Fifteen Sermons, Sermon 13
SERMON XIII.
THE GREAT DUTY OF FAMILY-RELIGION.
JOSHUA xxiv. 15.
As for me and my Houſe, we will ſerve the Lord.
THESE words contain the holy reſolution of pious Joſhua, who having, in a moſt moving, affectionate diſcourſe recounted to the Iſraelites what great things God had done for them, in the verſe immediately preceding the text, comes to draw a proper inference from what he had been delivering; and acquaints them, in the moſt preſſing terms, that ſince God had been ſo exceeding gracious unto them, they could do no leſs, than out of gratitude for ſuch uncommon favours and mercies, dedicate both themſelves and families to his ſervice. Now, therefore, fear the Lord and ſerve him in ſincerity and truth, and put away the Gods which your fathers ſerved on the other ſide of the flood. And by the ſame engaging motive does the prophet Samuel afterwards enforce their obedience to the commandments of God, 1 Sam. xii. 24, Only fear the Lord and ſerve him in truth with all your heart; for conſider how great things he hath done for you. But then, that they might not excuſe themſelves (as too many might be apt to do) by his giving them a bad example, or think he was laying heavy burdens upon them, whilſt he himſelf touched them not with one of his fingers, he tells them in the text, that whatever regard they might pay to the doctrine he had been preaching, yet he (as all miniſters ought to do) was reſolved to live up and practiſe it himſelf: Chooſe you therefore whom you will ſerve, whether the gods which your fathers ſerved, or the gods of the Amorities, in whoſe land ye dwell: but as for me and my houſe, we will ſerve the Lord.
A reſolution this, worthy of Joſhua, and no leſs becoming, no leſs neceſſary for every true ſon of Joſhua, that is intruſted with the care and government of a family in our day: and, if it was ever ſeaſonable for miniſters to preach up, or people to put in practice Family Religion, it was never more ſo than in the preſent age; ſince it is greatly to be feared, that out of thoſe many houſeholds that call themſelves Chriſtians, there are but few that ſerve God in their reſpective families as they ought.
It is true indeed, viſit our churches and you may perhaps ſee ſomething of the form of godlineſs ſtill ſubſiſting among us; but even that is ſcarcely to be met with in private houſes. So that were the bleſſed angels to come, as in the patriarchal age, and obſerve our ſpiritual oeconomy at home, would they not be tempted to ſay, as Abraham to Abimelech, "Surely the fear of God is not in this place?" Gen. xx. 1….
How ſuch a general neglect of Family Religion firſt began to overſpread the Chriſtian world, is difficult to determine. As for the primitive Chriſtians, I am poſitive it was not ſo with them: No, they had not ſo learned Chriſt, as falſely to imagine religion was to be confined ſolely to their aſſemblies for public worſhip; but, on the contrary, behaved with ſuch piety and exemplary holineſs in their private families, that St. Paul often ſtyles their houſe a church: Salute ſuch a one, ſays he, and the church which is in his houſe. And, I believe we muſt for ever deſpair of ſeeing a primitive ſpirit of piety revived in the world, till we are ſo happy as to ſee a revival of primitive Family Religion; and perſons unanimouſly reſolving with good old Joſhua, in the words of the text, As for me and my houſe, we will ſerve the Lord.
From which words, I ſhall beg leave to inſiſt on theſe three things.
I. Firſt, That it is the duty of every governor of a family to take care, that not only he himſelf, but alſo that thoſe committed to his charge, ſerve the Lord.
II. Secondly, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew after what manner a governor and his houſehold ought to ſerve the Lord. And,
III. Thirdly, I ſhall offer ſome motives, in order to excite all governors, with their reſpective houſeholds, to ſerve the Lord in the manner that ſhall be recommended.
And Firſt, I am to ſhew that it is the duty of every governor of a family to take care, that not only he himſelf, but alſo that thoſe committed to his charge, ſhould ſerve the Lord.
