A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God, Treatise · Chapter 3
Chap. III. Arguments to prove that Governours of Families muſt ſet up Altars for the Worſhip of God.
THE ſecond Head propoſed is, the proof of this Doctrine, That Houſholders muſt Erect Altars for the Worſhip of God in their Families.
1. The Command of God: Prayer is the great duty required of all men!… bread a… David's Table continually, i. e. at meal-times, 2 Sam. 9.7. So in d… ſeaſon is expounded, continually, Numb. 28.2, 3. The Text ſaith, pray without ceaſing, 1 Theſ. 5.17. This is not to be underſtood as the Euchites or Meſſalians of old did, as excluding other Duties, but either maintaining a praying diſpoſition; or improving all ſeaſons of Prayer: Uſing a conſtant courſe of praying: Cuſtomary praying is one thing, and a cuſtom of praying is another;1 Pet. 4.7. Col. 4.2. this latter is a Duty: Therefore we are bid to watch unto Prayer, as well as watch in Prayer: i. e. be ſure you obſerve the hours and ſeaſon of Prayer, in Cloſet, Family, Publick; be not abſent; be not negligent: Then for the place, 1 Tim 2.8. I will that men Pray every where: If in all places then in their Houſes, and with their Families in conjuction: For it means our common dwellings, as well, as Temples; ſince there is no promiſe perculiarly appropriated to one place,Joh. 4.21. Mal. 1.11. more than another, under the Goſpel: For ſo was the Prediction; In every place Incenſe ſhall be offered to my name: Then for the ſorts of Prayer, read Eph. 6.18. Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit: i. e. Mental, Vocal Prayer; Petition for good, Deprecation of evil, Interceſſion for others, Thankſgiving for mercies: In the Publick Aſſemblies, in Private Houſes, in ſecret Cloſets: Certainly theſe kinds of Prayers are neceſſarily included: And by good Conſequence inferred: Let none ſay, this is far fetched, for Scripture-conſequence is good Argument:…at, 22.29, 37. As our Saviour proves the Reſurrection. If Prayer at all times, in all places, of all ſorts, be a Duty; ſurely Family-Prayer is a Duty, for it will come under all theſe.
2. Scripture-types prove Family Worſhip, as the Paſſover was clebrated in private Houſes, Exod. 12.3—Thy ſhall take to them every man a Lamb—A Lamb for an Houſe: i. e. an Houſhold, ver. 4 For the Hebrews ſay there muſt be ten, if one Family was not ſufficient, they muſt call in the members of another Family; for it muſt all be eaten at once: The Paſſover was a token of the deliverance of Iſrael out of Egypt, and and ſaving their firſt-born, when the firſt-born of Egypt were deſtroyed: The Maſter of the Family took Bread, brake it, hence was called [Bo…zeang] a breaker: Then he Bleſſed it, ſaying, bleſſed art thou O Lord God, King of the World, who bringeſt Bread out of the Earth: Then gives to every one about the quantity of an Olive, to ſome the bigneſs of an Egg: This, ſaith Weemſe, Weemſe Chriſtian Syn. p. 13…. Whether there was two Suppers or no. See Godwin, Moſes & Aaron. lib 3. cap. 4. p. 137.was at their common Supper with which the Paſſover was joyned! and doubtleſs Religion muſt always attend our Civils: This holds forth Family-Devotion: Let none ſay this were their Sacrament; for though it was, yet it was a Family-Religion; and though it typified the Lord Jeſus, anſwered by the Lord's Supper in the New Teſtament, which is a Church-Ordinance; yet it alſo held forth God's Worſhip in Families! But a clearer type is the Morning and Evening Sacrifice; one Lamb is to be offered in the Morning, the other in the Evening; this muſt be day by day continually, Exod. 29.38, 39. This was for every individual Family and Perſon, and it muſt be every day, not only on Sabbath-days and other Solemnities; but it ſhews that God muſt be daily worſhipt: Yea, it muſt be Morning and Evening, that prayer and praiſe may be the Lock and Key of the day. And David alludes to this,Pſal. 5.3. Pſal. 141.2. ſaying, My voice ſhalt thou hear in the Morning; and let my prayer be ſet before thee as Incenſe, and the lifting up of my hands as the Evening Sacrifice. This was conſtantly managed, but ſolemnly; yet we do not find that the whole Aſſembly met every day, therefore moſt probably a Family work, and worſhip.
