Practical Truths to Promote Godliness, Sermon 2
The True Fearers of God will Practise Family Prayer.
ACTS 10. 2.
One that feared God with all his House—And Prayed alway.
IN this Chapter, we have an account of the g…eat acceptance which Cornelius his prayers found w…th God; together with the gracious effects following thereupon. In the two first verses Cornelius is described. 1. From the City where he dwelt viz. Cesarea. 2. From his Calling, he was a Souldier; and no common Soldier, but a Centurion. 3. From the Nation which he did belong unto; he was an Italian, a Commander belonging to the Italian Band. And indeed Cornelius is a Romane Name. 4. He is described from his Religion, in this verse, he was a devont man, h. e. He was though a Romane, and so a Gentile by nature, yet no meer Heathen in respect of his Religion, but a Proselyte. Elsewhere Proselyte's are stiled Devout Persons, Act. 17. 4. We read of Devout Greeks, that is such as wore Proselytes to the Jewish Religion. Hence also, Cornelius is described to be one that feared God, h. e. that did worship the only true God. Thus A…. 13. 26. Children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever amongst you feareth God; meaning such …s though they were not (as the Jews are) descended from Abraham, nevertheless worshipped the God of Abraham as the Iews did: These Fearers of God are in verse 43. called Religious Proselytes. There were two sorts of Proselytes amo…gst the Iews of old.
1. Some that were styled Proselytes of the Covenant, those were circumcised, and also admitted to all priviledges in the Church of Israel; no difference being made either as to Civil or Church communion between them, and those that were natural Israelites.
2. Those that were stiled Proselytes of the Gate. These did own the God of Israel to be the only true God; and hoped for Salvation by the Messiah; and did endeavour to frame their lives according to the holy Rules of the Moral Law. Cornelius was a Proselyte of this, and not of the former sort. And hence Peter was unwilling to converse with him, until such time as God by a vision commanded him so to do. The truth of Cornelius his Religion is in this verse intimated by two things.
1. In that he was careful, not only to pray unto God himself alone, but that his Family should do so too. He did worship God with all his House, h. e. with his whole Family. The ho…se is frequently in the Scripture put for the Family, Gen. 7. 1. & 30. 30. Exod. 12 3:
2. In that he did thus alway. He did not only pray with his Family once or so, but alwayes? That is to say, alway in the due and stated seasons for that duty: the meaning is not, as though Cornelius did spend his time in nothing else but Prayer and Religious Exercises, but that he was constant in his Attendance unto that duty, in the seasons apponted for that end.
The Doctrine which the Words do therefore afford unto us, is,
That the true Fearers of God will be constant in the practice of that duty of Family Prayer.
In order to the clearing of this Truth, th…re are three things to be enquired into.
1. How it doth appear that Family Prayer is a duty?
2. What is implied in being constant therein, or in doing thus alway?
3. The Reasons why they that truly fear God do thus practise.
Q. 1. He doth it appear that Family Prayer is a Duty?
Ans. 1. The Scripture doth enjoyn this. God in his word, commands men to pray with all Prayer, Eph. 6. 18. Not only Prayer in closets. and in solemn Assemblies, but in Families, is comprehended under that expression of All Prayer. Nor can a man be said to pray with all prayer, except he doth practice publick, secret, and Family Prayer. And in the Scripture, Husbands and Wives are required to live lovingly together, that their prayers be not hindred, 1 Pet. 3 7. what prayers? surely Family Prayers. They that are contending and quarrelling one with another, are very unfit to go to prayer together: Therefore Husband and Wife should live in love, that so they may not be indisposed to pray together in their Family. Again, the Scripture declareth, that Men should take care that their Families as well as themselves serve God. Fathers are to bring up their Children, in the …urture and admonition of the Lord, Eph. 6. 4. which they cannot do except they pray with them, and by example as well as precept, let them see that God ought to be worshipped and prayed unto. Thus Joshua was resolved to do, Chap. 24. ver. 15. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Ioshua did exhort the Children of Israel, that they should all of them in their Houses serve God. which doth imply Prayer unto h…m; inasmuch as prayerless Families can not be said, to be God-serving, God-fearing Families.