And this will appear, if we conſider that every governor of a family ought to look upon himſelf as obliged to act in three capacities: as a prophet, to inſtruct; as a prieſt, to pray for and with; as a king, to govern, direct, and provide for them. It is true indeed, the latter of theſe, their kingly office, they are not ſo frequently deficient in, (nay in this they are generally too ſolicitous;) but as for the two former, their prieſtly and prophetic offices, like Gallio, they care for no ſuch things. But however indifferent ſome governors may be about it, they may be aſſured, that God will require a due diſcharge of theſe offices at their hands. For if, as the apoſtle argues, he that does not provide for his own houſe, in temporal things, has denied the faith and is worſe than an infidel; to what greater degree of apoſtacy muſt he have arrived, who takes no thought to provide for the ſpiritual welfare of his family.
But farther, perſons are generally very liberal of their invectives againſt the clergy, and think they juſtly blame the conduct of that miniſter who does not take heed to and watch over the flock, of which the Holy Ghoſt has made him overſeer: but may not every governor of a family, be in a lower degree liable to the ſame cenſure, who takes no thought for thoſe ſouls who are committed to his charge? For every houſe is as it were a little pariſh, every governor (as was before obſerved) a prieſt, every family a flock: And if any of them periſh through the governor's neglect, their blood will God require at his hands.
Were a miniſter to diſregard teaching his people publicly, and from houſe to houſe, and to excuſe himſelf by ſaying that he had enough to do to work out his own ſalvation with fear and trembling, without concerning himſelf with that of others; would you … be apt to think ſuch a miniſter, to be like the unjuſt judge, One that neither feared God nor regarded man? And yet, odious as ſuch a character would be, it is no worſe than that governor of a family deſerves, who thinks himſelf obliged only to ſave his own ſoul, without paying any regard to the ſouls of his houſehold. For (as was above hinted) every houſe is as it were a pariſh, and every maſter is concerned to ſecure, as much as in him lies, the ſpiritual proſperity of every one under his roof, as any miniſter whatever is obliged to look to the ſpiritual welfare of every individual perſon under his charge.
What precedents men who neglect their duty in this particular, can plead for ſuch omiſſion, I cannot tell. Doubtleſs not the example of holy Job, who was ſo far from imagining that he had no concern, as governor of a family, with any one's ſoul but his own, that the ſcripture acquaints us, When the days of his children's feaſting were gone about, that Job ſent and ſanctified them, and offered burnt offerings, according to the number of them all; for Job ſaid, it may be that my ſons have ſinned and curſed God, in their hearts: Thus did Job continually." Nor can they plead the practice of good old Joſhua, whom, in the text, we find as much concerned for his houſehold's welfare, as his own. Nor laſtly, that of Cornelius, who feared God, not only himſelf, but with all his houſe: And were Chriſtians but of the ſame ſpirit of Job, Joſhua, and the Gentile centurion, they would act as Job, Joſhua, and Cornelius did.
But alas! if this be the caſe, and all governors of families ought not only …o ſerve the Lord themſelves, but likewiſe to ſee that their reſpective houſeholds do ſo too; what will then become of thoſe who not only neglect ſerving God themſelves, but alſo make it their buſineſs to ridicule and ſcoff at any of their houſe that do? Who are not content with not entering into the kingdom of heaven themſelves; but thoſe alſo that are willing to enter in, they hinder. Surely ſuch men are factors for the devil indeed. Surely their damnation ſlumbereth not: For although God, in his good providence may ſuffer ſuch ſtumbling-blocks to be put in his children's way, and ſuffer their greateſt enemies to be thoſe of their own houſeholds, for a trial of their ſincerity, and improvemement of their faith; yet we cannot but pronounce a woe againſt thoſe maſters "by whom ſuch offences came." For if thoſe that only take care of their own ſouls, can ſcarcely be ſaved, where will ſuch monſtrous profane and wicked governors appear?
But hoping there are but few of this unhappy ſtamp, proceed we now to the
Second thing propoſed; To ſhew after what manner a governor and his houſehold ought to ſerve the Lord.
1. And the firſt thing I ſhall mention, is, reading the word of God. This is a duty incumbent on every private perſon. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, is a precept given by our bleſſed Lord indifferently to all: but much more ſo, ought every governor of a family to think it in a peculiar manner ſpoken to myſelf, becauſe (as hath been already proved) he ought to look upon himſelf as a prophet, and therefore, agreeably to ſuch … character, bound to inſtruct thoſe under his charge in the knowledge of the word of God.
