family devotion-the obliging them to attend upon public worship-and the setting before them a holy and pious example. But the consideration of these particulars must be referred to another opportunity.

PART II.

We have taken a view of personal religion, and proceeded to shew, secondly, the influence it will have upon the master of a family, to regulate his temper and conduct towards those under his care. "He will use his endeavours to engage his house, as well as himself, to serve the Lord." Here, having spoken of the origin of families, and the wisdom and goodness of Providence, in the forming these important social connections; we have considered the utility of religion to assist the master of a family in the management of his temporal concerns, and in the exercise of that domestic authority with which nature has entrusted him. And now, since the happiness of a family principally depends upon their religious character, we proceed to consider the duties he will feel himself obliged to practise, in order to the promoting their best interests.

1. It is the duty of Heads of houses to look well after the morals of their families.

Men of reputable characters, though they may not have en→ tered into the spirit of religion, feel the importance of this duty. Persuaded that vice brings after it shame, poverty, and wretchedness, they will not harbour it under their roof. Who in his senses would permit a dishonest servant to enter his house, or suffer his children, if he could prevent it, to waste his substance in riotous living? A regard, therefore, to their temporal interest will induce most people to preserve some kind of order in their families. But the restraints held over children and servants, which proceed merely from motives of worldly interest, are too often feeble and ineffectual. That domestic government which stands alone upon this principle, reaches not the true sources of those evils which are so generally dreaded. It is religion that lays the axe at the root of vice, and enables a master, feeling the force of it in his own heart, to take such measures as will effectually prevent, with the blessing of God, the seeds of immorality from growing up in his house, and spreading their noxious influence all around him.

With a jealous eye he will watch the first expressions of pride, passion, deceit, indolence, and other vices, in the countenances, language, and behaviour of his children and servants. These evils will not fail to meet his stern disapprobation and censure. Punishments he will inflict adequate to the nature and aggravation of the offence; at the same time labouring to fix upon the delinquent a deep sense of the greatness of the crime. Chasten thy son while there is hope, says Solomon, and let not thy soul spare for his crying a. And if, notwithstanding all his endeavours, the vicious temper is not to be restrained, but breaks out in open and repeated acts of iniquity, he will take some prudent and resolute measure to separate the infectious member from the rest of the society, and thereby prevent the spread of the fatal distemper. He that worketh deceit, says David, shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight b.-And on the other hand, the pious master of a family will use his utmost endeavours to cultivate the opposite virtues in his children and servants. will often familiarly explain to them their nature and tendency, and pleasantly descant upon their excellence and utility. And the early expressions of these amiable qualities he will not fail to mark and applaud, rewarding them with smiles and caresses, and every token of approbation that prudence and good-nature can devise.

He

Who

Such measures as these for the promoting good morals in our families, every considerate person must needs approve. But alas! what through parental indulgence, and what through sloth, they are miserably neglected by multitudes among us. then does not see the great importance, as well as the direct tendency of a lively sense of religion in the master of a family, to stimulate him to the right discharge of this branch of his duty? Can I, inspired with an utter detestation of vice, and an unconquerable attachment to virtue, forbear to exert all my powers to eradicate the seeds of the former from the bosoms of my dear offspring, and to cherish those of the latter there? Will not my religious feelings extort tears of anguish from my eyes, whilst I am administering the bitter, but wholesome, draught of correction to their perverseness? And will not the

a Prov. xix. 18.

b Psal. ci. 7.

same feelings spread a cheerful pleasure over my countenance, whilst I am applauding their flexibility and filial obedience? Having the command of the great God, and their temporal and everlasting interests in full view before my eyes, these duties will not be neglected through false-fondness, nor abused by undue severity.

2. Another office we owe to our families is, the carefully instructing them in the principles of religion.

There is not a plainer dictate, of nature than this: and yet how shamefully this duty is neglected you need not be told. The cause of this great evil is in general, the want of a due sense of religion in those of whom this service is required. And, as men are never at a loss to find an excuse for omitting what they are not disposed to do, so in this case we shall hear some object, that the catechising children is the way to prejudice them unduly in favour of particular opinions, and so to disqualify them for future free enquiry. And others we shall hear-strange to think it !-gravely insinuating, that the adopting this measure with children, is taking God's work out of his hand, and is therefore an affront to him, and nugatory in itself. The futility and indeed impiety of these objections may be easily made appear. But as we shall have a more proper opportunity hereafter to discuss these questions a, it shall suffice at present in a few words to explain the duty, and shew how forcibly a prevailing sense of religion will impel a Christian man to it.