2. As there are Scripture Precepts requiring this duty, so there are Scripture Examples, which God hath caused to be recorded in his Word, for our instruction and imitation. We find that the Lord Christ, who hath left himself for an example in this as well as in other things, for us to follow; did pray with his Family, Luk. 9. 18. As he was alone praying, his Disciples (who were his Family) were with him. And when Christ did keep the Passover with his domestick Disciples alone, it is certain that he prayed with them, Mat. 26. 18. &c. David also, was wont to worship God with his Family. And was resolved to continue in that practice all his dayes. Hence he could say, as Psal. 101. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. And we read concerning him, that after he had been attending the worship of God in publick, he returned to bless his house, 1 Chron. 16. 43. so that he did not think it enough to worship God in a publick solemn Assembly amongst his People, but when he cometh home, he prayeth with his Family, that the blessing of God might be there.
3. Of old there were not only Publick, but Private Family-Sacrifices. Jonathan relates concerning David, that he said to him, our Family hath a Sacrifice in the City, and my Brother commanded me to be there, 1 Sam. 20. 29. which undoubtedly were not without Family Prayers. And although Sacrifices in a legal, literal sense are ceased, in these dayes of the Gospel; Christ by that one offering of himself, having put an end thereto, yet spiritual Sacrifices must be offered up still, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye are a spiritual house, an holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual Sacrifices, acceptable unto God by Iesus Christ. When Christians offer up prayers and praises unto the Lord, these are spiritual Sacrifices, acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ. And indeed every Believer is a spiritual Priest. Jesus Christ hath made us Priests unto God and his Father, Rev. 1. 6. And inasmuch as he is a Priest in his own Family, therefore he ought to offer up spiritual Sacrifices there. Every Master of a Family is a Prophet in his own Family, because he ought to instruct them in the things of God: and a King there, inasmuch as he ought to govern his Family according to the rules of the word of God, and a Priest also, for that he ought to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices therein.
4. The very light of nature teacheth men that Family Prayer is a duty. Hence the Gentiles that had no Scripture to direct them, yet have made conscience of Family worship. They had their Penates, houshold gods, whom they did adore. Yea, Mahometans at this day, worship their God not only in publick Assemblies, but in their Families. So that men who call themselves Christians, and yet acknowledge no God in their Families are in that thing worse then Infidels. Many Heathen People, nay Turks will at the day of Judgement rise up ag…inst such pretended Christians, and condemn them.
Q. 2. What is implied in a mans praying [alway] with his Family?
Ans. This Praying alway implieth frequency in that duty. Family Prayer should be attended daily. In that sense the Phrase is sometimes used in the Scripture. As when it is said, that Mephibosheth did eat (continually, or as the Hebrew word Tamid signifieth) alway at the Kings Table; the meaning is, that it was his daily custome so to do. Thus Cornelius with his house prayed alway; Family prayer was daily observed in that house. Families need daily supplies of mercy. And there are Family occasions to be attended every day, which Masters in Families are concerned …o look up to God, that his blessing may be thereon: And there are daily mercies which they ought to bless God for. Yea, it is good to practise this duty more than once every day, h. e. in the morning and in the evening also. It is a good thing to praise the Lord, and shew forth his loving kindness in the morning, and every evening, Psal. 92. 1, 2. The continual offering under the Law was that whereby prayer was typified: and that was to be both at morning and at the even, Exod. 29. 38. Num. 28. 3, 4. So should it be as to Family Prayer. And therefore is is very observable, that the Apostle speaking to Masters in Families, useth that expression, continue in prayer, Col. 4. 2. In which words he doth evidently allude unto the continual offering under the Law, which was to be attended daily, both at morning and at even; you (saith he) that are Masters of Families, forget not the continual offering of Prayer, which you ought to present before the Lord. It is as if he had said, pray constantly morning and evening in your Families. Therefore,
2. This expression implieth perseverance. Men should not only begin to practise this duty, but they ought to hold on therein, all their dayes. Christ hath taught us, that men ought alway to pray and not to faint, Luk. 18. 1. And we are bid to pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5. 18. As there ought to be perseverance in attending unto the publick Worship of God, on the times appointed for that end; as Hezekiah professeth that he had taken up a resolution to praise God all the dayes of his life in the house of the Lord, Isai. 38. 20. So should men praise the Lord, and pray to him, all the dayes of their lives in their own houses. There ought to be perseverance in all prayer, and therefore Christians are to continue all their dayes in the practise of private or family, as well as in publick and in closet prayer: So may they be said to do as Cornelius did, even …o pray alway, Eph. 6. 18.