3. Natural Religion prompts to it: There is certainly ſuch a thing as the Law and Light of Nature, which puts men on to what is morally good, and reſtrains men from, or checks them for what is groſly evil: Hence the Apoſtle ſaith,Rom. 2.14, 15. The Gentiles do by Nature ſome things materially good, and natural Conſcience accuſeth or excuſeth: So he appealeth to Nature, as an Argument à Fortiori: 1 Cor. 11.14Doth not even Nature it ſelf teach you? Whence theſe [foreign] common in workings proceed, I diſpute not, whether from ſome Relicks of Gods Image in Man, (which ſome cenſure as …elagianiſm) or they be ſuperinduced by God ſince the fall for the benefit of mankind:See Mr. Gepel of Temptation. But doubtleſs ſuch notions there are, as that there is a God, a Supreme Being; that he is to be feared, loved, worſhiped: And that not only Singly, but Socially, in Families as well as alone, or in greater Aſſemblies: hence beſides their National, and City-Gods, they had their [Lares and Penates] their Houſhold Gods, tho' alas they were but Dumb Idols: From them it may be Idolatrous Micah had an Houſe of Gods: Judg. 17.5.And ſhall poor dim-ſighted Heathens think it highly rational to have Dung hill Gods in their houſes; and ſhall not men profeſſing the true Religion of the true God, own their Omnipreſent God, by ſetting up an Altar to him in their houſes? the Prophet ſpeaks peremptorily, Mic. 4.5. All People will walk every one in the name of his God, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God, for ever and ever. Is there not much more reaſon? and ſhould not ſuch as own the true God run parallel to theſe poor Idolaters in Acting for, and Worſhiping of the true God? Shall Nature teach them to have more care of their Children than Chriſtians in Gods way? Yea ſhall even the Sea Monſters,Lam. 4.3. draw out their Breaſts and give Suck to their young ones? And ſhall Chriſtians be ſo cruel to the Souls of theirs as to neglect this Houſhold Duty.
4. The Prophecies and Promiſes of the Word imply this Family-Worſhip, Jer. 31.1. At the ſame time, ſaith the Lord, will I be the God of all the Families of Iſrael; and they ſhall be my People: Whether this mean all the twelve Tribes or Judah only; it's a Goſpel-Promiſe, and implies Worſhip: For relation to God infers Adoration of him:Mat. 4.10. Putatis nos occul…re quod c…limus, ſi delubra & aras non habemus — eum ſit litabilis hoſtia bonu… animus & pura mens, ut ſincera conſcientia — haec noſtra Sacrificial ac Dei ſacra ſunt; ſic apud nos Religioſin eſt … qui foreign …inucia …cis Octavius. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God; and this in Families, not only larger, but leſſer. Holineſs to the Lord is not only to be written on the Bells of the Horſes, but the Pots in the Lord's houſe ſhall be like the Bowls before the Altar; i. e. their very Kitchin-ſtuff, and common Utenſils ſhall be reckoned as holy as Altar-veſſels immediately imployed in Sacrifices: Yea further, every Pot in Jeruſalem, and in Judah ſhall be Holineſs to the Lord of Hoſts, Zech. 14.20, 21. The Perſons and Utenſils in private ſhall all be dedicated to God, and accepted by him in Goſpel-times: Civilities ſhall ſavour of Sanctity: Theſe New-Teſtament Prieſts ſhall without ſcruple, ſerve God in their houſes: Every Family ſhall be a Temple, wherein God will be woſhipped: Houſe-pots ſhall be holy Veſſels. This is meant of Gentile Worſhippers, verſe 16. And Jews ſhall not be behind them, Zech. 12.12, 13, 14. The Land ſhall mourn, every Family apart, Heb. Families, Families, Royal Family, Sacerdotal Tribe, and common People; they ſhall mourn apart, and ſhut up themſelves apart from company and pleaſures to exerciſe godly ſorrow, vent their ſpirits in repenting prayers, and mournful groans for their barbarous Crucifying the Prince of Life: This ſome from all places did at Jeruſalem, Act. 2. and more ſhall do it the day of their general Call and Converſion to God.
