A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God, Treatise · Chapter 4
Chap. IV. Objections propoſed and anſwered that militate againſt Family-Altars.
BUT there is no Truth ſo plain, no Duty ſo good, but Satan can furniſh a witty head, and wicked heart with plauſible Arguments againſt it: And it's ſtrange if men have not ſomething to ſay againſt this Duty, that apparently tends to undermine Satan's Kingdom.
Object. 1. Had Family-prayer been a Duty, we had found it expreſly commanded in Scripture, but we find it not in any expreſs Precept.
Anſ. 1. Where find you Infant-Baptiſm expreſly commanded in the N. Teftam.? yet it is plain by neceſſary conſequence, ſo is this. Circumciſion was commanded; there's the like Reaſon for Baptiſm; both are plain to all but perverſe ſpirits. I hinted before that proper conſequence is ſtrong Argument.
2. Let not proud Reaſon dictate to the wiſe God how he muſt ſpeak. General Rules laid down in Scripture are to be applied to particular Caſes, by Nature and Reaſon in ſeveral circumſtances. If God ſay Men muſt provide for their families, he leaves it to their diſcretion, what kind of Meat, Cloaths, Lodging, Callings they provide. God bids us pray without ceaſing, in all places, all manner of prayer, and leaves it to prudence for particular places, times, words, company, ſo that it anſwer the main End of God's Glory, Communion with himſelf, and Edification. Let not captious Wits pick quarrels to evacuate the ſubſtance of a Duty, becauſe the circumſtance is not expreſt. God gives Laws to Rational Creatures, and indulgeth us ſo far as to leave us to our liberty in mutable circumſtances, except expreſly preſcribed.
Object. 2. Jeſus Chriſt prayed not with his family, yet he is the best Pattern; if he had prayed with them constantly, they would have learned from him, but they want to be taught, Luk. 11.1.
Anſ. 1. Chriſt's caſe and ours are far different; what was ſuitable to his Diſciples was not proper to him; he needed not for himſelf to confeſs ſin, ask forgiveneſs, beg mortification, increaſe of grace, aſſurance; ſo that it was not neceſſary that he ſhould ordinarily be their mouth.
2. Yet Scripture-ſilence is no good Argument: And their deſire of inſtruction in Prayer is no good Argument he Prayed not with them; for Prayer is a Perſonal Duty, And our Lord could not be always with them: And yet we find our Lord did occaſionally Pray with his Family: In Gratitude, Mat. 11.25, 26. In working Miracles, Mat. 14.19. In the Holy Supper, Luke 22.19. And that large and laſt Prayer uttered with his Diſciples, John 17. In all which he ſpake what was proper to him as God-Man, and our Mediator; and herein he is an excellent pattern to all Houſholders.
Object. 3. The Sacrifice of the wicked; (and ſo his Prayer) is abomination to the Lord: Prov. 15.8.How can you then put them on Praying when moſt are bad?
Anſw. 1. God loſeth not his Authority to Command, becauſe man hath loſt his Capacity to Obey; it is his Duty ſtill, though he cannot perform it in ſuch a due manner as God requires: He is bound to Pray as a Creature though he cannot do it as a Child: Better do it as men can, than not do it at all; Prayer is a natural duty:Jonah 3.8. The Ninevites muſt cry aloud, and mightily to God, and it was not in vain:Act. 8.22. Simon Peter bids Simon Magus Pray, though in the Gall of bitterneſs.
2. We muſt diſtinguiſh betwixt a reſolved and a returning Sinner: We bid not a Thief pray that he may meet with a Booty, that's abominable;Pſal. 66.18. Iſa. 55.6, 7. or men Regarding Iniquity in their hearts: But in a complex ſenſe we bid them, Turn from their evil ways, and ſo Pray: Prayer muſt be joyned with Repentance; as Prayer is [Medium Cultus, ſo it is Medium Gratiae] as means of carrying the heart to God in Worſhip, ſo it is a mean to obtain Grace. Prayer is the Souls motion Godward, deſire is the Soul of Prayer, and who dare ſay to the wicked, deſire not God, Chriſt, Faith? By Praying men may learn to Pray right,Luk. 11.13. For God gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask him.
