A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God, To the reader 2 – Table of contents
TO THE READER
THIS Diſcourſe, and that other by Reverend Mr. Newcome on Prov. 25. v. 28. do very opportunely come out together, both in reference to one another, and to the Time we live in, and to that which ſhould be aimed at in all Times, the reviving and keeping alive of ſerious, practical Religion, but moſt of all in this Time wherein it ſo much languiſhes.
They that know the Reverend Author of this Work, or have peruſed (with deſire to profit) thoſe pious practical Treatiſes, which he hath formerly Publiſhed, will think (as we do) that there is no need of any Letters Commendatory to bespeak thy favourable acceptance of the following Diſcourſe: The deſign of which is to perſwade and engage thoſe that are Heads and Governours of Families, to take up Joſhua's Reſolution; that whatever others do, yet they and their Houſes will ſerve the Lord, in daily faithful fervent Prayer, with Thanksgiving.
It is a word in ſeaſon: For 'tis a common Complaint, and that too, by many, who are not a little guilty of it themſelves; That the Power of Godlineſs, the Life of Practical Religion, is at this day under a lamentable decay: And amongſt the many Cauſes of this decay, there is ſcarcely any that hath been more perniciouſly influential thereunto, than the neglect of Family-Worſhip of God, which is one moſt proper means to promote Seriouſneſs in Religion: Frequent ſolemn Addreſſes to God, having a tendency to keep God in remembrance, and to cauſe the Apprehenſions of God to make the deeper impreſſion, and to have the ſtronger influence upon the hearts of thoſe who have not quite loſt all ſenſe of a God, or forgotten that they have Souls to ſave, or loſe. Prayer alſo being a means of God's appointment, to obtain Family Bleſſings and Mercies, (as well as Perſonal and National,) according to the many Promiſes which God hath made of Audience and Acceptance of the Prayers that are put up unto him in the Name of Chriſt, with upright hearts. To thoſe that ſincerely love God, and have wiſdom to judge of things as they relate to Eternity; the Duty commended in this Treatiſe, will appear, not only to be a neceſſary Duty, but a precious Priviledge, and gracious Vouchſafement: For there are two things which do especially render a Chriſtians continuance in the World deſirable and comfortable to him; the one is, that he may acquaint himſelf with God, and enjoy ſome ſweet Communion with him, (which is a beginning and foretaſt of Heaven whilſt we are here on Earth.) They that are utter ſtrangers to this, have no cauſe to think, that they are as yet made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. The other deſirable End or Buſineſs of a Chriſtians Life is, that he may be ſerviceable to God, by promoting his Glory and Intereſt in the World, eſpecially by furthering the ſpiritual Good, and Salvation of Souls; both theſe do meet together in the conſcientious practice of this Duty. Firſt; Communion with God: When the Head and Master of a Family (who is as Prophet, Prieſt and Ruler in his Family) doth joyntly with his Children and Servants (as a little Church of God in his Houſe) offer up daily Sacrifice of Prayer, Praiſe and Thanksgiving unto God, the Author of their Beings, the God of their Lives, and the giver of every good gift wherewith their Lives are ſweetned: And does alſo receive from him Communications of Grace and Mercy; for our bountiful God will never be behind-hand with thoſe that ſeek him in truth, but giveth liberally to them that ask in Faith.
Secondly; Serviceableneſs unto God, in training up his Family in the fear of God; God himſelf bearing witneſs how greatly acceptable Family-Religiouſneſs is unto him, in that high Commendation, which he hath recorded of Abraham; I know him, (ſaith God) that he will command his Children, and his Houſhold after him, and they ſhall keep the Way of the Lord. 'Tis a Duty that is both Work and Wages; a Service, that carries its Reward with it (Reward, not of Debt, but of Grace,) it brings a Bleſſing upon a Family, as the Ark did on the Houſe of Obed-Edom; when on the contrary, dreadful Wrath is imprecated to be poured out upon the Families that call not on the Name of God, Jer. 10.25.
Reader, if thou be one that liveſt in the daily exerciſe, and due performance of this Duty of Family-Prayer, thy own experience of the ſpiritual Benefits and Advantages of it, will enable thee to ſet to thy Seal to what the God of Truth hath ſpoken in his Word. I never ſaid to the Seed of Jacob (Iſraelites indeed, that know how to wraſtle with God,) ſeek ye my face in vain. But if being a Maſter of a Family, thou be a ſtranger to this duty, either through ſlothfulneſs, multiplicity of buſineſs, or prejudice and diſaffection to the Duty; the Reverend Author hath ſaid enough to convince thee, that it is thy Duty; and if convinced hereof, thou wilt continue in the wilful neglect of thy known duty, thou doſt in effect ſay with thoſe in Jer. 44 16. As for the Word which thou haſt ſpoken to us in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee; What an aggravation will this be of thy ſin! For to him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is ſin, Jam. 4.17. i. e. exceeding ſinful; and alſo of thy puniſhment; for that Servant which knew his Lords will, and prepared not himſelf, neither did according to his will, ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes, Luk. 12.47. That the one and the other may be prevented, and thou mayeſt be prevailed with conſcientiouſly to practiſe this Duty, is the deſign of this Treatiſe, and the hearty deſire of
Thine in the Lord John Starkey.
Thine in the Lord John Howe.
THE CONTENTS.
CHap. I. The Text opened. Doctrines raiſed.
Chap. II. Shewing what is meant by Family-Altars, and what's required of Houſholders.
Chap. III. Arguments to prove that Governours of Families muſt ſet up Altars for the Worſhip of God.
Chap. IV. Objections propoſed and anſwered that militate againſt Family-Altars.
Chap. V. An uſe of Conviction, Lamentation over Prayerleſs-Families.
Chap. VI. Motives to perſuade Governours of Families to ſet up Altars to God, for his Solemn Worſhip.
Chap. VII. Directions how to ſet up an Altar in Families, and how to manage Family-Worſhip.
Chap. VIII. Directions how to manage the Worſhip of God in Families, as to the matter of Prayer,
Chap. IX. Helps how to manage Family-Worſhip, as to the manner of Performance.
Chap. 10. A Reſolution of ſeveral Caſes of Conſcience, concerning the Worſhip of God in Families.