A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God, Treatise · Chapter 10
Chap. 10. A Reſolution of ſeveral Caſes of Conſcience, concerning the Worſhip of God in Families.
MY laſt work, is the Anſwering of Sundry Caſes of Conſcience, ſome whereof have been propounded to me, others are ordinarily incident in this point, concerning this Family-Altar, and Sacrifices in Families.
1. Query, Whether may an Houſe-Holder take upon him to Preach, expound Scripture, diſpenſe the Seals of the Covenant, as Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper to the Members of his Family, ſeeing he is a Prieſt?
Anſw. 1. Miniſterial Authoritative teaching by vertue of others is one thing, and charitative ſubſervient teaching is another: A Maſter of a Family,Deut. 11.18, 19, 20, 21. Heb. 5.4. muſt teach all under his Charge as a Maſter, yet not uſurp the Office of a Miniſter, without a juſt due Call: His teaching muſt not be in oppoſition, but in ſubordination to Miniſterial Inſtruction: As Families are Subordinate to Churches:
2. Maſters of Families muſt not take upon them that they are not fit for, or preſume beyond their Capacity, incurring the guilt of proud ſelf-conceitedneſs, or vain oſtentation, as to undertake to interpret the Original, or give the Senſe of dark Prophecy, or obſcure Scriptures, or determine knotty Controverſies: Yet may declare (when it lies in their way) what they have read or heard from Learned Pious Men, or got in publick Preaching.
3. Yet it is ſafeſt, ordinarily to paſs by thoſe abſtruſe and difficult points, and inſiſt upon plain, practical, fundamental, catechiſtical Truths, or take occaſion from the Chapter read in the Family, to infer ſuch a ſeaſonable word, ſuppoſe of admonition; (as I have heard a godly Father ſay) this is for you, look to't, this aims at you in ſuch a caſe, and with ſerious Exhortations preſs it home upon Conſcience: Or inform the ignorant in ſuch or ſuch a point, requiring them to remember it.
4. But as for adminiſtring Baptiſm and the Lords Supper, they may not preſume to do it, being an act of Office: This being annexed to Chriſts Commiſſion, Teach and Baptize, and this is the Cup of Bleſſing, Mat. 28.19, 20. 1 Cor. 10.16. 1 Cor. 11.13.which we [viz. as Miniſters] bleſs: And this they receive of the Lord; and are to deliver it to the People: And I find ſeveral Judicious Divines affirming, that Diſpenſing the Seals, is peculiar to an Organized Church, and is proper only to Miniſters rightly Ordained: For the Lords Supper is a Symbol, and mean of publick Communion; not of Families as ſuch! For though Chriſt adminiſtred it to his Family, yet not as a Family, but as a Church: The Judgment and Practice of the Primitive Doctors and Chriſtians, is a ſufficient proof of this.
2. Query, Is the Maſter or Governour of the Family, always bound to perform Family Duty? May he not in ſome caſes, Subſtitute another to perform that Office for him?