Oject, 4. There's wicked Children or Servants in the Family, how dare we joyn with them? For whoſe ſake God may juſtly reject us.
Anſw. 1. If the Praying Governour be Godly and pray right, he need not fear non-acceptance: Chriſt was heard in his Prayer, though Judas was preſent: What think you of poor Miniſters Prayers in mixt Congregations?Act 27.35. Certainly the preſence of unworthy Perſons prejudiceth not the entertainment of ſincere Worſhipers.
2. Prayer is Gods inſtitution to make bad good, ſome have been much wrought upon by the Prayers of others, God heard Stephen for Paul in time; if it advantaged not at preſent. Mr. Weems ſaid of Mr Bruce he knockt down the Holy Ghoſt upon us all: Deny them not this means of Converſion.
Object. 5. This ſetting up a Family-Altar for ſo conſtant Prayer ſavours of Forms, and will fill the Country with Formaliſts and Hypocrites.
Anſw. 1. Forms are not ſimply condemned, but Forms only, wanting the power of Godlineſs, 2 Tim. 3 5. Our buſineſs is not to make Hypocrites but Converts: By Form is meant a Mask, Vizor or Appearance oppoſed to Subſtance and Reality: But we perſuade and direct to ſincerity, as to Priciple, Manner and End of Religious Exerciſes.
2. But a Form of Golineſs is better than none at all: Men cannot have the Power of Godlineſs without the Form; no more than you can have the Kernell without the Shell: He that Prays doth ſomething towards Duty, but he that refuſeth to Worſhip God at all, bids open defiance to God's Commanding Authority, and ſaith; I ſcorn to bow ſo much as a Knee to God in Prayer: This is a preſumptuous Sin:Pſal. 10.4. The wicked through the pride of his heart will not ſeek after God. Let him anſwer it as he dare: The Text ſaith, 1 Tim. 4 8. Bodily Exerciſe profiteth little [foreign] for a little,1 King. 21.27. i. e. for a little time, or for a little- i. e. in ſome outward reſpects, as in Ahabs faſting, though it reach not ſo far as the Eternal Salvation of the immortal Soul: However this is better than a total neglect.
Object. 6. But ſuch kind of Praying Morning and Evening is a ſtinting the Spirit, a limiting God to mans time, when the Spirit moves not to it.
Anſw. 1. Chriſt and his Apoſtles had ſet times for Prayer; Jeſus oft times reſorted into the Garden, Judas knew his ſtated hour and place, John 18.2. And the Apoſtles had an hour of Prayer, Acts 3.1. Was this ſtinting the Spirit? Indeed this Objection is levelled againſt Preaching, Singing, Supper, and all ſtated Ordinances, how do men know that the Spirit will move at ſuch a ſeaſon?
2. It's one thing to ſtint, another to lie in the walk of the Spirit: Men are bound to wait at the poſts of Wiſdoms Doors, and are bleſſed,Prov. 8.34. and in the road of further bleſſing; for the wind of the Spirit bloweth where and when it liſteth:Joh. 3.8. And no body will ſay he limits the wind that waits in the Heaven for a fair gale to waſt him over: Beſides,Iſa. 64.7. God expects that men ſhould ſtir up themſelves to take hold on God: Self-excitation is God's appointment to get the heart into frame. How often doth David begin low and end high?2 Tim. 1.6. We muſt ſtir up the gift of God in our hearts: A Dead, Dull, Senſeleſs Heart is no ſuperſedeas from Duty: Omiſſion upon indiſpoſition doth but harden the heart, and indiſpoſe for Duty, and gratifie Satan, yea and diſpleaſe God.
Object. 7. This Family-Prayer is but a ſingular invention of brain-ſick novelliſts, not uſed of old, and is more adoe than needs.