This we find was the order God gave to his peculiar people Iſrael: for thus ſpeaks his repreſentative Moſes, Deut. vi. 6, 7. "Theſe words," that is, the ſcripture words, which I command thee this day, ſhall be in thy heart, and thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, that is, as it is generally explained, ſervants as well as children, and ſhalt talk of them when thou ſitteſt in thy houſe. From whence we may infer, that the only reaſon, why ſo many neglect to read the words of Scripture diligently to their children is, becauſe the words of Scripture are not in their hearts: for if they were, out of the abundance of the heart their mouth would ſpeak.
Beſides, ſervants as well as children, are, for the generality, very ignorant, and m…re novices in the laws of God: And how ſhall they know, unleſs ſome one teach them? and what more proper to teach them by, than the lively oracles of God, which are able to make them wiſe unto ſalvation? And who more proper to inſtruct them by theſe lively oracles, than parents and maſters, who (as hath been more than once obſerved) are as much concerned to feed them with ſpiritual, as with bodily bread, day by day.
But if theſe things be ſo, what a miſerable condition are thoſe unhappy governors in, who are ſo far from feeding thoſe committed to their care with the ſincere milk of the word, to the intent they may grow thereby, that they neither ſearch the ſcriptures themſelves, nor …re careful to explain them to others? Such families muſt be in a happy way indeed to do their maſter's will, who take ſuch prodigious pains to know it! Would not one imagine that they had turned converts to the church of Rome; that they thought ignorance to be the mother of devotion; and that thoſe were to be condemned as heretics who read their bibles? And yet how few families are there amongſt us, who do not act after this unſeemly manner! But ſhall I praiſe them in this? I praiſe them not: Brethren, this thing ought not ſo to be.
2. Paſs we on now to the ſecond means whereby every governor and his houſehold ought to ſerve the Lord, Family-prayer.
This is a duty, though as much neglected, yet as abſolutely neceſſary as the former. Reading is a good preparative for prayer, as prayer is an excellent means to render reading effectual. And the reaſon why every governor of a family ſhould join both theſe exerciſes together, is plain, becauſe a governor of a family cannot perform his prieſtly office (which we before obſerved he is in ſome degree inveſted with) without performing this duty of family-prayer.
We find it therefore remarked, when mention is made of Cain and Abel's offering ſacrifices, that they brought them. But to whom did they bring them? Why, in all probability to their father Adam, who, as prieſt of the family was to offer ſacrifice in their names. And ſo likewiſe ought every ſpiritual ſon of the ſecond Adam, who is intruſted with the care of an houſehold to offer up the ſpiritual ſacrifices of ſupplications and thankſgivings, acceptable to God through Jeſus Chriſt, in the preſence and name of all who wait upon, or eat me … at his table.
Thus we read our bleſſed Lord behaved when he tabernacled amongſt us: For it is ſaid often, that he prayed with his twelve diſciples, which was then his little family. And … himſelf has promiſed a particular bleſſing to joint ſupplications: Whereſoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midſt of them. And again, If two or three are agreed touching any thing they ſhall aſk, it ſhall be given them. Add to this, that we are commanded by the apoſtle to pray always, with all manner of ſupplication, which doubtleſs includes family-prayer. And holy Joſhua, when he ſet up the good reſolution in the text, that he and his houſehold would ſerve the Lord, certainly reſolved to pray with his family, which is one of the beſt teſtimonies they could give of their ſerving him.
Beſides, there are no families but what have ſome common bleſſings, of which they have been all partakers, to give thanks for; ſome common croſſes and afflictions, which they are to pray againſt; ſome common ſins, which they are all to lament and bewail: But how this can be done, without joining together in one common act of humiliation, ſupplication, and thankſgiving, is difficult to deviſe.
From all which conſiderations put together, it is evident, that family-prayer is a great and neceſſary duty; and conſequently, thoſe governors that neglect it, are certainly without excuſe. And it is much to be feared, if they live without family-prayer, they live without God in the world.