The leading truths of natural and revealed religion, I mean such as are intimately connected with experience and practice, every Christian understands, and therefore ought to inculcate them upon those under his care. His instructions should be adapted to their age and abilities. He should begin with first principles, and so proceed to those that follow, taking the Scriptures for his guide, and calling in to his aid such explanations of them as he judges most conformable to the truth. His mean ing he should endeavour to convey by easy and familiar language, and to illustrate it by apt and natural similies. He should not only require them to answer questions put to them from their memory, but take pains to fix the sense of both

ques

a See DISC. V.

tions and answers upon their understandings. The grounds and reasons of each truth he should lay open to their view, represent their importance with all the earnestness of parental affection, examine them frequently upon the progress they make, and add fervent prayer to his instructions and counsels. There is a way of insinuating knowledge to the minds of young people, which hath often had a wonderful effect. Much depends, with the blessing of God, upon our conciliating their affec tions to us, convincing them that we mean their good, carefully avoiding the making religion a task, not over-burdening their memories, and properly rewarding their diligence and at

tention.

These measures surely every one's sober reason and understanding must approve. They were such as Abraham used with his family. I know him, says God, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment: that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him a. And they were such as his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice used with Timothy, of whom the apostle tells us, that from a child he had known the holy scriptures b. And what man, whose heart burns with love to God, and whose bowels yearn towards his children, but will feel himself obliged to copy after the example of these excellent people? Can I believe there is a God, and that my happiness depends upon his favour, and not wish to impress these sentiments upon my children whom I consider as parts of myself? Can I be deeply sensible of the guilt and depravity of human nature, and not endeavour to awaken a conviction thereof in their consciences? Can I see clearly my own need of such a Saviour as Christ, and not hold him up to their view, in every light that may attract their hearts and affections to him? Can I be persuaded of the infinite pleasure which the experience and practice of religion afford, and not from the bottom of my soul wish that they may largely participate of that divine pleasure? Can I, in fine, believe there is such a place as heaven, and not long, and pray, and use my utmost endeavours to bring my children, friends, and servants thither also? O! no. Religion is not a mere speculation: it

a Gen. xviii. 19.

b 2 Tim. i. 5. and iii. 15.

is an operativé principle, and these fruits of it are a noble evidence of its existence and prevalence in our hearts.

3. The regular maintenance of family worship, is the next duty to be considered.

We shall not here enter particularly into our obligations to this duty-that will be attempted hereafter a: but only, following the line we have already pursued, describe it, and shew the influence of religion to qualify us for the right discharge of it. -By Family-Worship we mean the assembling our children and servants together, at convenient seasons, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures, and offering prayer and praise to God, The master of every family ought to be king and priest in his own house. It is his province to determine the proper time for these solemn and pleasing exercises, and the manner in which they should be conducted. The several members of this little community being gathered together, a portion of Scripture should be distinctly read; this followed, if the situation and circumstances of the family will admit, with a song of praise to God; and then the master, or some other person properly qualified, should devoutly present the supplications of the whole house to Heaven.

Certain prudential rules it may not be improper here to lay down, submitting them to the judgment and piety of those who preside in families.-The morning and the evening seem each a fit season for this social exercise. That time, however, should be chosen which may best conduce to the right discharge of the duty: not a late hour of the morning, for that will clash with the hurries of business; nor a late hour at night, for that will indispose persons to serious attention. The service, for obvious reasons, should not be protracted to an undue length; the whole may perhaps be comprehended within about a quarter of an hour.-Every one in the house should consider it as his duty to attend.—The Scriptures should be read in regular order, that so their connection may be understood, and the whole in a course of time gone through.-A particular attention should be paid to the circumstances of the family in the prayers addressed to God. And as variety and brevity should be aimed at, to prewent tediousness, so formality should be carefully guarded • DISC. III.

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