and very irreverent.