5. The Servants of God have Practiſed it: You can ſcaace name a Religious Houſholder, but he hath ſet up an Altar in his Family, and offered Spiritual Sacrifices thereupon. Joſhua a Noble Warriour reſolves upon this, chap. 24.15. But as for me, and my houſe, we will ſerve the Lord; let others do as they dare anſwer it another day, I with my Children and Servants muſt and will worſhip the Lord! Worſhipping God is ſerving him, Pſal. 72.11. All Kings ſhall fall down before him; all Nations ſhall ſerve him; i. e. Zeph. 3.9.by calling on God in prayer: Doubtleſs Joſhua did this. David a great King, in the midſt of Political and Eccleſiaſtical Imployments withdraws himſelf from all, and returned to bleſs his Houſe, 2 Sam. 6.20.1 Chron. 16.43. which could be no other way but by prayer, and praiſing God for and with his Family: Publick occaſions muſt not juſtle out this Family-worſhip. Job—roſe up early in the Morning, offered Burnt-Offerings, ſanctified the Members of his Family, and (leſt it be thought that this was but occaſional and accidental) the Text ſaith, Thus did Job continually, chap. 1. 5. And good Expoſitors think, Daniel's going into his Houſe,Dan. 6.10. and his Windows being open in his Chamber, (or Dining room, his uſual Oratory) he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed; this they judge to be Family-prayer, being ſo obvious and diſcernable by his Adverſaries. However, that devout Captain Cornelius, that feared God with all his houſe, prayed to God with his Family, Act. 10.2. which he explains, ſaying,Nec omittenda eſt circumſtantia quod familiam in Dei timore inſti tuit contempto periculi metu, quod inde inſt abat; valde enim exoſa erat Judaica Religio; nec impun… erat Civi Romano, peregrinam, ut vocabant, Religionem ſuſcipere. Quare et ſi hodiè, peſſime in mundo audit ſincera Evangelii p…o…ſſio, tamen nimis vitioſa eſt timiditas, ſi quem impediat injuſtum iſ…ad ca…, ne ſuam familiam Deo audeat in Sacrificium ſuâ piâ Inſtitutione aſſ…re. Vid. Calv. in Act. 10.2. I prayed in my houſe, verſe 30. Calvin notes, That Cornelius inſtructs his Family in the fear of God, contemning the fear of danger; for, the Jewiſh Religion was then hateful; nor might a Roman eſpouſe a ſtrange Religion; wherefore, although the ſincere Profeſſion of the Goſpel is much decayed in the World, yet that fearfulneſs is too criminal, if upon the account of that unjuſt hatred, any one ſhould not dare to dedicate or offer up his Family as a Sacrifice to God, by a holy Inſtitution! Thus Calvin.
6. Argument for Family-Altar, is, the Providence of God calls for it: God ſetteth the ſolitary in Families, Pſal. 68.6. There is certainly a ſignal act of Divine care in diſpoſing Men, and Womens Affections to each other;Pſal. 113.9. Exod. 1.21. Ruth 4.11. 2 Sam ….11. to make a barren Woman to keep houſe, to be a joyful Mother of Children: It was God that made the God-fearing Midwives houſes: The Lord made Rachel and Leah to build the Houſe of Iſrael: And why doth God make his David's a ſure houſe? Why doth God give Servants? Is it only to gratifie the fleſh, or a fancy? Is it only for Worldly profit? Is it not for Religion ſake? Hath God no higher ends than moſt men have for Worldly advantages or pleaſure? Surely God puts perſons into this Relation for himſelf: Who is the grand End of all his Acts? He hath made all things for himſelf!Prov. 16.4. Should men then live like Heathens & Beaſts? Do they not thereby contradict Gods deſign? Doth God give Wife and Children to them that fear him, and doth he not expect they ſhould fear and ſerve him together?Pſ. 128.3, 4. If Children be Gods Heritage,Pſal. 127.3. why ſhould not we preſent them to the Lord upon our knees? If they be Gods reward to us, why ſhould we not give them again to God as our beſt reward? If Families are Societies of Divine Inſtitution, do they not need Divine Benediction? Should not Perſons carry on Religion in a Relative capacity? Surely yes: When God Sanctifies this Relation by his appointment, ſhould not men Sanctifie his name by ſetting up his Ordinances? there's great reaſon for it:1 Tim. 4.5. For every thing is Sanctified by the Will of God and Prayer: Gods Will to warrant our lawful uſe thereof, Prayer for our holy and profitable uſe thereof. As men without both theſe croſs Gods deſign, ſo they have no due uſe of this ſweet Domeſtical Conſtitution and Relation.