Anſw. 1. In Scripture-times it was uſed, and in the pureſt Primitive-timess; Baſil ſaith [Mane orto die in precationes properare] that Chriſtians made haſte to Prayers by day-brake in the Morning; Chryſoſtom ſaith we go not [a menſa ad lectum] from Table to bed, but to Prayers, leſt we be more bruitiſh than bruits: It were eaſie to produce inſtances from Cyprian, Auguſtin, &c. of Primitive Chriſtians frequency in Prayers: You will ſay butt theſe were Church prayers? Anſwer; Churches were moſtly then in Houſes, yet ſome inſtances prove alſo daily Family-Prayers: And Godly Perſons in all Ages have uſed it.
2. Can men be too Devout? Doth not our Lord ſay,Luk. 18.4…. Mat. 6.33. Mat. 22.37. one thing is needful? Seek firſt the Kingdom of God: Thou ſhalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, Mind, Strength: Can you do too much for God? Can you be too oft with God?Eccl. 7.16. Alas! you cannot be over-much righteous, in the internals of Religion: no, nor in the externals, as long as you keep to commanded duties, and one duty croſs not another: Nay, when we have done all that's commanded,Luk. 17.10. yet ſtill we are unprofitable Servants; we have but done our duty.Joh. 12.3.4. It was Judas that ſaid, Wherefore is this waſted? Godly Souls ſtill complain of defects: Whom did you hear complain on their death-bed that they had ſerved God too much, or been too religious?
Object. 8. They are no better than others that pray in their families; they can lye, cheat, be covetous, proud, paſſionate, cenſorious, hard-hearted.
Anſ. 1. Take heed what you ſay; act not the Devil's part, to be falſe-accuſers, taking up a falſe report, or without proof. It's well known, that now a-days, if perſons be ſtrict and ſerious in Religious duties, many pick quarrels with them, take advantage againſt them, aggravate their faults; theſe mens Motes are Beams,Act. 28.22. yea Mountains; this Sect is every where ſpoken againſt; there needs no further Jury to try them; but if they be praying perſons, they are Hypocrites; as if Piety were a note of Hypocriſie: The Lord rebuke thee, oh Diaboliſt! judge charitably till you know the truth; you may wrong them, as Primitive Chriſtians were.
2. Suppoſe they do miſs and miſcarry, alas! they are but men. Thus the Angel excuſed honeſt Joſhua, when Satan accuſed him; Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire? Zech. 3.13.Alas! he ſmells of Babylon too much; but may not theſe be upright for the main? and how will God take it, if you ſlander his Children? But ſuppoſe it be true that they are faulty, doth their Religion teach them ſo? Is this the fault of their praying, or not praying aright? Is it becauſe they are too religious, or defective in it? No, ſay you, they are Hypocrites; and if they prove ſo that are ſo devout, what will become of you,1 Pet. 4.18. that are ſo far ſhort of them? If the righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, where ſhall you appear?
Object. 9. We pray in publick and ſecret, is not that ſufficient? what needs family-prayer too? ſurely God never required ſo much a-do.
Anſ. 1. One duty cannot ſuperſede another: Theſe are diſtinct circumſtances of performing the ſame duty: Religion muſt be carried on in all places, relations;1 Pet. 3.7. Huſband and Wife muſt pray together; yea and Neighbours muſt call to each other, and ſay, Come, come, let us go ſpeedily to pray before the Lord:Zech. 8.21. Think not then to put off God with one ſort of Religiouſneſs, but you muſt be holy in all manner of converſation,1 Pet. 1.15… foreign. in every turn, turn you which way you will, to your general or particular Calling, to a ſingle or married ſtate, to ſolitarineſs or company; you muſt ſtill take your Religion with you, and practiſe it as a Member of Church or Family.
2. It's very ſuſpicious whether thoſe worſhip God ſincerely in publick, or at all in their Cloſets, that worſhip not God in and with their families. It was the ſaying of Lactantius [non eſt vera Religio quae cum Templo relinquitur] that's no true Religion which men leave behind them at Church: Men may make a ſhift to ſerve God as others do, at Church, for vain-glory, or oſtentation, and pretend ſecret prayer meerly for an evaſion; but family-prayer will try whether they worſhip God ſincerely or no; Men ſee the former, but know not the latter.
