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SERMON XIX.

THE DUTY OF FAMILY PRAYER.

GENESIS, Xviii. 19.

For I know him, that he will command his chil dren and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.

THESE words were spoken by God respecting the "father of the faithful." Abraham, from the time when he left his country and the house of his father, in obedience to the call of the Almighty, presents to us a noble example of a firm faith and reliance upon God. In the text we perceive a corresponding declaration and assurance on the part of God, that his piety was so rooted, as to become a fixed principle in his own breast, and the ruling motive of his conduct and example to all around him. The Deity here expresses a full confidence, that the same. unswerving obedience and holiness, which he exhibited individually in himself, he would inculcate also upon his children and household:

that as a parent and the master of a family, he would make God's word "the lamp unto his feet, and the light unto his path." "For I know him," declares the Almighty, i. e. I know his steady adherence to me and to my laws sufficiently to be assured, "that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord."

And truly, when we reflect, it appears scarcely possible, that any man should be thoroughly convinced of the eternal importance of a religious life, without using every effort to instil the same persuasion into all immediately connected with him, into his friends, children, and dependents. Every Christian must naturally feel concerned for the souls of those related to him, or in any manner committed to his charge. But it is not merely natural and reasonable. Men might evade it, if it did not come to them enforced also by strict obligation. It is the office of the minister of the Gospel, therefore, to inform, or at least to remind them, that the religious improvement of their children and servants is the bounden duty of every parent or householder. If the remark of St. Paul be true, that "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel," much more may it be said of religion. He that careth not

for the spiritual wants of his own house and family, seems as much a stranger to his duty, as those, who know nothing of the Gospel, and the value of the soul.

In reading the Scriptures, we must be struck with the manner in which persons under the Jewish theocracy were considered collectively with their families. The duties, blessings, and evils, which are mentioned as attaching to any individual, seem generally to embrace all around him. Every family appears to be considered as a little state, for which the head is responsible; and the blessing or punishment which falls upon him, is said to fall upon his house. Thus we often find the house of a man put for himself, and all his children, and dependents. In the same manner we observe a man answering for his house on important occasions, and sometimes taking the lead of his family in matters of religious duty. "As for me and my house," says Joshua, "we will serve the Lord.""I will walk within my house with a perfect heart," was the pious resolution of David. So again, at a much later period, we find the same expression applied under the Christian dispensation to Cornelius the Centurion, who is described as "a devout man, and one that feared God with all

* In familiâ meâ ; i. e. domi, q. d. publicè privatimque.— Rosenmüller.

his house." The same responsibility as to the house of which a man is head, the same duties, the same obligations to promote the welfare of all intrusted to our care and superintendence under the name of a family, apply at all times and in all countries. But nothing we know can promote the welfare of man in any state, singly or collectively, like religion. This, then, is the grand object of concern in every house, and therefore to this let me now direct your attention, while I endeavour to point out to parents and masters of families the necessity and reasonableness, the nature or practice, and the advantages, of family religion, that, like Abraham, they may command their children and their household after them, and they may keep the way of the Lord."

The one great Head and Father of all families. is God. They are little communities subsisting under him as their spiritual king, protector, and supporter. In this light they owe him duties as a community. They owe him collective allegiance, and collective worship. As his laws are to be the laws of such societies, so they are to offer him their united prayers and praises. That which we have and would keep, that which we fear and would avoid, and that which we want and would possess, are the three great objects of human care. To obtain and to secure

blessings, and to be delivered from evil, concerns a house, therefore, or family, as well as an individual. Now the means, or instrument appointed by God, for procuring and keeping the one and averting the other, is prayer. It is not for us to ask with the impious, "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we should pray to him?" David, among the other dreadful signs of those who say in their hearts, i. e. those, who in their folly and present security secretly flatter themselves" there is no God," mentions this particular; "they call not upon the Lord." But we have "not so learned Christ." We know, not only that "he is a God, that heareth prayers, and therefore to him shall all flesh come;" but we read likewise in our Saviour's words, that “if two of you shall agree on earth touching any thing that you shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." The wants and fears, therefore, temporal and spiritual, of families, make it their interest as well as their duty, to apply regularly in prayer to the God of health, and wealth, and safety; of prosperity, and concord, and godliness. There is no family but needs some particular blessings, some particular virtues, some assistance from above. There are trials, and temptations, and afflictions abroad in the world, which come