7. This Family-Altar diſtinguiſheth betwixt Godly and Prophane-Families: This is one diſcriminating Character, the one calls on God, the other not: This is as the Altar Ed, to teſtifie to all the World their ſolemn owning of the true God: On the contrary, wicked Perſons are thus deſcribed, Deut. 29.18. Leſt there ſhould be amongſt you, Man or Woman, or Family or Tribe, whoſe heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God: Mind it, Families, in their Domeſtical capacity, as well as in a Perſonal, or National capacity may be alienated from God, and may have a root that beareth Gall and Wormwood, then ſee what follows: This is that which makes evil Families,Jer. 8.3. when inſtead of Praying, Reading Scriptures, Singing Pſalms, there is Curſing, Swearing, Mocking at ſerious Godlineſs, Vain or Prophane Talk, at leaſt but Worldly Diſcourſe: But Religious Families are ſuch as maintain Gods Worſhip according to Gods Inſtitution, where the daily perfume of Prayer aſcends Heavenwards: Mr. Fenner Preaching at the Funeral of a godly old man diſabled from work, and and daily going among his friends for relief, ſaith, Oh how much better was that poor Cottage where he lived, whence the Incenſe of Prayer and Praiſes mounted daily upwards; than the Sumptuous Pallaces of Princes and Nobles, where Oaths and Blaſphemies are belched out! It was the appointment among the Jews and Proſelites, that every Family,Eſth. 9.27.28. Province, City, ſhould obſerve the Feaſt of Purin, as a memorial of their deliverance from Hamans Conſpiracy, and is there not as much reaſon that Chriſtian Families ſhould celebrate the great work of Redemption in their Families?Juſt. Mart. Apol. Chriſt. ad Ant. Plum. Juſti…e Martyr tells us amongſt the other Characters of Primitive Chriſtians this was one [Quod jejuni prius Orant] that they prayed faſting, before they ſet upon any Work:At enim qui non ita vivere comperiuntur ſicut ille docuit, certum eſt Documentum non eſſe Chriſtianos, quamvis id linguâ profi…cantur. And having deſcribed the godly manners of Antient Chriſtians, he adds, that thoſe that live not as Chriſt taught, it is a certain note, that they are not Chriſtians, though they profeſs it in ſpeech, and words.
8. Chriſtian-families are Churches, and Churches muſt have Altar's for God's Worſhip. Luke gives us an account of the Primitive Church, that they continued ſtedfaſtly in the Apostles Doctrine, and Fellowſhip, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer, Act. 2.42. Breaking Bread in the Lord's Supper is a publick Church-Ordinance, the other are alſo common to Families, as well as Chriſtian-Aſſemblies. Families conſiſt of individual Perſons,Iſtae enim Congregationes ſunt quaſi partes ſimilares Eccleſie Catholicae, atqae adto, & no nen & naturam ejus participant. Ames Med. Theo. lib. 1. c. 32. Congregations of Families, and the Catholick Church of particular Societies; and Families may partake of the Name, and muſt of the Nature of Churches. What is a Church but a Religious Society gathered for God's Worſhip? The Church was limited to Families in the firſt Ages of the World; thence it ſpread it ſelf by Divine Grace into many ſtreams (all proceeding from one ſpring as branches from one root) till the Church became National. But Families were the firſt Original: Nor doth Family-Religion ceaſe when Publick Aſſemblies are erected, Gen. Diu me torſit hic lotus, & etiamnum torquet. Vid. Pol. Crit. in locum.4.26. Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord. That Text hath tortured Interpreter; but this is clear, that calling on God's Name is part of God's Worſhip; that this Piety was maintained in Seth's particular family; and poſſibly, in a little time men begun more publickly to own God's Worſhip when others did degenerate;Gen. 6.2. and hence the Sons of God and of Men were thereby diſtinguiſhed; which confirms the former Argument. But this is that I now ſay, that families are to be as Churches. And ſome interpret thoſe places,Col 4.15. Philem. 2. Rom. 16.5. Greet the Church in their houſe, and Church in thine houſe, to be no more than a private family. Grotius takes it for a domeſtical Church, and ſaith, [ubi tres, licet Laici, ibi Eccleſia eſt] that three perſons though Laymen, make a Church: Now where there is God's Houſe, it is an Houſe of Prayer. That's no Church where there is no Altar to God, but it is a Synagogue of Satan. We cannot call every family a Church, but a Chriſtian godly family; and 'tis to called by the Analogy or Reſemblance it bears to a Church, from the Worſhip of God maintained therein. So then, without God's Worſhip in your houſes, you are not Churches, and ſo not Members of Chriſt, or of the Catholick Church of God; but in that reſpect, as Heathens.