And yet, ſuch an hateful character as this is, it is to be feared, that was God to ſend out an angel to deſtroy us, as he did once to deſtroy the Egyptian firſt-born, and withal give him a commiſſion, as then, to ſpare no houſes but where they ſaw the blood on the lintel, ſprinkled on the door-poſt, ſo now, to let no families eſcape, but thoſe that called upon him in morning and evening prayer: few would remain unhurt by his avenging ſword. Shall I term ſuch families Chriſtians or heathens: doubtleſs they deſerve not the name of Chriſtians; and heathens will ſurely riſe up in judgment againſt ſuch prophane families of this generation: for they had always their houſehold gods, whom they worſhipped, and whoſe aſſiſtance they frequently invoked. And a pretty paſs thoſe families ſurely are arrived at, who muſt be ſent to ſchool to Pagans. But will not the Lord be avenged on ſuch prophane houſeholds as theſe? Will he not pour out his fury upon thoſe that call not upon his name?
3. But it is time for me to haſten to the third and laſt means I ſhall recommend, whereby every governor ought with his houſehold to ſerve the Lord, catechiſing and inſtructing their children and ſervants, and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
That this, as well as the two former, is a duty incumbent on every governor of an houſe, appears from that famous encomium or commendation God gives of Abraham: I know that he will command his children and his houſehold after him, to keep the way of the Lord, to do juſtice and judgment. And indeed ſcarce any thing is more frequently preſſed upon us in holy writ, than this duty of catechiſing. Thus, ſays God in a paſſage before cited, Thou ſhalt teach theſe words diligently to thy children. And parents are commanded in the New Teſtament, to breed up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The holy Pſalmiſt acquaints us, that one geat end why God did ſuch great wonders for his people, was, to the intent that when they grew up, they ſhould ſhew their children, or ſervants, the ſame. And in Deuteronomy vi. at the 20th and following verſes, God ſtrictly commands his people to inſtruct their children in the true nature of the ceremonial worſhip, when they ſhould inquire about it, as he ſuppoſed they would do, in time to come. And if ſervants and children were to be inſtructed in the nature of Jewiſh rites, much more ought they now to be initiated and grounded in the doctrines and firſt principles of the goſpel of Chriſt: not only, becauſe it is a revelation, which has brought life and immortality to a fuller and clearer light, but alſo, becauſe many ſeducers are gone abroad into the world, who do their utmoſt endeavour to deſtroy not only the ſuperſtructure, but likewiſe to ſap the very foundation of our moſt holy religion.
Would then the preſent generation have their poſterity be true lovers and honourers of God; maſters and parents muſt take Solomon's good advice, and train up and catechiſe their reſpective houſeholds in the way wherein they ſhould go.
I am aware but of one objection, that can, with any ſhew of reaſon, be urged againſt what has been advanced; which is, that ſuch a procedure as this will take up too much time, and hinder families too long from their worldly buſineſs. But it is much to be queſtioned, whether perſons that ſ…art ſuch an objection, are not of the ſame hypocritical ſpirit as the traitor Judas, who had indignation againſt devout Mary, for being ſo profuſe of her ointment, in anointing our bleſſed Lord, and aſked why it might not be ſold for two hundred pence, and given to the poor. For has God given us ſo much time to work for ourſelves, and ſhall we not allow ſome ſmall pittance of it, morning and evening, to be devoted to his more immediate worſhip and ſervice? Have not people read, that it is God who gives men power to get wealth, and therefore that the beſt way to proſper in the world, is to ſecure his favour? And has not our bleſſed Lord himſelf promiſed, that if we ſeek firſt the kingdom of God and his righteouſneſs, all outward neceſſaries ſhall be added unto us?
Abraham, no doubt, was a man of as great buſineſs as ſuch objectors may be; but yet he would find time to command his houſehold to ſerve the Lord. Nay, David was a king, and conſequently had a great deal of buſineſs upon his hands: yet notwithſtanding, he profeſſes that he would walk in his houſe with a perfect heart. And, to inſtance but one more, holy Joſhua was a perſon certainly engaged very much in temporal affairs; and yet he ſolemnly declares before all Iſrael, that as for him and his houſehold, they would ſerve the Lord. And did perſons but redeem their time as Abraham, David, or Joſhua did, they would no longer complain, that family duties kept them too long from the buſineſs of the world.