Anſw. 1. It is incumbent upon the governour of a Family, as his proper charge: And it is the fitteſt he do it himſelf, it capable: David was a great King, and had much buſineſs abroad,2 Sam. 6.20. Job 1.35. yet returned to bleſs his Houſe, and put it not off to a Chaplain: Job was the greateſt of all the Men in the Eaſt, yet he acted perſonally in Family Worſhip: I have heard of a Noble Man in England, that though he keep a Chaplain, yet to ſhew his Authority and Duty voluntarily at ſome times himſelf prays with his Family: This is well done:
2. Yet a Chaplain may be made uſe of, eſpecially where the Family is numerous, or when his gifts and graces are more taking and edifying, and he is likely to do more good than the Governour:Deut. 12.12, 18. It may ſeem probable, that ſome Levites were kept in ſome of the Jews Families, being oft reckoned with their Sons, Daughters, Servants, it may be in ſome Caſes to perform theſe Religious Duties in the Family:Judg. 27.13. And ſo Idolatrous Micah, had his Levite-Chaplain: which he too much boaſted of:
3. Some have thought, that a Wife in a Family, may in ſome Caſes perform Family-Duty, and that this Honour may be given to the weaker veſſel, to do the Office of Religious Exerciſe,1 Pet. 3 7. as well as partake in the Government of the Family: doubtleſs ſhe is to pray: And it hath been judged by Learned men that ſhe may and muſt pray in the family with her husbands leave, and in her husbands preſence, ſo ſhe cover her face with a Vail, in token of her ſubjection: This they think is meant by a woman praying or prophecying with her head covered,1 Tim. 2.12. 1 Cor, 14.34. not in the church where ſhe was not to ſpeak, but in the family when ſhe performed that peice of worſhip,Quanquam nec hoc malè quadrabit, fi dicamus Apoſtolum hanc modeſtiam non modò in loco ubi tota Eccleſia congregatur, requirere a mulieribus: ſed etiam in quovis graviore caetu aut matronarum a…t virorum: Quales interdum in privatas aedes conveniunt: Calv. in locum: and Calvin ſeems to incline to this apprehenſion, ſaying, the Apostle requires this modeſty of women, not only in the place where the Church meets together, but in any grave aſſembly of Matrons, or ſuch as ſometimes are in private houſes: It's true he denys them liberty to prophecy in any other place, but I ſee no reaſon why an Abigail, a Deborah, may not at leaſt be the mouth of a family to God. But I am not poſitive herein, but leave it to others conſideration.
4. And why may not a Servant, a Steward of the houſe, ſuch as Eliezer, Abrahams Servant, or Obadiah, Ahabs Servant, pray in the Family? Eſpecially in theſe caſes, when the Maſter gives him, not only liberty, but a call to that Performance, yea requeſts him to pray in the Family. 2. When that Servant hath gifts to qualifie him for ſuch a work and is not expoſed to the ſcorn and contempt of his fellows. 3. In caſe of the Maſters ſickneſs or abſence from home, or when more publick neceſſary buſineſs diverts him. 4. In caſe that Servant be Humble Submiſſive, Self-denying, and know his place, and do it not with a kind of Bravado, over his Fellow-Servants, or Contempt of his Maſter: And if in all things, that Servant ſhew himſelf Obedient, according to his Duty: 1 Tim. 6.1, 2. 1 Pet. 2.18, 19.
3. Query, Or caſe of Conſcience is, When is the fitteſt time for the performance of Family-Worſhip?
Anſw. As to the time of Prayer: I am really aſhamed, when I read how often the Turks and Mehometans Pray; it is ſaid by Writers, they go ſeven times a Day to their Devotion, viz. 1. [Diluculo] Early in the Morning: 2. [Oriente Sole] at Sun-riſing: 3. [Meridie] at Noon: 4. [Inter Meridiem & Veſperam] betwixt Noon and Even: 5. [Occidente Sole] at Sun-ſet. 6. [In Veſpere] an hour after Sun-ſet. 7. [Mediâ nocte] at Midnight: Oh! Be aſhamed, you profeſſed Chriſtians, to be out ſtript by the Barbarous Turks:
*Weems Chriſtian Synag. p 85. David thrice. Pſal. 55 17. Dan. 6.10.But as for the Jews, whom primitive Chriſtians imitated, their hours of Prayer were borrowed from the times of their Sacrificing, 1. Morning, which was any time before the third hour, Acts 2.15. 2. Their Mid-day, called the ſixth hour, Acts 10.9. or about Noon: †Inde colligimus non poſſe cavere Eccleſiam certâ diſciplinâ. ac hodie niſi obſtaret nimius corpor atile eſſet quotidie habere tales Conventus: Calvin Act 31.3. Evening-Prayer, which was about the ninth hour, which was ſix a Clock at Night: Act. 3.1. Calvin thinks they did not go into the Temple to Pray, meerly to comply with Jewiſh Rites, but the better to propagate the Goſpel; yet aſſerts, that the Church cannot want her certain Diſciplin, and at this Day, ſaith he, but that too much drowzineſs hinders, it were profitable to have daily ſuch meetings for Prayer: He means, in a more publick manner: But for the Circumſtance of time, it is judged, that Morning and Evening are fitteſt ſeaſons for Family-Devotion: Hence Calvin notes [Hoc excercitio docebantur, ab invocatione & cultu dei incipere diem & claudere] by this exerciſe, they were taught to begin and ſhut up the Day with Prayer, and the Worſhip of God: I have hinted this before, and ſhall only add in ſhort a few Directions.