9. Houſholders have a charge upon their hands, which they muſt give an account of, and opportunity to diſcharge this Truſt. Governours are charged with their families: Hence is the fourth Commandment given to them chiefly,Exod. 20 — 1… that they ſhould take care that their family ſhould keep the Sabbath-day; and hence is the fifth Command given to Inferiours to obey their Governours: Yea therefore are Parents rewarded or puniſhed in their Children, according to the ſecond Commandment; becauſe Governours muſt account for their Inferiours: Yea God orders Houſholders to bring all under their roof to the feaſt of Weeks, with their Freewill Offerings, Deut. 16.10, 11. and the feaſt of Tabernacles, v 13, 14. Yea they were to bring their Males yearly, three times in the year, v. 16. And it is not for nothing that Houſholders have this charge laid on them, becauſe they have greater Authority, opportunity to bring them together for God's Publick Worſhip in the family; for they may call them together upon natural and civil accounts, to eat, and to work and why not to pray together? their command is a Law. A Maſter may ſay,Luk. 16.2. Give an account of thy Stewardſhip, and why not of ſuch a Sermon? They may demand an account of their time and talents committed to their truſt, and why not a Reaſon of their hope, and an account of their piety or proficiency? why not call them to prayer? And indeed it is a debt due to mens Children and Servants. This is implied in Col. 4.1, 2. Maſters give unto your Servants that which is juſt and equal—preſently he adds, continue in prayer; intimating that praying for, and with Servants, is juſt and equal both upon their own and Servants account; it's as due as their promiſed wages: God makes Maſters as truly Watch-men as Miniſters, and if they fail,Ezek. 3.18. God will require their blood at their hand: Beſides the advantages and conveniency of frequent intercourſe capacitates Governours for this ſolemn Exerciſe; and God will require accounts of all theſe Talents another day.
10. There are daily caſes, occaſions, neceſſities that concern families, to be preſented unto the Lord: There are family-ſins to be confeſſed, wants to be bewailed, mercies to be deſired, cares, and croſſes to be removed, fears to be prevented, temptations to be reſiſted, duties to be performed, graces to be exerciſed, obtained, peace to be maintained, or regained, paſſions to be ſuppreſſed, mercies to be acknowledged; and all theſe muſt be laid at God's foot in daily prayer. That's a rare family that hath not ſome Prodigal Son, or Carnal Soul, as a Member of it; ſome body ſick in it, or ſome Child to diſpoſe of in Marriage or Calling; ſome doubts or difficulties that call for prayer, wherein the whole family is concerned; or if there be no ſuch exigency at preſent, yet who knows how ſoon any of theſe, or all theſe may light upon a family? And what remedy is there like family prayer? Phil. 4.6. Be careful in nothing, but in every thing by prayer and ſupplication, with thankſgiving, let your requeſts be made known unto God. This is a Catholicon, a Cure for all Diſeaſes, a Salve for every Sore. We find that when God afflicted Abimelech's family,Gen. 20.1 1 Exod. 9.2 Abraham prayed unto God, and God healed him, his Wife, Maid-ſervants, and they bare Children. A Pharaoh will beg Moſes prayers for him in his Affliction; and oh what a woful ſtate is that family in, that hath no body to ſpeak a word to God for it, and with it, in domeſtick troubles! A Child lies groaning, and the Father cannot groan out a prayer; a Servant lying at the point of death; and the Maſter hath no skill or will to bring him to Jeſus for cure. Alas! that any ſhould be ſo inſenſible of their wants,Deeſt ſempe quod petitur vel ex to…o vel ex parte vel in ſ…ſe, ve… in ſerſu neſtro, vel denique quoad actum, vel quod continu atam ejus durationem. Ames Med Theol. l. 2… cap. 9. ſo ignorant of the means of relief, or diſtruſtful of the Power of God, or efficacy of prayer: No family is above wants, therefore none ſhould be without prayer; for prayer riſeth from ſenſe of wants, which no perſon or family is without, in whole or in part, in it ſelf, or in ſenſe, in act or continued duration of mercy.