Object. 10. None of my Neighbours uſe it, if I pray in my family I ſhall be ſingular.
Anſ. 1. Wouldſt thou chuſe rather to follow a multitude in evil to Hell,Exod. 23.2. than travel with a few to Heaven? Our Lord ſaith, What do you more than others? Mat. 5.47.Or what ſingular thing do you? Are you content to fare as the moſt fare? Will you ruſh with the Herd into the deep, and be damned for company? Is that good-fellowſhip that ends in the ſad reckoning another day? Chriſt's Flock is a little Flock. But read Matth. 7. 13, 14. and conſider whether you'll chuſe.
2. If you have not the greater, you have the better company to travel with: Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, and all the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, Miniſters, Confeſſors, Chriſtians, they have all travelled in this Road:Pſal. 32.6. For this ſhall every one that is godly pray unto thee. Methinks you ſhould rather chuſe to be Companions of the excellent,Pſal. 16.8. Mal. 3.14, 17. whom God will own when he makes up his Jewels; than thoſe Atheiſts that ſay, It is in vain to ſerve God.
Object. 11. But I know ſome ſtrict Profeſſors that uſe not to pray in their families, nay, that plead against it.
Anſ. 1. That's no part or property of their goodneſs: I deny not but ſome godly perſons may for a ſeaſon live in the omiſſion of ſome duties, either through want of information, or their own ſloth, or through falſe Teachers, and the power of deluſion; yet this is a temptation, but free grace will recover them, and the new Nature within them will incline them to own their duty, when they are convinced of it, and when they come to themſelves.
2. Yet ſome Profeſſors ſeem good that are not ſo; they may have a name to live,Rev. 3.1. and yet be dead: all's not Gold that gliſters; men may have the face, but not the frame or heart of Chriſtians.Gal. 6.12. How many make a fair ſhew in the fleſh, and account themſelves the only Saints, and are ſo eſteemed by others, that are not owned by the Lord? The complexion of a Saint is one thing, but the conſtitution of a Child of God is another. Some Notioniſts ſpread their ſails, and think themſelves wronged if they be not called the godly Party; but herein they are proved rotten, by caſting off ſome precious truths and neceſſary duties; imitate ſuch at your peril;Pſal. 119.6. a ſincere Saint hath reſpect to all God's Commandments.
Object. 12. We have ſcoffers in our families, that will withdraw, and not joyn, but jear; it may be a Son, or Wife will be doing ſomething elſe that while, and this will breed confuſion, and do hurt.
Anſ. 1. But who is Maſter, thou or they? If thou haſt loſt thy governing power, be aſhamed of it, and reſume thy Authority. Whoſe Cauſe doſt thou manage, God's, or the Devil's? If the Cauſe be God's, in the name and ſtrength of God, own it, and he will ſtand by thee; fear not Man in the way of duty: It was thy careleſneſs to joyn thy ſelf to an untamed Heifer, or admit an unruly Servant into thy family; add not Rebellion to that ſin; be humbled, and reform.
2. Had never any of God's Children profane wretches in their family? Abraham had a perſecuting Iſhmael; Iſaac a profane Eſau; David a ſcoffing Michal; what did they? did they give over praying? no, they prayed more fervently:Gen. 17.18. 2 Sam. 6.20, 21, 22. Oh that Iſhmael may live in thy ſight! David was ſo far from ceaſing his Devotion, that Michal's ſcornes were as Oyl to inflame his Zeal; I will yet, ſaith he, be more vile than thus, and will be baſe in mine own ſight; if they account it ſordid baſeneſs, I account it my chiefeſt honour to humble my ſelf before the Lord: And what think you, is a total omiſſion, or vigorous performance of family-duty more likely to win and work upon your carnal, ſcornful Relations? I am ſure a laborious charity is better than contemptuous withdrawing; and is uſually bleſſed with ſucceſs; however it's a mean to ſet order.
Object. 13. I am baſhful, modest, and of weak gifts, and cannot faſhion to pray before others; I ſhall but bewray my ignorance.
