It is thus their children rise up and called them. blessed!-Let us view it,

Fourthly, in reference to Visitants and Guests. These, instead of inducing you to decline the practice, should furnish you with argument in support of it. Wo be to you, if you shrink back from the duty in compliment to the rich, the infidel, the irreligious, or the dissipated-should such ever be found beneath your roof! For "he that is ashamed of me and of my words," says the Saviour, "of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in the clouds of heaven, with the holy angels.'

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It is not by concealing your principles, but by owning them verbally and practically, that you must be useful to others, and gain their respect. And here you have an opportunity to confess Him before men; and without going out of your way to effect it. It cannot appear to be sought after, to give offence. It comes, in the regular course of your househould arrangement. And nothing is more likely, without effort and without officiousness, to awaken attention, to inform, to admonish. The preacher remembers well the acknowledgment of a man now with God. He moved in superior life;. and from his rank and talents, and extensive and various acquaintance, was likely to have persons frequently at his house who were strangers to his religious economy. He said his manner was, when the time of domestic service arrived, to inform them that he was always accustomed to worship God with his family if they disliked the practice, they might remain; if they chose to attend, they might accompany him into the library. He said he had never known any that refused and many of them owned they

:

were much struck with the propriety and usefulness of the usage, and resolved, on their return, to adopt it themselves. The Lecturer has also known several individuals himself, whose religious course commenced during a visit to a family who thus honoured God, and were thus honoured by him. It is recorded, I believe, of Sir Thomas Abney, that even when he was lord mayor, and on the evening of the feast, he told the company that he always maintained the worship of God in his house; that he was now withdrawing for the purpose; and should presently return. There are few professors of religion who could have done this. They would not have had consciousness enough of their claim to confidence in their integrity. But where the thing was known to be, not the pretence, or shew of extraordinary sanctity, but the steady and uniform operation of principle: not an exemption from his common conduct, but, fine as it was, only a fair specimen of the whole piece; this noble resolution must have produced some impression even in such an assembly.-Observe it,

Fifthly, in reference to the Country. None of us should live to ourselves. Every one should be concerned to benefit and improve a community in which he has enjoyed so many advantages. But we know that "righteousness exalteth a nation," and that "sin is a reproach to any people." What an enemy then are you, if irreligious, to a country that deserves so much at your hands! However loyally you may talk, you contribute to its danger and disgrace, not only by your personal transgressions, but by sending out into the midst of it, so much moral contagion, so many unprincipled and vicious individuals, from your own family. And how much would you befriend it were you

to fear God yourselves; and to send forth those from under your care, who will serve their generation according to his will; and induce him to say, "Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it!" Who can imagine the good even one of these individuals may effect by his prayers, his examples, his influence, his exertions? What a blessing did Elkanah and Hannah prove to Israel by their training up such a child as Samuel. And what gratitude do all ages owe to his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice, for such a character as Timothy !

Finally, Let us regard it in reference to the Church. Baxter thinks that if family religion was fully discharged, the preaching of the word would not long remain the general instrument of conversion. Without being answerable for the extent of this observation, we know who hath said, "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." We know that religion was a

among our earlier godly ancestors,

kind of heir-loom, that passed by descent; and instead of the fathers were the children.

Families

were then the nurseries of the churches: and those who were early "planted in the house of the Lord flourished in the courts of our God, and still brought forth fruit in old age." Even the ministers of the sanctuary were commonly derived from hence; and these domestic seminaries prepared them to enter the more publick institutions. And what well-defined and consistent characters did they display. And what just notions did they entertain of divine truth. And how superior were they to those teachers who, brought up in ignorance, and after a profligate course, are suddenly converted; who, impress

ed before they are informed, are always in danger of extremes or eccentricities; who hold no doctrine in its just bearings, but are carried away disproportionably by some one truth, which first caught their attention; and who often continue crude and incoherent in their notions, and illiberal and condemnatory in their sentiments, through life! They were not always making discoveries, but "continued in the things which they had learned, and been assured of, knowing of whom they had learned them." They were enlightened, but not dazzled. They were refreshed with divine truth, but not intoxicated. They staggered not, but kept on steady in their course; the right hand nor to the left. tinomians: they were not Legalists. None could honour the grace of God more; but they never abused it.

neither turning to They were not An

Not only therefore would the churches of Christ be more filled, but better filled: and though our eye is not evil, because God is good, and so far from wishing to limit the Holy One of Israel, we rejoice in the conversion of any; we reckon, and not without much observation, that the best members and the best ministers of our churches-they who, in their conduct and in their preaching, most adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, are those who are brought from pious families.

III. We were to ANSWER SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE PRACTICE.

But I have been hesitating whether I should pass over this division of our subject; not only because we perceive that we must trespass on your time, but because objections can be raised easily against any

doctrine, or practice. The weakest reasoners most frequently advance them; and no wise ones will ever be influenced by them. They will look at argument and proof; and if a principle be established by sufficient evidence, they are satisfied, even if there should be difficulties which they must leave unsolved. I will however glance at four or five things.

The first regards Leisure. "We are so much engaged, that our affairs leave us no time for these exercises." But what time do they require? And is there one of you that does not waste more time every day of his life than is expended in such devotions? And if more time be really necessary, could you not gain more? How do you manage your concerns? Could nothing be saved by more diligence and order? At what time do you rise? Could nothing be saved from late slumberings on the bed, without any injury to health; yea, with the likelihood of improving it? If time falls short for any thing, should it not fall short for things of less moment? Is not the serving of God the "one thing needful?" And cannot he, by his grace and providence, more than indemnify you for every sacrifice you make? Is there not truth in the proverb, "There is nothing got by stealing, or lost by praying?" Are you more employed than David was, who presided in his council, and gave audience to ambassadors, and orders to generals -who reigned over an extensive and distracted empire? Yet he found time for domestic worship; and even on a day of peculiar activity "returned to bless his household."

The second regards Capacity. who are qualified for such a work;

ble to perform it, as we wish,

"We envy those but we are unaand as we ought."