11. The Bleſſing of God uſually attends Family-Altars: Not as though God were tyed to Religious Families, as Heathens chained their Idols, or as Elies Sons fancied Gods preſence neceſſarily attending the Ark; but God uſually viſits pious Families: Scripture and Experience teſtifie this,Pſal. 115.12, 13. Pſal. 118.15. He will bleſs the houſe of Iſrael, he will bleſs the houſe of Aaron; he will bleſs them that fear the Lord both ſmall and great, i. e. Proſelites, Gentiles, Converts: The voice of rejoicing and ſalvation is in the Tabernacles of the righteous: Our Lord loves to converſe, where his Children inhabit; it's true, he prefers publick Aſſemblies; The Lord loveth the Gates of Zion,Pſal. 87.2. more than all the Dwellings of Jacob: God loves to ſee his Children together in his H. Worſhip: The greater the Solemnity, if good, the more of Gods Spirit and Preſence: But God doth not deſpiſe his Children ſeeking him in families;Pſal. 101.1, 2. when devout David ſings of mercy and judgment to God, and behaves himſelf wiſely in a perfect way, he cries out; O when wilt thou come unto me? Gods kind viſits are worth a World, whether by way of Providence, Aſſiſtance, Influence or Evidence: How often have Gods Children met with God in their families?Gen. 18.10. Act. 10.3. Luk. 8.43.51. Abraham had a Promiſe of a Child, Cornelius had a glorious Viſion of an Holy Angel; and our Lord came to Jairus's houſe, to raiſe his dead Daughter: How often hath God anſwered Family-Prayer? Even at preſent by melting the hearts of Children, Servants! And afterwards: It's recorded of Mr. Banen of Stepleford, That he ſeldom performed Family-duty, but he had ſome Anſwers of Prayer to bleſs God for, ſince the former time of appearing there before God.Anno autem 1584. terrae motu Mons quidam in Ditiore Bernatum ultra alias Montes violenter latus pagum quendam nonaginta familias habentem contexit totum, dimidiâ domi exceptâ in qua paterfamilias cum uxore & liberis in genua provolutus Deum invocabat. Polani Syntag. cap. 22. fol. 301. It is a remarkable ſtory that Polanus relates of an Earth-quake in the year 1584. in Berna; in a Mountain violently hurried beyond other Mountains, overturning a whole Village of Ninety houſes and families excepting half of one houſe, in which the Father of the family with his Wife and Children were proſtrate on their knees praying.
So true is that of Solomon, Prov. 12.7. The Wicked are overthrown and are not, but the houſe of the Righteous ſhall ſtand: Prov. 3.3God bleſſeth the Habitation of the juſt.Exo. 12.1 He thinks fit ſometimes to diſtinguiſh by his wiſe Providence betwixt the houſes of the Iſraelites and Egyptians: And experience doth daily ſhew that the houſe is bleſſed where God is ſincerely worſhiped, as the Lord bleſſed the houſe of Obed-Edom, and his Houſhold for entertaining the Ark, 2 Sam. 6.11.