Anſ. 1. Canſt thou take upon thee in other Caſes, and not in this? Who commands thy Servants to work? or who inſtructs them in their Calling, or chides them when they diſpleaſe thee? they ſhall hear from thee if they miſs it; and canſt thou not ſpeak to God before them? Curſed is that Modeſty that's aſhamed of duty:Mat. 10.33. Haſt thou not reaſon to fear Chriſt will be aſhamed of thee? Is not this for God's Cauſe?2 Tim. 2.12. deny him at your peril, he will deny you.
2. Are not all in your family underlings to you? have not you Authority over them, to enjoyn them ſilence and reverence? if you have loſt your Authority by your ignorance or childiſhneſs, thank your ſelves. Thoſe that honour God, he will honour; 1 Sam. 2.30. Mal. 2.8, 9.but departing out of God's ways, renders men contemptible and baſe: It's Grace and Holineſs that muſt recover your credit. But I know the reaſon why you'll not pray; it's becauſe you think you cannot do ſo well as others, or to get applauſe; this is your pride: But if you would ſhame your ſelves, and do your beſt, God would provide for your credit: Gifts would increaſe.
Object. 14. But I am poor, it's an hard World, we work hard cannot ſpare time; I have a great family and charge to maintain.
Anſ. 1. Do'ſt not thou and thy family ſpend as much time in idle talk, ſports, needleſs Viſits, ſitting by the fire, as this would come to? None ſo hard ſet in their Callings, but they might redeem half an hour in the morning,Eph. 5.15. and more at night; yea though it were from ſleep, for God's Service, if they had an heart for God: Conſcience will tell thee, thou ſpendeſt more time, that might be better imployed; but an heart is wanting.
2. It's an uſual ſaying, Meat and Mattins hinder no work; There's a great truth in it: Prayer expedites buſineſs; for it obtains a bleſſing from God: Eliezer [Abraham's Servant] prayed, and God proſpered his Journey: You are Atheiſts if you think work ſtands in prayer-time:Pſal. 1.3. No, no, it makes whatſoever you take in hand to proſper. The poor man cried to Mr. Carter, Sir, I work hard, and fare bare, and thrive not; he anſwered, Work hard, and pray hard, and ſee what that will do.
Object. 15. I, ſaith the rich thriving man in the World, but my hands are ſo full of buſineſs, and Chapmen or Cuſtomers come ſo fast, or I am to go abroad in my Calling, that I cannot get time for prayer.
Anſ. 1. I ſhall to this give the ſame Anſwer that Mr. Ignatius Jurdan gave to a Shopkeeper in London, accounted religious, being very buſie in his Shop early in the morning; Mr. Jurdan took him aſide, ſaid, Sir, I perceive you are very buſie; do you keep up the Trade of Religion in all this throng? he anſwered, I hope I do; I, but ſaith he, do you viſit God in your Cloſet and Family morning and evening? he replied, In the evening I pray conſtantly with my family, but in the morning ſometimes Cuſtomers come and hinder us; Mr. Jurdan ſaid, I tell you, I would throw theſe goods into the Channel, or ſet a fire on them rather than they ſhould hinder me in my courſe of Devotion, or in the way to Heaven. So ſay I, Sirs, do you prize gain above godlineſs? then you are none of God s Servants, but the World's Slaves: Say not, it's but for a time, one neglect brings on another, and thy heart will be more hardened; and by miſſing one ſeaſon of Communion with God, you loſe more than all your Eſtates are worth: Are you content, that the World be your Portion? Oh make not gain your godlineſs!
2. How can you expect your gains and riches ſhould be bleſſed to you when you take not God's way to obtain a bleſſing?Prov. 3.34 If you begin not with God; the end will be curſed,Prov. 10. God's curſe is in the Houſe of ſuch wicked perſons: However ſuch treaſures of wickedneſs profit nothing;1 Tim. 6.9 10 and ſince you will be rich you fall into temptation and a ſnare, and many fooliſh and hurtful luſts which will drown you in deſtruction and perdition: Do not you know that worldly riches cannot ſatisfie? Conſider, the more you get of the World, the more difficult is your journey to Heaven, and greater your account.