III. But my third and laſt general head, under which I was to offer ſome motives in order to excite all governors, with their reſpective houſeholds, to ſerve the Lord in the manner before recommended, I hope, will ſerve inſtead of a thouſand arguments, to prove the weakneſs and folly of any ſuch objection.
1. And the firſt motive I ſhall mention is the duty of gratitude, which you that are governors of families owe to God.—Your lot, every one muſt confeſs, is caſt in a fair ground: providence hath given you a goodly heritage, above many of your fellow creatures; and therefore, out of a principle of gratitude, you ought to endeavour, as much as in you lies, to make every perſon of your reſpective houſeholds to call upon him as long as they live: not to mention, that the authority, with which God has inveſted you as parents and governors of families, is a talent committed to your truſt, and which you are bound to improve to your Maſter's honour. In other things we find governors and parents can exerciſe lordſhip over their children and ſervants readily, and frequently enough can ſay to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; to a third, Do this, and he doeth it. And ſhall this power be ſo often employed in your own affairs, and never exerted in the things of God? Be aſtoniſhed, O heavens, at this!
Thus did not faithful Abraham; no, God ſays, that he knew Abraham would command his ſervants and children after him. Thus did not Joſhua; no, he was reſolved not only to walk with God himſelf, but to improve his authority in making all about him do ſo too: As for me and my houſehold, we will ſerve the Lord. Let us go and do likewiſe.
2. But Secondly, If gratitude to God will not, methinks love and pity to your children ſhould move you, with your reſpective families to ſerve the Lord.
Moſt people expreſs a great fondneſs for their children: nay ſo great, that very often their own lives are wrapped up in thoſe of their offspring. Can a woman forget her ſucking child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the ſon of her womb? ſays God by his prophet Iſaiah. He ſpeaks of it as a monſtrous thing, and ſcarce credible; but the words immediately following, affirm it to be poſſible, yea, they may forget: and experience alſo aſſures us they may. Father and mother may both forſake their children: for what greater degree of forgetfulneſs can they expreſs towards them, than to neglect the improvement of their better part, and not bring them up in the knowledge and fear of God?
It is true indeed, parents ſeldom forget to provide for their children's bodies, (though, it is to be feared, ſome men are ſo far ſunk beneath the beaſts that periſh, as to neglect even that) but then how often do they forget, or rather, when do they remember, to ſecure the ſalvation of their immortal ſouls? But is this their way of expreſſing their fondneſs for the fruit of their bodies? Is this the beſt teſtimony they can give of their affection to the darling of their hearts? Then was Dalilah fond of Samſon, when ſhe delivered him up into the hands of the Philiſtines: then were thoſe ruffians well affected to Daniel, when they threw him into a den of lions.
3. But Thirdly, If neither gratitude to God, nor love and pity to your children, will prevail on you; yet let a principle of common honeſty and juſtice move you to ſet up the holy reſolution in the text.
This is a pri…ciple which all men would be thought to act upon. But certainly, if any may be truly cenſured for their injuſtice, none can be more liable to ſuch cenſure, than thoſe who think themſelves injured, if their ſervants withdraw themſelves from their bodily work, and yet they in return take no care of their ineſtimable ſouls. For is it juſt that ſervants ſhould ſpend their time and ſtrength in their maſter's ſervice, and maſters not at the ſame time give them what is juſt and equal for their ſervice!"
It is true; ſome men may think they have done enough when they give unto their ſervants food and raiment, and ſay, did not I bargain with thee for ſo much a-year? But if they give them no other reward than this, what do they leſs for their very beaſts? But are not ſervants better than they? Doubtleſs they are: and however maſters may put off their conviction for the preſent, they will find a time will come, when they ſhall know they ought to have given them ſome ſpiritual as well as temporal wages; and the cry of thoſe that have mowed down their fields, will enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
4. But Fourthly. If neither gratitude to God, pity to children, nor a principle of common juſtice to ſervants, are ſufficient to balance all objections; yet let that darling that prevaling motive of ſelf-intereſt turn the ſcale, and engage you with your reſpective houſeholds to ſerve the Lord.