Q. 3. Whence is it that the true Fearers of God do thus?
Reas. 1. Because they that truly fear God respect the honour of his Name. They cannot but desire that God might be honoured every where, and more especially in their own Families. Now prayer honours God. Hence is that expression, Mat 15 8. they honour me with their lips: when men pray unto God with their lips, they honour him therewith: and when they pray with their hearts, as well as their lips, they honour him with both. As when they neglect this so great a duty, they withhold that honour from God, which is due unto him from his creatures, Isai. 43. 23. thou hast not honoured me with thy Sacrifices. So doth the Lord say to Masters of Families, that pray not with their houses, thou hast not honoured me with thy prayers. But as for those that call upon his Name, their prayers and praises glorifie him. When men own the Lord to be the God of their Families they put honour upon him. And so it is when Family worship is duely upheld.
Reas. 2. They that truely fear God, are desirous that the interest of Religion should be upheld and promoted. One that is truely Religious himself can not but desire that others may be so too. Paul being himself a real Christian, earnestly wished that others were in that respect as he was. When Agrippa said to him, thou almost perswadest me to be a Christian, he replied, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these Bonds, Act, 26. 28, 29. so it is (and cannot but be) where there is true grace Especially they are desirous that those who are related to them; and are of t…e same Family with them, may be acquainted with the good wayes of the Lord. Therefore they will make Conscience, not only to pray for them, but to pray with them; since thereby Religion and the Fear of God will be promoted. And to have Religion in Families is the way to have it elsewhere. Families are the Nurseries of all Societies. If Religion should not be upheld there, it would fall to the ground every where.
Use 1. For Reprehension. And there are many that fall under just and sad Reproof from this Doctrine.
1. It condemns those that live in the total neglect of this duty of Family prayer. And what is like to come on prayerless Families at last? Let Prayerless Fathers, and prayerless Masters hear the word of the Lord, & tremb…e at it. O that you would consider, how you expose not only your selves but Families, to the vengeance of Heaven. How often have you been put in mind of that awful Scripture. Jer. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not. What's that to us? some one will be ready to say; we are no Heathen, we are all Christians: but mark what follows; and noon the Families that call not upon the N…m…. Not only p…ofessed Heathen▪ but Families that live like Heathen w…hout any prayer, the …ury of …he Almighty w…l …ome po…ring dow… fr… heaven upon them. Hence a…e temperal judgements upon families many times. The Lord kil…s C…ldren w…h death, beca…se Parents do not how them an example of Religion to pray with them …n …he …amily as wel… as for them i… secret. Yea, the Souls of your poor Children are ruined by his sin of you…s. And O how sad will it be w…en God shall require the blood of the Souls of Children at the hands of their prayerless Fathers; and the blood of the souls of serv…nts at the hands of their prayerless Masters. Think with your selves w…at answer you will make before Jesus Christ the Son of God at the last and great day. If thy Children shall be thine accusers before the Lord then; if any of them shall stand before the Lord Jesus in the day when he shall judge the World, and say, Lord▪ there is the man that was my Father, I never heard him pray in all my life, and that made …e … in …he neglect of God also; or if thy Servants shall any of them say, Lord, there is the man that was my Master, I lived in his …use so many moneths, but I never heard him praying unto God all that time, w…at answer wilt thou then make for thy self? you shall not be able to plead ignorance. …or I wih… then call Heaven a…d Earth to record against you, that you were often ol… of your …uty in thi… particular. And yet I hear some say, t…t …h…re are many prayerless fami…ies in this great …own. The thing i… lamentable, if it be so. W…at, …or men that call themselves Christians, to ha…e no prayer in their families? for men that live under the light of the Gospel, to live without Prayer in their families! for men that live in New England, and that have lived in Boston; not so much as to pray in their families! Such have known to do good, and yet have not done it; therefore sin and guilt and wrath most fearful doth abide them. And this word reacheth Masters of Vessels, that never pray with their S…ps Company, who are their Family, with whom they ought to worship God continually.