Object. 16. You bind us to a tedious Bondage, this is a weariſom task to Pray with our Families Morning and Evening, it's not to be endured.
Anſw. 1. It's a ſign of a Carnal Heart to be weary of Duty: A gracious Soul thankfully accepts the offer of frequent approaching to God:Pſal. 43.4. Then, ſaith David, will I go to the Altar of God, Pſal. 73.28.to God my exceeding joy: It's good for me to draw nigh to God: This is the height of a Chriſtians preferment, the ſweeteſt recreation, and only gainful imployment: To them that love God his commands are not grievous; 1 Joh. 5.3. Prov. 3.17.but theſe ways of Wiſdom are not only pleaſant, but pleaſantneſs: Alas Sirs, what Spirits are you of,Mal. 1.1…. that ſay, What a wearineſs is it? Surely Heaven it ſelf would be your Hell, unleſs your Hearts and Natures were changed.
2. It is a dreadful token of Gods rejecting that man and of that Mans forſaking the Lord, that will rather pick quarrels with Divine Commands than obey them: Remember what became of them that ſaid,…oh. 6.60, 66. This is an hard ſaying who can hear it? They went back and walked no more with Chriſt. It's a ſign thou takeſt thy Religion for low and baſe ends, and when thoſe ends are attained then farewell Chriſt; And Oh the wretched end of forlorn Apoſtates, and whither wilt thou go for a better Maſter, where wilt thou find a better Service? will'ſt thou prefer Satans Drudgery to Gods Service which is perfect freedom?Joh. 12.26. Ah ſinner thou haſt the black brand of Reprobation upon thee, and and ſhalt be filled with thy own ways.Prov. 14.14
Object. 17. Saith one, I never uſed this Family-Prayer and have been an Houſe-keeper this Twenty, Thirty, or Forty years, and am loath to bring up a new Cuſtom, or condemn my former Practices.
Anſw. 1. Cuſtom in ſin, or ſinful neglects doubles the ſin, and hardens the heart, Jer. 13.23. Can the Ethiopian change his Skin— Then may ye alſo do good that are accuſtomed to do evil: What think you, is it an extermination or aggravation of a fault to plead Cuſtom? Will the Thief ſay to the Judge, My Lord, I have been ſo accuſtomed to ſtealing that I cannot leave it? Oh ſay not I will go to Hell becauſe I have travelled in that Road all my days, and am loath to change—
2. Converting Grace can break off a bad Cuſtom, yea ſanctifying work will turn an old Stream into a new Channel, or rather renew the Souls Faculties and make a new Creature, or Creation;2 Cor 5.17. Old things paſs away, and behold all things are become new; new Principles, Motives, Rule and End: You are not true Chriſtians, if you be not new Creatures;Phil. 3.9. And if you be not found in Chriſt, you are loſt for ever. You had need pray and pray again for new Covenant-Mercy; That God would give you a new Heart, Ezek. 36.26, 27.and a new Spirit—That you may walk in his Statutes. Eph. 4.22, 23, 24. 1 Pet. 1.18.Be not content with the Old Man, that corrupt rotten Image of Old Adam, but put on the New Man, that will make you capable of new Acts, in a new manner: Better late than never: Be not wedded to old Traditions.
Object. 18. I have uſed it formerly, but got no good by it, and ſo gave it over; and if I begin again, I doubt I ſhall not hold out.
Anſw. 1. Whoſe fault was that? Was it God's fault or thine? The blame muſt not be laid on the Duty but on the Perſon: Thouſands have got good by it, and would not lay it aſide for all the Worlds wealth; If thy heart had been right,Job. 17.9. thou wouldſt have held on thy way, if thy hands had been clean thou wouldſt have been ſtronger and ſtronger:2 John 8. Alas that thou ſhouldeſt loſe thy reward, by loſing what thou haſt wrought; Poor Soul, thou haſt Run in vain, all thy Labour is loſt,Ezek. 18.24. thy former Righteouſneſs ſhall not be mentioned for thee, but againſt thee.