1. You muſt be ſure to Pray for a Bleſſing upon your Meat at Meals, according to, 1 Tim. 4.4.5.
2. Take your Family at Meal-time to ſeek God, and read his Scriptures, to ſing Gods praiſe, and to perform Family-Duty; Morning and Evening:
3. Let it be a ſtated time, if poſſible, known to the Family, that none may plead excuſe for their abſence: But the whole Family may attend:
4. Yet if ſome extraordinary accident intervene, you muſt not think your ſelves ſo preciſely bound to a time, as to be perplexed in Conſcience for Omiſſion, but take another more convenient, which may more directly ſuit your occaſions:
4. Caſe, Suppoſe the occaſions of an Houſeholder, call him abroad about his lawful occaſions, before the reſt of his Family can riſe out of their Beds, may he omit Family-Duty?
Anſw. 1. In ſuch a Caſe, he muſt go to Prayer with ſuch of his Family as are riſen, as it's likely ſome are, to help him away:
2. However, he muſt pray alone, committing himſelf and his Family into Gods hands, which the Lord may graciouſly accept:
3. He muſt double his Diligence at his return, or at another time: And mourn for what he cannot mend: A good Heart will lament any providential hindrance of Communion with God.
4. But if poſſible, ſo caſt your Worldly concerns, as not to hinder your Family Exerciſe, prudent foreſight may do much to forecaſt for it:Ex. 16.22. But if your Calling be ſuch, as that cannot be, do as the Iſraelites did, gather double the Day or Night before, two omers for a Man or Family, lay in for the Day following, what may ſtand you in ſtead by pleading with God, for what yow'll need:
5. Caſe, What geſture is to be uſed in Family-Prayer, whether ſitting be lawful?
Anſw. Scripture tells us of ſeveral geſtures in Prayer, as
Luk. 18.13.1. Standing, Mark 11.25. When ye ſtand Praying, forgive: The Publican ſtood afar off, ſmote upon his Breaſt, yet a Penitent Praying poſture:
John 17.1.2. The Eyes fixed upwards, Jeſus lift up his Eyes to Heaven as we look a Man in the face, when we ſpeak to him: Or in ſome Caſes, the Eye may be ſhut, to prevent gazing or diſtraction:
3. Sometimes proſtration, or laying the Body on the Earth, hath been a Praying geſture,Gen. 18.2. Joſh 7.6. Mat. 26.39. Abraham bowed himſelf toward the ground, but Joſhua fell to the Earth upon his Face: Our Lord alſo fell on his face and Prayed:
4.Eph. 3.14. 2 Chron 6.12, 13. Luk. 22.41. Pſal. 95 5. P…i. 2.18. But the moſt ordinary geſture is kneeling, called bowing the knee: Even King Solomon, kneeled down upon his knees, and ſpread forth his hands: Our dear Lord alſo (whoſe Example is our Rule) kneeled down and Prayed: Methinks we ſhould not be too ſtiff to kneel before the Lord our Maker, before whom every knee muſt bow, either in Devotion, or Deſtruction.
All agree. 1. That the geſture ſhould be reverent before the great God:Cum quis quoerit or are coliocat membra ſicut ei occurrit. Aug. De orat. 2 That bodily geſture ſhould be ſuch as doth beſt expreſs the inward reverence of the Heart: 3. That the geſture be ſuch as doth moſt quicken the Heart, and help on in the Duty: 4. That it be ſuch as gives a good example to others:
As for ſitting in Prayer, it's an unbecoming lazy geſture, eſpecially if choſen, and in the beginning of a Duty: Indeed for weak Bodies tyred out with other geſtures, ſome excuſe may be made, but ordinarily it's not allowable:
Object. But is it not ſaid of David, he went in and ſate before the Lord, 2 Sam. 7.18. yet he Prayed.
