A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God, Treatise · Chapter 6
Chap. VI. Motives to perſuade Governours of Families to ſet up Altars to God, for his Solemn Worſhip.
AND now Friends, what remains but a due Compliance to this call? Oh that Sacred Altars we…e ſet up for Gods Solemn Worſhip, in all the Families through the Kingdom! were God duely Worſhiped in all Houſes, how happy a Nation ſhould we be! we might hope that God would tarry with us, and Bleſs us: if men would Pray as Chriſtians, and live as Chriſtians, things would be better with us than they are: let none miſtake us, together with the Worſhip of God we muſt diſcover the neceſſity of a ſaving Principle in the heart, and ſuitable practice in the life; men muſt firſt be good, then they will do good: and they muſt be firſt united to Chriſt, or neither will follow: for he ſaith,Joh. 15.5. without me [foreign] being divided from me] you can do nothing: you can do nothing Spiritually, nothing acceptably; Oh Sirs do not think to put off God with a few Dutys, or formal performances without Senſe and Savour: God ſaith,See this fully explained by Mr. Burroughs on Hoſ. 6.6. pag. 600.618. I deſired Mercy and not Sacrifice, (i. e. not only Sacrifice,) and the Knowledg of God more than Burnt-Offerings: the word Mercy is a Synechdoche comprehending all the dutys of the ſecond Table under one: by Sacrifice is meant Synechdochically all inſtituted Ordinances and Worſhip, all the affirmative precepts of the ſecond and fourth Commandments; but yet Prayer to God is of ſuch abſolute neceſſity, and founded in Nature (if it be granted that there is a God,) that the Heathen could prefer it to Sacrifices ſaying [foreign] offer Prayers to the Gods not Oxen: but though Prayer it ſelf be a natural duty, yet the Circumſtances of time and place may be various as occaſion is offered; hence Divines ſay, Negative Precepts bind [ſemper et ad ſemper] always and to all times; affirmative bind indeed [ſemper] always, but not [ad ſemper] to all times; therefore Pray continually, if it be done in ſeaſon God looks upon it as always, or continually done, but if another duty of great importance be to be done at that inſtant, God diſpenſeth with the former and it ceaſeth to be a duty then, yet the duty continues, and muſt not be totally ſuperſeded: only God will have Sacrifice,See 10 inſtance ib. p. 603. but not without the Spirit; for inſtituted Worſhip, without natural Worſhip, is not regarded:Joh. 4.24. he will be Worſhiped in Spirit and in truth; nor will God accept theſe Prayers and Sacrifices as an Attonment for Sin, or a diſpenſation to continue in Sin, if you leave out Chriſt in the former, and make uſe of Chriſt in the latter, your Prayers are abominable.
Having premiſed this▪ I ſhall ſubjoyn a few Motives to peſuade You to Family-Prayer; beſides the Reaſons to prove it a duty, which I deſire you to review, and learn to practiſe this leſſon, as you would obey a Divine Command; Anſwer old Teſtament Types; not act againſt nature it ſelf; accompliſh promiſes and Prophecies; imitate Godly Examples; Anſwer divine Providence; diſtinguiſh yours from Profane Families; approve your ſelves and Families to be little Churches; as you will give account of the charge committed to your truſt; obtain a ſupply of your Family-neceſſitys; and a bleſſing upon your ſelves and yours; and avoid God's curſe and wrath upon your Families; fall cloſe to this duty; I have anſwered many objections.
