The Kingdom of God Among Men, Tract 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Religious Family-government.
IN the time of the Law the solemn Dedication of houses was in use, the Solemnity expressing that holy exercises should be performed in it, and that the houshold should be holy. In the first times of Christianity, the Scripture makes mention of Churches that were in particular houses, teaching that Christian families should resemble Churches for piety and godly order.
By Family-godliness Religion thrives exceedingly, and decays as much by the neglect thereof. By Domestick instruction knowledge is much increased. For this private particular Teaching is apt to be more heeded than that which is publick and general; and persons are hereby prepared to attend with profit upon the publick Preaching. Good principles are infused, and impressions of good are made upon those that live under such government. And where much may not be wrought at present towards conversion, something may stick upon them, which may afterwards appear, when the grace of God shall visit them more powerfully. Moreover National, and Church Reformation should here begin. Nations will be wicked, and Churches corrupt, while families remain disordered: but by the reformation of these lesser Societies the larger are easily reformed, as the whole street is made clean, where every one will sweep his own door, which is but an easie task.
It were most desirable that houses of eminent persons were exemplary in this kind, as it appears King Davids was by that profession, I will walk within my house with a perfect heart, I will not know a wicked person, he that walketh in a perfect way shall serve me. But it is lamentable, that in so many families of professed Christians of high and low degree, wickedness carries it with a high hand in drunkenness, swearing, cursing, open profanation of the Lords day, in hatred of Godliness, and contempt of Gods ordinances: and that in many others free from debauchedness and open lewdness, there is no face, Religion, no divine Worship performed, no Godly discipline, no instruction in the way of Godliness observed. Should any professing subjection to God, maintain under his charge and government an open Rebellion against God, or at least a totall neglect of him? Should not God rule, where his Servant rules?
Wherefore it is the proper work of Christian housholders in their several houses, to offer Prayers and praises to God dayly, both Morning and Evening as the dayly Sacrifice; to Sanctifie the Lords day in Prayer, singing of Psalms, reading the Scriptures and other holy Books, in repeating Sermons, instructing Children and Servants, and in taking account of their diligence and proficiency under the means of Grace; and this to be done not formally and customarily, but conscienciously in good carnest and to good effect.
It is their charge also to hold a prudent hand over children in their Minority, and not to indulge them in a course of idleness, sensual pleasure, or any inordinate liberty; also to make intercession to God for those under their tuition, to allow Servants time for secret duty; lastly to purge their Families of sinfull disorders, and to remove scandals, as carefully as the Israelites cleansed their houses from Leaven, at the time of the Passover.
As the Religious care of Superiors, so the submission and teachableness of inferiors is injoyned. Children, Servants and Sojourners in Godly families, being come into the Lords heritage and portion, and under his special protection, and the dispensation of his grace, should not think it a yoke of bondage to live under such a Discipline, and to be held unto such exercies; but should improve the advantage and be followers of whatsoever is good and praiseworthy. And whatsoever imperfections they find therein, they should not malignantly aggravate the same, but bless God for the good, and consider the defects as the remainders of human weakness.