Anſw. 1. Some ſay, David was a King, and therefore might ſit, according to the Jews Rule, it's not lawful for any to Pray ſitting before the Lord, but the King!
2. Others ſay, the King Sate in Duſt and Aſhes, in an humble poſture, he fell on his face, ſay others:
3. This was more a Meditation, than a Prayer, admiring the goodneſs of God: Or he might firſt ſit, and then kneel:
Manſit foreign reſ…itit: Pius arim quam corpre ſedie qui…tus coram … mino, Caſe:4. But indeed the word ſitting, ſignifies Davids conſtancy in Meditating, Praying; for a Man uſually continues longer ſitting, than ſtanding: David ſate, i. e. continued longer, and more familiarly before the Lord, and with him, than ordinary: It refers more to the Compoſedneſs of his Mind, than to the poſture of his Body: Therefore let not this Text, patronize that ſleepy geſture:
6. Caſe is, What place muſt we chooſe, or how muſt we uſe our Voice in Family-Prayer:
Anſw. 1. We are not bound to Conſecrated places for Family-Duty: In this you may uſe your liberty: In Goſpel-times, God ſtands not ſo much upon the place of Worſhip, as the quality of Worſhippers, and manner of Worſhipping:Joh. 4 23, 24. 1 Tim. 2.8. Look at the frame of your Hearts, as before deſcribed, and fear not Entertainment, where ever you be.
2. Yet the Circumſtance of place may be duely weighed, if you live amongſt Lions, Mockers, Scorners of Religon, though you muſt maintain your profeſſion of God's name in your Families, as Daniel did, yet it's a diſputable point, whether you may not ſometimes retire from open violence into ſome private place. But there may be a greater reaſon for retirement than that, viz. To avoid the ſuſpicion of Hypocriſy,Mat. 6.5. and Vainglory which was the Pharieſes great fall; or you may withdraw into ſome diſtant place from the ſtreet, to avoid diſturbance by hurrys, Tumults and Confuſions that may diſtract you.
3. But let the place be ſo known to the Family as all may repair to it, as an Exchange, at the time of prayer, be it dwelling-houſe, parlour, Chamber;Dan. 6.10. as Daniel improved ſome convenient room, called a Chamber for his Family-Devotion, So may You.
4. For voice, it's true God is an all-ſeeing Spirit, and men may ſpeak to God, when they ſpeak not a word, as Moſes, Hanna, Nehemiah; prayer is the motion of the will to God, but in Family-prayer 'tis otherwiſe, men have Bodies and Tongues and Ears, and cannot underſtand others conceptions without a vocal articulate ſound; what you pray muſt be audible, elſe they cannot joyn with you, or be edified by you: only ſee your Hearts go along with your Lips; and Remember the ſaying of Solomon, The words of Wiſe-Men are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that ruleth among Fools; Eccl. 9.17. I know it referrs to Wiſe Counſels, not prayers, but ſome may pray more affectionatly with a low Voice, than others with loud clamours: Yea poſſibly you may command your thoughts better in the former, than latter; ſee you be ſerious, and your voice Audible and Intelligible, not Mumbling your prayers, ſo that your Family cannot underſtand you or know what you mean.
7. Caſe is, Whether is a form of Prayer Lawfull, or whether may an Houſe-holder uſe a Form of Prayer, or may others joyn with him in the uſe thereof?
Anſw. 1. Our moſt ſolid judicious Divines of thoſe called Puritans, do not judg forms of Prayer abſolutly unlawfull; Dr. Preſton ſaith,Dr. Preſton Saints daily Exerciſe, p. 80, 81, 82. I think there is none here that doubt of it, but that a Set Form of Prayer may be uſed; you know, Chriſt preſcribed a Form, — there were certain Pſalmes that were Prayers uſed conſtantly, — ſtill in all times the Church had Set-Forms; I know no objection againſt it of weight, &c. Mr. Hilderſham, (the Oracle of his time) ſaith,Hilderſham on Pſal. 51. Lect. 12. p. 63. See 3. Arg. for forms. I dare not deny but a weak Chriſtian may uſe the help of a good Prayer-Book in this Caſe; better to pray on a Book than not to pray at all; certainly it is the Spirit of Errour that hath taught the World otherwiſe.