And now I Beſeech you in the Bowels of Chriſt to ſet up Altars; and offer your ſelves and Families wholly and intirely to the Lord, as a whole Burnt-offering for Gods-ſake who made you for himſelf, daily preſerves you, and can plentifully reward your Obedience, and revenge your Diſobedience? 2. I Beſeech you for Chriſts ſake who laid down his Life for you,Tit. 2.14. that he might purchaſe you to himſelf, a peculiar People zealous of Good works. 3. For the Holy Ghoſts ſake, which is moving you to duty, ſuggeſting good things into your minds, will help your infirmities, Oh do not quench it grieve it. 4. For the Churches ſake, for Zions ſake hold not your peace,Iſa. 62.1. but help the travelling Church in her Pangs till ſhe be delivered. 5. For the Nations ſake, that is almoſt drowned in Atheiſm and Senſuality, and daily ſubject to Gods diſpleaſure and fury. 6. For your poor children and ſervants ſake, who need your Prayers for their Converſion, Pardon and Reconciliation with God. 7. For your own Souls ſake that are oft under guilt, imperfect in Grace; and have much work and burden upon your hands and a great account to make? Surely if you have any ſenſe upon your hearts of any of theſe things, you will inſtantly, conſtantly and affectionatly call upon God in your Families. Again, let me urge you with the benefits of this work of Family-Prayer.
1. This Altar-Devotion will be the beſt Ornament to your houſes; no Pictures, ſtately Rooms or houſhold good will be ſuch neat and Splendid furniture as this Worſhip of God: the braveſt hangings and moſt Glorious Paintings, are but Sordid and Nauſeous Excrements to this; it is this that renders a beggers Cottage far more honourable than a Princes Pallace without it: Righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation [and family] but Sin is a reproach to any People or Perſon: this is far before full bags, Magnificent tables, and entertainment, a large train of attendants: for God is there, as the poor Hermit-like Philoſopher ſaid, [foreign] here dwell the Gods?Pro. 14.34. So the high and lofty one dwells — with the contrite and humble Spirit, Iſai. 57.15.in the moſt homely habitation. What a comely ſight is it to behold all the members of a family Proſtrate on their knees every Morning and Evening! to hear Melodious Praiſes to God unanimouſly Sung! 'tis an Emblem of Heaven: it is recorded of the Prince of Anhalts Houſe that it was [Templum, Academia, Curia,] a Church, an Academy, and Court, where himſelf was as Prieſt, Tutour, Judg and Soveraign Lord: Oh happy ſuch a family! I may ſay of ſuch a Governour as the Queen of Sheba of Solomon, happy are thy men, happy are theſe thy Servants which ſtand continually before thee! 1 Kin. 10.8.This, this only is the Glory of a Family.
2. This is not only the Ornament, but muniment and defence of a Family:Pſal. 91.1. he that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the Moſt High, ſhall abide under the ſhadow of the Almighty! Communion with God uſually is attended with protection from God; if any be ſafe it is the Godly that ſhall be ſafe? Lot's Family muſt be delivered from Sodoms flames: the Lord ſhall create upon every dwelling-place of Mount-Zion, Iſai. 4.5.as well as upon her Aſſemblies, a Cloud and Smoak by day (that the Enemy ſhall not find them) and the ſhining of a Flaming Fire by night (that they may ſee the their way,Zech. 2.5. yea it ſhall be a Wall of Fire round about them) for upon all the Glory ſhall be a defence: yea God himſelf will be the Glory in the midſt of them; none know the advantages of Praying families, but experienced and Obſervant Chriſtians.
3. This is the way and means to bring Spiritual and Eternal Salvation to your Houſes: ſurely that was a great word that our Dear Lord ſpoke to Zacheus,Luk. 19, 9 this day is Salvation come to this Houſe? that little man uſed great care and made an hard ſhift to behold Jeſus, and meat with a bleſſed, unexpected gueſt, that brought him the greateſt Bleſſing, himſelf and Salvation with Him? Our Lord never comes alone, but brings Happineſs with him: the converſion of one man as it was a pledg of his Adoption, ſo it made even [domum illam ſalut is haeredem] the whole Family an heir of Heavenly Glory:Nam quia deus dum patrem familias adoptat, toti etiam ejus domni ſe in deum fore promit tit jure ſalus a capite extenditur ad totum corpus: Calv. in loc. Act. 10. 2, 11, 14. for (as Calvin obſerved) when God adopts the Governour of a Family, he promiſeth to be a God to the whole houſe, and by right Salvation is extended from the head to the whole body: So Lydia was baptized and her houſhold, and the Jaylour: Act. 16, 15, 33, 34. and oh what joy was produced, when himſelf and his houſe believed! yea Cornelius owning God in Family-worſhip, brought to him and his, words, whereby the Maſter and all his houſe ſhould be ſaved▪ not of Merit but in a Covenant-way, and in anſwer of Prayer: Oh Sirs, would you not have your Children and Servants ſaved? this is Gods appointed way, to bring it about; call in Divine aid, and grace to do that for yours, which you cannot.