2. This reproveth those that do not pray in their Families Allway. There are some that pray in their families: but when is it? once in a week perhaps. It may be on the Sabbath day, they will pr…y in their families; and serve God therein no more all the dayes of the week after. Is this to pray alway when there are such wide and woful gaps in prayer? It is thy duty to serve God all the dayes of thy life, Luk. 1 75 dost thou serve God all …hy dayes, when thou dost serve him, and pray to him, but one day in seven? God will not be put off so. When once thou shalt see the day wherein thy family shall stand in no need of Gods blessing; neglect Prayer in thy family for that day; but till then willingly omit it not under any pretence whatsoever. And are there not some, that time was when they would worship God w…th their families; but they are fallen away, and have cast off the practice that is good? O foolish creatures, you did run well, but who hath driven you back? Remember the word that was spoken by the Lord Jesus, Luk. 9. 62. No man having put his hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdome of God. Didst thou begin to pray with thy family? This was to set thy hand to the Lords plough: we to thee if thou drawest it back again.
3. This reproveth those who do that in families which is quite contrary unto praying and serving God therein. Are there not families in this place, wherein there is Drinking to excess, Gaming, Wantonness, Uncleanness? Indeed, when such deeds of darkness are brought to light, they are put to shame amongst us; and it is a great mercy to the Land, that open prophaness and wickedness is punished, but the Lord seeth what is done in private Houses. He knoweth who they are, that assemble themselves by troops in the Harlots Houses, Jer. 5. 7. And are there not families in the which instead of Prayer, there is Cursing, Swearing, Sabbath breaking; & the like Transgressions that provoke the glorious eyes of the Holy Majesty o… Heaven? Let the Masters of such Families look to themselves. For the Sabbath breaking▪ & other profanenesses that are indulged in their Families, will be charged upon them, who ought to rule their Houses better, Exod. 20. 10.
Use 2. Of Exhortation: To be constant in the practice of this necessary duty. They that are so, their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. If they be sincere therein, special mercy will follow: we see it in this example of Cornelius. He worshipped God with his House, and prayed alway; and what special notice did the Lord take of him? those prayers were not lost. And sometimes when outward Judgements come God sh…weth peculiar mercy to praying Families. I remember I have read of a Town in Switzerland, that was destroyed with an Earth-quake, excepting only one house, where it so fell out, that at the time when the Earth quake hapned, the master of the house was at prayer with his Family. But especially spiritual blessings, are wont to follow upon the sincere attendance unto this duty. If there be a praying Father, it is to be hoped that there will be praying Children: and if there be a praying Master, it is to be hoped there will be praying Servants. And is not that a blessed thing, for a man to have the Children and Servants of his own family praying for him continually? Thus do we read concerning Abrahams Servant, Gen. 24. 12. He said, O Lord God of my Master Abraham, I pray thee send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my Master Abraham. How came Eliezer to be a praying Servant? doubtless, he observed that his Master was much in prayer; and such an Example mi…ht well be followed.
… shall only answer two or three Objections in a fe… words, and conclude.
O…j…ct. 1. Some one may say, I have not time to p…ay in my Family. My business and worldly occasions are such as I ca…not atten… Prayer.