2. Yet theſe worthy men affirm truely that every Chriſtian, even the meaneſt and weakeſt hath the gift and Spirit of Prayer;1 Tim. 4.14. So ſaith the latter of theſe Worthys, and muſt not neglect the gift that's in him; Dr. Preſton ſaith, there is no man that hath any work of Grace in his heart, but he is enabled in ſome meaſure to pray, without a ſet Form of prayer; there was never any man in any extream want, but he knew how to expreſs himſelf, where he had liberty to ſpeak.
3. But Yet conſidering that ſome Chriſtians (though truely Gracious) may for a ſeaſon be very raw, and unfit to open their Caſes to God methodically, or in apt words, and conſidering it's before a Family that a man is to be the Mouth of, and conſidering that unmeet and undigeſted expreſſions expoſe an Ordinance of God to contempt; I could adviſe ſome Chriſtians, before they pray with others, to premeditate, and duly weigh what they are to ſay to God, and think of a proper method, and ſome Scriptural expreſſions, to produce them in Prayer, as I have before directed:
4. As I doubt not the lawfulneſs of a member in a Family joyning with ſuch a Prayer, if the matter be ſound and Orthodox, ſo I queſtion but ſuch a Maſter as Conſcientiouſly uſeth this practice, will ſo increaſe in gifts and abilities, that in due time, he will caſt away thoſe Crutches, and learn to go on profitably in daily Family Exerciſe, to the edification of all that joyn with him: So that in the diligent and humble uſe of theſe means, many nauſeous Tautologies, and needleſs Impertinencies will be paired off, which offended intelligent ears: The Worthy Dr. Preſton ſaith, a Child that cannot go, may have a prop to help it; but we muſt not always be Children, we muſt not always uſe that help:
8. Caſe is, What if the Houſholder or Governour be looſe and careleſs, poſſibly comes home full of Drink, yet will Pray, though in no fit caſe for it, or he is unſound at heart, Prays but coldly, formally, may I joyn?
Anſw. 1. Thy acceptance with God, depends not on the ſtate of him that Prays, nor on his zeal, but upon thy non acting of Faith in Chriſt, it thou be upright in joyning with the words, and endeavoured to lift up thy Heart to God, the Lord may graciouſly entertain thee,Gal. 6.5. Rom. 14.12. though the perſon praying may be Rejected: For every one ſhall bear his own burden, and give an account of himſelf to God; Not of others that we joyn with:
2. Yet if thou beeſt certainly aſſured that the party Praying ſpeaks Nonſenſe or Blaſphemy, in ſtead of Praying, thou art bound in Conſcience to ſhew thy diſlike of it, leſt God be Diſhonoured, and Offended with the whole Family, the Man hardned in ſin, thy own Conſcience defiled, and thy ſelt in danger of playing the Hypocrite, in pretending to joyn with what thy Soul abhors: In this caſe thou muſt withdraw, and get alone, and mourn for it:
2 Kin. 5.13. 1 Sam. 25.37.3. And 'tis alſo thy Duty, humbly and modeſtly to take a fit ſeaſon to ſpeak to thy Maſter, as Naamans Servants did to him, when they ſaw him out, and you know it did good: And Abigail told her Husband Nabal of his fault and danger, and his heart dyed within him: who can tell what good ſuch a word in ſeaſon may do? He may think of it afterwards, Jonathans Preaching Davids Caſe,1 Sam. 19.4, 6. with his Paſſionate Father Saul, did good for a while: If you come to a Father or Maſter humbly and ſubmiſſively, not ſaucily and malapartly, you may win upon them, and if you can ſay little, yet if you burſt out into tears for their ſin, it may prove as convincing Rhetorick to them as King Edward's weeping was to Biſhop Cranmer and Ridley, denying his Siſter Mary liberty for Maſs; who ſaid. The King had more Divinity in his little finger than they had in their whole body.