4. Family-Worſhip will make up a defect in, or want of publick Ordinances; Providence may caſt your lot in places where the ſtreams of the Sanctuary run low, or muddy; in this caſe houſe-wells may do you much Service, when publick perſecution breaks up Church-aſſemblys, houſe-worſhip will maintain Religion in the World; and that private Fire will break out into an open Flame; what had become of Religion had it not lodged in private houſes? this hath been Gods uſual reſerve to maintain the power of Godlineſs; Church-Hiſtory …ells us, that the open profeſſion of the Goſpel hath run at a low Ebbe, and this hath helped it to a Glorious Reſurrection: Miniſters were Baniſhed, Aſſemblies ſcaterred, Churches demoliſhed, and ſcarce any appearance of publick Meetings; yet then the fire glowed hot in private hearths, and in God's due time a door was opened for Solemn Aſſemblies; how much are we beholding to God for Houſe-Altars! and ſuch a day may overtake us again. And ſuppoſe you have free liberty of Publick and Powerfull Ordinances, how can you expect a bleſſing upon them without ſeeking God for it in your Families! What good will Preaching do without your private inſtructions, admonitions, councels, prayers? this will inculcate truths, and may lay a foundation for after-godlineſs; and as Family-Worſhip is moſt indiſputable, ſo leaſt unaproachable by the enemy, becauſe oft indiſcerneabl; however you may moſt warrantably ſuffer for it, if that be God's will, as you heard Daniel ventured himſelf for it to the hungry Lions.
My Beloved Friends what ſhall I ſay? what Arguments ſhall I uſe to perſwade you to this duty of Family-Worſhip? I doubt your Religion is to ſeek, if you be ſo loath to ſet up this Family-Altar, which may conſecrate all your Civil and Natural acts and Offices; I will but Poſe you with theſe few Interrogatorys.
1. Suppoſe a Grave and Pious Miniſter, or Chriſtian friend lodge with you, would you not for ſhame reach him a Bible, and deſire him to go to Prayer with you leſt he ſhould ſuſpect you to be Prayerleſs at other times? and will not Gods authority and preſence have the like influence, and awe upon your Spirits?
2. Suppoſe your Friends and Relations ſhould quite diſown, and diſclaim you, unleſs you would Pray in your Family, would you not make an hard ſhift to do ſomething that way, rather than be accounted unworthy of Humane Society? and ſhall that prevail more than God's diſclaiming you, or diſowning converſe with you?
3. If your Landlord ſhould turn you out of your Houſe, or your Father ſhoud Diſinherit you if you ſet not up this Family-altar, could you be content to ſuffer both, rather than do it? and ſhall a threatning of your Father in Heaven, or Great Land-lord, to reject or eject you out of Heaven avail nothing?
4. If a Law were impoſed upon you to pay five Shillings a time, that you neglect Prayer in your Family, would you forfeit that ſumme [toties quoties] as oft as you go Prayerleſs to Bed; and would you not fear that would begger you? and ſhall not greater loſſes and heavier penalties deter you from this Omiſſion?
5. If the King or a Nobleman ſhould promiſe you five Pound a time, that you call your Family together, read a Chapter, Sing a Pſalm, Kneel down and Pray to God, would you not ſtrain hard to procure that Money; and will not a greater profit from the Almighty God prevail with you to perform this excerciſe to obtain a reward?
6. Suppoſe a Brand were ſet upon your Foreheads like Cains Tan, or a dreadfull Trembling ſhould ſeize upon your bodies for ſuch a Neglect, or you ſhould paſs under ſuch a Stigmatizing character as that in Deut. 25.9, 10. The houſe of him that hath his Shooe looſed: So if this name be given you, this is a Graceleſs, Prayerleſs man; would not this ſhame you out of this wretched Omiſſion?