2. Who perſuaded thee to leave off Family-Prayer? You did run well, who hindred you? Not God or his Miniſters; this perſuaſion cometh not of him that called you:Gal. 5.7.8. No, no, it was the Devil and a Wicked Heart that bewitched you: And is it not egregious folly,Gal. 3.1, 3. having begun in the Spirit, to think to be made perfect by the Fleſh? Will you go out of God's bleſſing into the warm Sun?Jer. 2.5. Mal. 3.14. What iniquity have you found in God or in his ways? Oh gratifie not the Devil, and Fleſh,2 Kin. 6.33. by ſaying, It is invain to God; Or what ſhould I wait for the Lord any longer? Hoſ. 2.7.Come Sirs, renew you old Acquaintance, Return to your firſt Husband; receive your ancient convictions, impreſſions; engage the ſtrength of God and you ſhall hold on
Object. 19. I like not this precileneſs, you ſhall never perſuade me to it; you ſpend your breath in vain, yet I hope to be ſaved, as well as the beſt of you all: God is merciful.
Anſw. 1. Now Fleſh and Blood and carnal reaſon ſpeak out, and vent the natural malignity of a wicked heart,Rom. 8.7. the carnal mind is enmity againſt God, for it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: Oh that any of Gods creatures ſhould ſpit ſuch venom againſt its maker! How far are you from bleſſed Paul, who when God called him by his Grace—He conferred not with Fleſh and Blood. Gal. 1.16.Will you ask the Devils Advice whither you ſhall be God's Children or no? Will you not ſerve God without the Devils leave? Well go on in your gratifying God's enemy, and ſee the iſſue, it will be bitterneſs in the End.
2. Dare you ſtand by this, anſwer at God's Bar and great Tribunal? Dare you then ſay, Lord thou didſt indeed bid us Pray, but we had no mind of that Duty; we loved not thee, nor did we approve of thy ways; we thought they were too ſtrict, and bound us too ſtrait; we had more mind of our carnal eaſe, and ſenſual luſts;Luk. 19.14. we were Latitudinarians; and reſolved upon it, we will not have this man to rule over us, whatever it coſt us? Well Sirs, think not not much if God ſay,Prov. 1.25, 26. Pſal. 50.21. You have ſet at nought all my Councel and would none of my Reproof; I alſo will laugh at your calamity: Your thought I was altogether ſuch an one as your ſelves, but I will reprove you: Now is the day of Vengeance, Mercy hath an end, and Juſtice takes place; and thoſe mine Enemies that would not that I ſhould Reign over them, Luk. 19.27.bring them hither and ſlay them before me.
Object. 20. Well, now I am convinced Prayer is a Duty, Family-Prayer is my Duty, and I have a mind to perform it; but I know not how to to manage it, I am a meer ſtrangeer to it, God help me, I am a meer Ignoramus, and know not what to ſay.
Anſw. 1. Where's the fault? Haſt thou not injoyed Means, Helps, Ordinances many years for the good of thy Soul? Do'ſt thou not ſee others as very Idiots as thou attain to excellent gifts, under the ſame helps, that can pray very pertinently, even extempore; but I gueſs the true cauſe, it's either the Pride of thy heart, that thou canſt not pray ſo well as others, or it's thy lazineſs that thou haſt not diligently uſed means to get knowledge or excite thy faculties:Prov. 1.32. thy ſloth will ſlay thy Soul; and thy damnation will be juſt.
2. God ſtands not upon Gifts, Elocution, or ready Utterance, the Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit;Pſal. 51.17. a broken and a contrite heart, God will not deſpiſe. If thou haſt not precious Liquor, canſt thou not offer him thy empty Bottles? If thou canſt not Pray, canſt thou not fall down on thy Knees and tell God thou canſt not Pray? Canſt thou not deſire him to help thee to pray? Yea, canſt thou not ſay, as much as the poor Publican, God be merciful to me a Sinner; Luk. 18.13.to us Sinners? If it be not wilfulneſs but weakneſs, God will indulge thee much, his Spirit will help thy Infirmities,Rom. 8.26. both what to ſay, and how to pray. But in this caſe I ſhall give ſome helps anon.