12. On the contraty God curſeth Prayerleſs-families; that's a Prophecy as well as a Prayer, Jer 10 25—Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not on thy name: It's a dreadful Prediction; 1. For the wrath threatned, not ordinary, but fury; anger boyled up to the higheſt degree of revenge, anger and fury are ſometimes joyned,Jer. 7.20. Ezek. 8.18 and when God deals in fury his eyes ſpare not, neither hath he pity: This is dreadful: But 2. Here's the meaſure of it, Pour out thy fury; this notes plenty, abundance, variety of ſore Judgments; not one, or two, but multitudes of Plagues, like drops in a Shower, or as Flood-gates opened as a general Inundation, ſpreading it ſelf univerſally, poured out on Children,Jer. 6.11. young Men, Husband and Wife, aged with him that is full of days.Iſa. 34.2. Oh what would become of England if this fury were as univerſal as the neglect of this family-duty!Deſcenſus à …ummis in …imum. and this fury is irreſiſtible; it's like a deſcent from above, which can no more be ſtopped and avoided than the Showers of Rain: There is no ſtopping theſe Cataracts of Heaven, no quenching this fire of fierce wrath againſt irreligious Families, when the Lord renders his anger with fury,Iſa. 66.15. and his rebuke with flames of fire. 3. But what is all this for? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? is it for Idolatry, Murder, Drunkenneſs, Blaſphemy, or for ſome horrible, hainous crimes? no, it's for ſins of omiſſion, not knowing God, not calling on God's Name: O miſerable families where Religion is not exerciſed, there theſe threatnings muſt be executed!
Object. But we ſee no ſuch thing; prayerleſs families flouriſh, live bravely, have all things at command, Job. 21.7, 13.proſper more than others, their houſes are ſafe from fear, neither is the Rod of God upon them.
I muſt confeſs this promiſcuous diſpenſing of outward Providences, that wickedneſs is proſperous, holineſs oppreſſed, hath been an offence to the godly, and an hardening to the wicked: And David himſelf was puzzled with it,Pſal. 73.17. till he went into the Sanctuary, then he underſtood their End, and God's End in this.
Deut. 32.35 Rom. 9.22.But I anſwer, 1. Forbearance is no acquittance; a Reprieve is no Pardon; Their foot ſhall ſlide in due time. God bears long with ſinners for wiſe ends, till the Veſſels of Wrath be fitted for deſtruction. God will be in ſome mens debt till another World: They ſhall have their good things here,Luk. 16.25 and torments hereafter. A wiſe man will chuſe his Heaven hereafter, though he have an Hell here.
2. Yet this Curſe and wrath upon wicked perſons and prayerleſs families is ſecret and inviſible; even in outwards,Hag. 16. Mat. 22. they may ſow much, and bring in little; eat and not have enough: Yea God curſeth even the Bleſſings of ſuch as worſhip not God; however, they have not a Covenant-right to what they do enjoy; it is not ſanctified to them for their good;1 Tim. 4.5 for the Creature is ſanctified by the Word of God and Prayer; but prayerleſs families have no outward comforts thus ſanctified: Beſides, the ſaddeſt inviſible Curſe is upon their Souls and Spirits; a blind mind, hard heart, a ſeared conſcience, and a ſpirit of ſlumber, are the greateſt Judgments and Fruits of God's heavieſt fury, Rom. 1.26, 28. 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11. Pſal. 81.11, 12. It's a dreadful thing when a [Lord have mercy on them] is writ upon mens Doors and they cannot read it, will not believe it, or lay it to heart, Iſa. 42.24, 25. This is next to Pharaoh's Plague, and next door to Hell: They that will not heed now, muſt feel this fury, and in the latter days ſhall conſider it perfectly. Read Jer. 23.19, 20. Deut. 29.19, 20.
Thus much for the Reaſons, to prove erecting Family-Altars for God's Worſhip an important duty: The Command of God, Scripture-Types; Natural Religion; Promiſes; Prophecies; Scripture-Examples; Divine Providence; diſcriminating Character; their being Chriſtian Churches; Governours charge and account; daily neceſſities of Families; God's Bleſſing on praying-families; his Curſe and Wrath upon prayerleſs families.