4. If ſtill there be no Remedy or Reformation, tho' thou muſt not with curſed Cham, diſcover thy Fathers or Maſters nakedneſs, if otherwiſe it may be helpt, yet thou may'ſt or muſt acquaint a godly Miniſter, or Chriſtian friend, ask their advice, and (if that be judged expedient) that they may ſpeak to thy Father, or Maſter, with as much ſecreſie as poſſible, and this runs parallel to our Lord's Rule, Mat. 18.15, 16. Who knows but a conviction may faſten? and if he be obſtinate, he will leave off his praying in a little time; for his ſinning will make him give over praying, or his praying his ſinning.
9 Caſe. Suppoſe I be caſt into a graceleſs and prayerleſs family, how muſt I do, or what is my duty?
A. 1. Examine thy grounds and ends in coming thither; conſider thy Call, if thy Parents fixed thee there as an Apprentice, quiet thy ſelf in God's diſpoſe; make good uſe of this Providence; if thou came thither voluntarily, without due conſideration, be humbled for ſin, beg pardon, make ſure of a friend above.
2. Uſe all lawful means to remove into a more wholeſom Air; I ſay to thee as the Apoſtle to a godly Servant,2 Cor. 7.21. Art thou called, being a Servant, care not for it; but if thou may'ſt be made free, uſe it rather. Methinks God ſaith to you as once to Iſrael, Numb. 16.21, 24, 26, 31.Depart, I pray you, from the Tents of theſe wicked men. It's a wonder the ground doth not cleave in ſunder, or ſome Judgment comes not down upon ſuch praverleſs Families.
3. Humbly propound ſome Expedients for Remedy: See if any other Member in the Family will undertake that work, or whether the Governour will give you leave to pray in the Family; and behave your ſelves ſo holily and winningly, that the good conceit of Superiours or Equals may be a prologue and preparative to that work.
4. If all this avail not for Family-worſhip, and neceſſity detains you there, as you love your Souls, ſpend more time, take more pains in ſecret; [Abi in Cellam & dic, miſerere mei] get into your Cell, and ſay, Lord have mercy on me, as the old Monk ſaid to Luther; Jer. 13.17.or as Jeremiah, If ye will not hear it, my Soul ſhall weep in ſecret places for your Pride. Pray for your own Soul, that you may not periſh with others; pray for the Family, and all the Members thereof, Governours and Governed; be not diſcourraged with their ſcoffs; who knows what the Event may prove?
10 Caſe. What if I be caſt into a praying-family, what uſe ſhall I make thereof?
Anſ. 1. Give glory to God: admire his wiſe and gracious Providence: It's not the Lot of all young people: Think and ſay, Lord, who am I to enjoy this Priviledge? this is a bleſſed place,Judg. 6.37. Gen. 28.17. a place of bleſſings: This Fleece is wet with Dew, when others are dry: This is none other but the Houſe of God, and this is the Gate of Heaven: Bleſſed be God that hath caſt my Lot here.
2. Joyn in family-prayer: Be not needleſly abſent; but do not content your ſelves with bodily preſence, or poſtures, but ſee to it, that your hearts alſo joyn with the expreſſions, elſe you play the Hypocrites: And when you go forth, and ſet up Families of your own, uſe the ſame practice, but with the ſame ſpirit of your pious Maſters.
3. Improve this ſtock of your Relation's prayers. A Father may lay up an Eſtate for his Child in Bills and Bonds, which may prove a good Portion. The Corn ſown in the Field, is as good as that in the Garner, in ſome reſpects better! The Father ſows, the Child reaps a bleſſed Crop! God forbid that I ſhould loſe my Child's Portion for want of looking after it: Lord cut not off the Entail of my Fathers Covenant: Oh hear the many cryes he put up for me in my hearing!