Ans. No man shall fare …he wo…se as to his outward estate, because he d…th make conscience to set some time apart daily to serve God; no mans Family shall be the poorer, but rather the richer for that. O that you would remember and consider more on that Scripture, Mat. 6. 33. Se…k ye first the Kingdome of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. And it is certainly better to want time for other things, then to take no time to pray in Yea, a man should rather deny himself a little of his natural rest and sleep, then to live an ungodly, prayerless life. Nor is it needful, or indeed convenient, that Family duties should be ordinarily long and tedious; and therefore the objection is a vain excuse The…e are ot…ers in the world, that have a much bus…ne…s up… their …a…d as thou hast▪ who never b…le…y in their clos…ts and … their … Had not Dav…d as litt…e t…me to …e▪ a… a… much busin…s… to atten… as an… man can ord…n…il… …retend unto; yet …e … …ou…d time to pray in. Let t…y Con…ence spe…k; c…st thou n…t find t…me …or o…h…r t…ings that are of less concernment▪ Thou c…t find …ime it m…y be to …it in some T…vern and there to ci…c…urse, the Lord knowe…h about w…at. If that t…me which is spent in vain, unprofita…le …i…co…r…e, were spent in Communion with God, i… would be happy for thee. Canst thou find time for vain discourse, and yet not find time for prayer? and canst thou then think that God will ever find a time to save thy poor soul? deceive not thy self, thou must be another man, or that time will never come.
Object. 2. I am ashamed to pray in my Family?
Ans. What ashamed to own God, and the Lord Jesus Christ! dost thou not know that thats the way for a man to lose his Soul for ever? see else what the Lord Jesus hath spoken, Mark 8. 3 last verses. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own Soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul: whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father, with the Holy Angels. If thou art ashamed of prayer, thou art ashamed to own the wayes of Christ: and then what will become of thy precious and immortal Soul?
Object 3. I would pray in my Family, but I cannot, I have not the gift of utterance and expression?
Ans. 1. It is better for thee to make use of a form then not to pray at all. I confess, I look upon it as sinful to make use of those Forms of Prayer which are taken out of the Popes Mass-Book, because in so doing men put too much honour upon an Idol. It is also true that the imposition of Forms of Prayer is unwarrantable; yet all use of Forms is not prohibited in the Scripture, witness the Form of Blessing therein expressed. Learned and Judicious Mr. Cartwright doth from Lu. 24. 35. conjecture, that ordinarily Christ used the same words in his Blessing at Meal times, with his Domestick Disciples. Now there is no man of ordinary understanding, but he may attain unto a Form of prayer; and he had better make use of that, then to live without any worship of God at all in his Family. But I am …ar from perswading you to take up with Forms. Therefore,
2. Practise, and that will make you able. As in other things practice maketh men ready and able so it is in respect of the gift of prayer. Some that when they began first to Pray, were able to make but po…r work of it, by frequent practice have attained unto an excellent gift in Prayer. And there are some who complain they cannot Pray, whenas it is because they do not practise. If they would set upon practice, God would be with them. And O that I could prevai… with those of you, that make this Objection against praying in your families; to go home and make trial. I am perswaded that if you would but try, and set upon the practice of Family Prayer in earnest, the Lord God would be with you.
3. Labour for the true fear of God in your hearts. No Man that truely fears God, but he can pray in some measure, as you heard from Psal. 32. 6. Every one that is godly shall pray. Grace will make a man sensible of his Spiritual wants, and that will set him a praying. They that see themselves perishing will cry to God for Salvation. So is it with the Godly man. Ye…, where there is true grace, there will be family Prayer. The Lord saith He will pour upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of Grace. and then Families, Families, would pray and mourn apart, Zech. 12. 10.
4. Be much in Secret Prayer: go into thy Closet; there b…g for grace; yea, pray for the spirit of Prayer. That the Lord would be pleased to give his Holy Spirit unto you, and thereby enable you to pray. And by praying in thy Closet, thou wilt be made able to pray with thy Family. So mayest thou become like to Cornelius, who feared God with all his house and prayed alway.