7. Suppoſe the next time you go Prayerleſs to Bed, your lovelieſt Child and Darling ſhould be ſnatch't away by a ſudden ſtroak of Death, as it was in Egypt, the firſt born of Pharaoh and others dyed,Exo. 11.56. and there was a great Cry: would not this move you into better Manners? Oh but a greater evil befalls you, your own precious Souls are endangered by Neglect.
8. Suppoſe a Red Croſs, with a [Lord have Mercy upon Ʋs] were ſet upon your doors, and the Peſtilence were within your houſe, ſeizing on you, one after another, and you had nothing elſe to do, but to get ready to dye, would you not ſpend ſome time in Prayer for your ſelves and Families? Behold a worſe Plague is upon you of Sin, and will you not Pray?
9. Suppoſe, upon every Omiſſion of Family Prayer you ſhould loſe a Limb or member of your Body, firſt one finger, then a Toe ſhould be cut or torn off, till all be gone, and you diſmembred, would not this force you to this duty? and yet your Precious Souls are in hazard, which are ten thouſand times more worthy than a Limb, yea than the whole Body by wilfull Neglect.
10. Suppoſe a Gallows were ſet at your door, and you muſt be hanged thereupon the next time you go out of your door, when you have not Prayed in your Family; would you venture to be hanged rather than omit this duty? do you love your lives no better? Oh! but Eternal death is far more dreadfull, and are Eternal torments,Rev. 21.8. that lake that burneth with fire & Brimſtone nothing to you? is the ſecond death eaſie? and ſhall not Sinners be damned for their Omiſſion of good, as well as Commiſſion of Evil? Be it known to you,Numb. 32.23. that if you will not do ſo (i. e. as God Commands) Behold ye have ſinned againſt the Lord, and be ſure your ſin will find you out; it will hunt you as a Blood hound, and haunt you as an evil Spirit in conſcience here, and in Torments hereafter: if God ſaid to Cain for a defect in his Sacrifice,Gen. 4.7. if thou doeſt not well Sin lies at the door, [i. e. guilt ſhall be charged upon thee] and you know how it dog'd him, though he failed but in the manner of it, not acting Faith on Chriſt, for acceptance; Oh what will become of you that fall ſhort even in the matter alſo? and do nothing of what God Commands you; yea you think it is a needleſs ceremony, and mock them that do carefully, conſtantly and conſcientiouſly perform this duty; wo unto you, if you dye in this Sin you are undone forever.
But one word more, if any offer themſelves to be members of particular Churches, and partake of the Lords Supper, I ſhould judge them not fit to be Communicants except they Pray in their Families: and if any be admitted and perform not their duty, I ſhould think them as worthy church-cenſures, as thoſe that are Idle and omit working in their particular callings, which is injoyned 2 Theſ 3.6, 12, 14. what cenſure this is, leſſer or greater, whether only withdrawing familiar converſe with the offender, or upon obſtinacy publick Excommunication, I leave to the judgment of the Learned; But *Si quis renuit libe…os ſuos alere, reprehendunt eum, pudefaciunt eum, urgent eum! Si adhuc renuit, publice in eum proclamant in Syna goga dicentes … crudelis eſt, non vult alere liberos …un…vel ipſis volu…ribus immundis crudelior, nam illae pullos ſuos alunt &c Dr. Lightfoot in Evang: Mathaei Borae Hebraicae, cap. 18. 17. p. 215.Dr. Lightfoot tells us out of the Rabbins, that if any refuſe to nouriſh his children, they muſt reprove him, make him aſhamed, urge him; if he ſtill refuſes, they muſt publickly proclaim in the Synagogue, ſuch a one is cruel and will not nouriſh his children, he is more Cruel than the unclean Fowls, for thoſe nouriſh their Young ones, and may we not ſay the ſame of ſuch as neglect theſe needfull Family-excerciſes for the Souls of their's?