4. Behave your ſelves ſuitably to that Family where ſo gracious a Providence hath caſt you: God forbid you ſhould be a ſcoffing Iſhmael in an Abraham's houſe, a prophane Eſau in Jacob's, a Rebellious Abſalom, or a filthy Ammon in holy David's Family: You diſgrace the ways of God more than others, when it ſhall be ſaid, See what a Beaſt was bred in a praying-family: You greatly diſcredit your Breeding, and ſink your ſelves deeper in Hell: God Almighty open your Eyes, awake your Conſciences, and reform your Converſation; that you may walk worthy of God to all well pleaſing.
I have now done with this great Subject of a due Erecting a Family-Altar, and offering Goſpel Sacrifices to the Lord; and oh that there were of theſe Altars ſet up in every dwelling-houſe,Cant. 3.6. and Divine Incenſe aſcending like Pillars of Smoke Heaven wards.
I have but a word of Incouragement to weak, but willing Souls, that ſet upon Family-worſhip, but meet with ſo many diſcouragements from without, but eſpecially within, that their hearts are apalled, and are ready to give hack, and ſay, Will God accept ſuch poor, lean, and lank Sacrifices, ſo dead, heartleſs, lifeleſs? I do no good, I get no good, I might as well give over, I am oft ſo wofully indiſpoſed for duty, that I might as well let it alone.
O my Friends! look on this as a temptation, and beware of it; ſtrive againſt it, rouze up your ſpirits.
1. Conſider, you are not the firſt or only perſons that Satan hath reſiſted in duty; for even Joſhua the High-Prieſt (a Type of Chriſt) had Satan ſtanding at his right hand,Zech. 3.13. 2 Cor. 2.11. to reſiſt h… and he had too much advantage againſt him; for, he was cloathed with filthy garments: And our weakneſs is Satan's ſtrength, our guilt his advantage: But our Jehovah ſaith, The Lord rebuke thee: The Devil makes ſpots, and then accuſeth us of our ſpots; but Chriſt wipes them off.
2. Our Lord takes well your good will to do, though you can do but little:2 Cor. 8.12. The imprimis of a willing mind is accepted, though your following Items be few and poor: The Lord is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love; Heb. 6.10.i. e. thoſe duties we perform to the Lord with labour and hard ſtruggling. It's the obſervation of precious Mr. Hilderſham; Think not, On Pſal. 51. p. 65.ſaith he (Beloved) that thoſe prayers only are pleaſing to God, wherein we pleaſe our ſelves best, or which we perform with moſt facility and aptneſs of mind and ſpeech; no, no, when we can perform this duty in obedience to God, even againſt our own diſpoſition, and oppoſitions in our own heares; theſe are the prayers that are most acceptable to God; as Abraham's Obedience, Gen. 22.12.
3. By uſing and exerciſing little grace, improving ſmall ability to pray, you will encreaſe it, and will more comfortably carry on the work;Mat. 25.29. ſo the Text; To every one that hath (i. e. by employing it, he ſhews that he hath, for otherwiſe the unprofitable Servant had a Talent alſo) ſhall be given, and he ſhall have abundance. Sick perſons, whoſe appetite is weakned, by eating provoke and recover them, one morſel drawing down another: You'll find this true in ſpirituals.
4. The weaker you think your ſelves, and the more likely to depend on the right means of your acceptance, that is the Spirit of Chriſt for aſſiſtance, and the Merit and Interceſſion of Chriſt for entertainment: For alas! you find you have no fluſh of gifts to fill the Sails, or height of enlargement to carry with full gale to God; you are emptied, and your Plumes quite fallen as to any thing you do, and therefore conclude, you are too low to reach God, and your duties quite loſt, except your perſons and performances be found in Chriſt.Phil. 3.9. I ſhall therefore conclude this whole Diſcourſe with that ſweet Text, that's worth a world, without the benefit of which, all our Altars and Sacrifices are Ciphers, Rev. 8.3. And another Angel came and ſtood at the Altar, having a golden Cenſer, and there was given unto him much Iecenſe, that he ſhould offer it with the prayers of all Saints, upon the golden Altar, which was before the Throne.
FINIS.
End of the text · Oliver Heywood, A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God (1693)