A Demonstration of Family Duties, List of propositions
A Series or order of the ſeverall Propoſitions in the enſuing Demonſtration.
1. IT is a grand concernment to know and beleeve that the Lord is God.
2. Such as know and beleeve that the Lord is God, ought to worſhip and ſerve him.
3. God ought to be worſhipped and ſerved according to his owne appointment.
4. The word of God is the rule of the worſhip and ſervice which God hath appointed.
5. The rule directed in the Word is not only expreſsed in doctrinall precepts, but alſo is implied in the promiſes, threatnings, and examples.
6. One cheife direction is, that God be ſerved every day in ſome religious exerciſes.
7. A religious ſanctifying of the Sabbath day, doeth not exempt any from religious duties on the working daies.
8. The kindes of religious exerciſes to be obſerved every day, are Prayer, Exerciſe in the Scripture, and Meditation.
9. Prayer ought to be performed every day.
10. Conceived prayer is beſt approved.
11. Yet it is lawfull, and may be expedient for ſome to uſe ſet formes of prayer.
12. Exerciſe in the Scripture ought to be every day.
13. Scripture-exerciſe conſiſteth in Reading, Singing of Pſalmes, Catechizing, & Conferen…
14. Reading of the Scripture ought to be uſed daily
15. It is a good courſe for the moſt part to read the Word in order.
16. Singing of Pſalmes ought to be uſed frequently
17. Catechiſing ought to be uſed frequently.
18. It is lawfull, and may be expedient to uſe a ſ… forme of ſome approved Catechiſme.
19. Conference of Scripture matters ought to be frequent.
20. Meditation ought to be daily.
21. The moſt ſeaſonable time of every day ſhould be taken for religious duties.
22. Morning and Evening are the moſt ſeaſonable times of every day for the ſervice of prayer and Scripture-exerciſe.
23. In ſome caſes the performance of religious ſervices, may ſometimes be omitted.
24. When ſuch caſes are, it ought to be greivous to ſuch as by occaſion are neceſſitated to ſuch omiſſions.
25. Vnjuſt or ſleight pretences for omiſſions ſhould be taken heed of.
26. More or leſſe time muſt be taken unto religious duties, according as circumſtances will allow.
27. The Families of Gods people ought both morning and evening to performe ſuch religious ſervices.
28. Such religious ſervices for every day ought to be performed by the whole family joyntly, and together.
29. But Meditation ought notwithſtanding to be performed by the ſeverall members of the family apart by themſelves.
30. In performance of religious family-duties, ſome one of the family ſhould be as the mouth of the reſt, for the utterance of what is performed.
31. Yet in ſinging of Pſalmes all the members of the family ought to lift up their voices together.
32. The Governour of the family ordinarily is the fitteſt perſon to be as the mouth of the reſt of the family.
33. The Governour of the family may according to his place and gift inſtruct his family; aſwell as pray with them.
34. Yet he may not preſume above his place and abilities in a courſe of inſtructing of them.
35. The Governour of the family in ſome caſes may lawfully depute ſome fit perſon of his houſhold to performe ſome ſervice which he himſelfe otherwiſe ought to ſee unto.
36. If the Governour be remiſse or indiſpoſed hereunto, then the wife, or ſome other ought to put the worke forward.
37. If the Governour be froward, ſo as not to admit of family-duties; then the inferiours ought to redeeme time, with as good conveniency as poſſibly they may.
38. The ſeverall members of the family ought to performe religious ſervices in ſecret, beſides their joynt ſervice of God.
39. VponUpon extraordinary occaſions, religious families ought to ſpend more then ordinary time yea ſometimes whole daies together in religious ſervices.
40. VponUpon occaſion of extraordinary ſervice, it lawfull & may be expedient to crave the aſiſtance of neighbour godly-brethren.
41. In extraordinary caſes and occaſions, relig… ous faſting may and ought to be added to th… other religious ſervices.
42. Religious faſting may be uſed in families with aſſiſtants, aſwell as publickly, as occaſi… ſhall require.
43. There are ſundry extraordinary occaſions fo… religious ſervices to be accompanied with faſting.
44. As the occaſions may be more frequent, ſo ough… the ſervices to be frequent alſo.
45. As ſanctifying the Sabbath day exempteth m… from working-daies ſervice in families, ſs neither doe working-daies ſervices exemp… from keeping the Sabbath day holy, wholly.
46. Publick ſervices in the ſolemne Congregation ought cheifly to be ſeene unto on the Sabbath day.
47. Yet it concerneth Chriſtian families and th… members thereof to ſee to other ſervices alſ… on the Sabbath day, both in the family and in ſecret.
48. All due caution and circumſpection ought to be uſed for the declining of finiſter cariage in any kind of religious duties.
49. All religious ſervices ought to be performed by all ſorts, in a ſpirituall and holy manner, and due order.
50. The performance of religious family-duties ought not to be reſted in, but God is to be depended on for his bleſſing the ſame.
51. Such families as call not on Gods Name, are in a moſt dangerous ſtate.
52. So likewiſe are ſuch families as doe performe religious duties amiſſe.
53. So are they alſo that are careleſſe of learning to reade, and of procuring, or making uſe of Bibles.
54. Thoſe families are altogether inexcuſable, as doe walke contrary to the good waies of God.
55. Governours of families ought to endeavour earneſtly after ſoundneſse of judgment, and godlineſse of converſation.
56. Governours ought to ſee to the waies of the members of their families, committed to their charge.
57. Members of families ought to be tractable and ready to joyne in family-duties, ſubmitting to their Governours therein.
58. Thoſe families are happy as, having the Lord to be their God, doe ſerve him according to his will.