This weighs greatly with you in other matters: be then perſuaded to let it have a due and full influence on you in this: and if it has, if you have but faith as a grain of muſterd-ſeed; how can you avoid believing, that promoting family-religion would be the beſt means to promote your own temporal, as well as eternal welfare? For godlineſs has the promiſe of the life that now is, as well as that which is to come.
Beſides, you all, doubtleſs, wi…h for honeſt ſervants, and pious children: and to have them prove otherwiſe, would be as great a grief to you, as it was to Eliſha to have a treacherous Gehazi, or David to be troubled with a rebellious Abſalom. But how can it be expected they ſhould learn their duty, except thoſe ſet over them, take care to teach it to them? Is it not as reaſonable to expect you ſhould reap where you had not ſown, or gather where you had not ſtrawed?
Did Chriſtanity, indeed, give any countanance to children and ſervants to diſregard their parents and maſters according to the fleſh, or repreſent their duty to them, as inconſiſtent with their entire obedience to their Father and Maſter who is in heaven, there might then be ſome pretence to neglect inſtructing them in the principles of ſuch a religion. But ſince the precepts of this pure and undefiled religion, are all of them holy, juſt, and good; and the more they are taught their duty to God, the better they will perform their duties to you; methinks to neglect the improvement of their ſouls, out of a dread of ſpending too much time in religious duties, is acting quite contrary to your own intereſt as well as duty.
5. Fifthly and laſtly, If neither gratitude to God, love to your children, common juſtice to your ſervants, nor even that moſt prevailing motive, ſelf-intereſt, will excite; yet let a conſideration of the terrors of the Lord perſuade you to put in practice the pious reſolution in the text. Remember, the time will come, and that perhaps very ſhortly, when we muſt all appear before the judgment ſeat of Chriſt; where we muſt give a ſolemn and ſtrict account how we have had our converſation, in our reſpective families, in this world. How will you endure to ſee your children and ſervants (who ought to be your joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt) coming out as ſo many ſwift witneſſes againſt you; curſing the father that begot them, the womb that bare them, the paps which they have ſucked, and the day they ever entered into your houſes? Think you not, the damnation which men muſt endure for their own ſins will be ſufficient, that they need load themſelves with the additional guilt of being acceſſary to the damnation of others alſo? O conſider this, all ye that forget to ſerve the Lord with your reſpective houſeholds, leſt he pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you!
But God forbid, brethren, that any ſuch evil ſhould befal you: No, rather will I hope, that you have been in ſome meaſure convinced, by what has been ſaid, of the great importance of Family-religion; and therefore are ready to cry out, in the words immediately following the text, God forbid that we ſhould forſake the Lord; and again verſe 21. "Nay, but we will" (with our ſeveral houſeholds) "ſerve the Lord."
And that there may be always ſuch a heart in you, let me exhort all governors of families, in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, often to reflect on the ineſtimable worth of their own ſouls, and the infinite ranſom, even the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt, which has been paid down for them. Remember, that you are fallen creatures; that you are by nature loſt and eſtranged from God; and that you can never be reſtored to your primitive happineſs, till by being born again of the Holy Ghoſt, you arrive at your primitive ſtate of purity, have the image of God reſtamped upon your ſouls, and are thereby made meet to be partakers of the ſaints in light. Do, I ſay, but ſeriouſly and frequently reflect on, and act as perſons that believe ſuch important truths, and you will no more neglect your family's ſpiritual warfare than your own. No, the love of God, which will be then ſhed abroad in your hearts, will conſtrain you to do your utmoſt to preſerve them: And the deep ſenſe of God's free grace in Chriſt Jeſus, (which you will then have) in calling you, will excite you to do your utmoſt to ſave others, eſpecially thoſe of your own houſehold. And though, after all your pious endeavours, ſome may continue unreformed; yet you will have this comfortable reflection to make, that you did what you could to make your families religious: And therefore may reſt aſſured of ſitting down in the kingdom of heaven, with Abraham, Joſhua, and Cornelius, and all the godly houſeholders, who in their ſeveral generations ſhone forth as ſo many lights in their reſpective houſeholds upon earth. Amen.