Known as:

“A Church in the House”

A Sermon by Matthew Henry

Edited By: Scott T. Brown

MERCHANT ADVENTURERS LLC

 I am especially grateful for Dan Ford who al-
lowed me to read his fragile 1704 printed copy
of the sermon;

For Erica Daming who spent hours typing

and working with the manuscript so we could
re publish it;

For my son David Brown who designed the

book for readability.

Scott T. Brown
First Printing: May 2010

Copyright © 2010 by Merchant Adventurers LLC All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the
publisher, except in the case of breig quotations in articles and reviews.

For information write: Merchant Adventurers LLC,

220 South White St. Wake Forest, NC 27587

ISBN: 978-0-9820567-7-6

Book Design by David Edward Brown

Cover Design by Taylor Tsantles - “Steadfast Designs”

Printed in the United States of America

 Table of Contents

Editor’s Note................................................................................................8

Introduction................................................................................................11

1. Here the Reformation Must Begin...................................................23

2. What Does It Mean to Have a Church in the House........................29

3. Motives to Persuade You to Turn Your Houses into Churches........59

4. Exhortations for Applying These Things .............................................75

 Editors Note

The language in the edited version has been spar- Changes in Capitalization
ingly updated, the punctuation made consistent, and
We eliminated hundreds of capitalizations which
the organization clarified. Where the meaning was
were common to seventeenth century writing that
unclear due to archaic sentence structure, we have
would not be normal for modern readers. Also, we
attempted to clarify it according to the context. We
capitalized “His” and “He” when referring to God.
hope we have made it somewhat easier to read, but we
have still preserved the author’s language and style as Punctuation and Structure
much as possible.
Long and protracted sentences were simplified and
Here are some examples of changes we made: the placement of periods, commas, colons, and semi-
colons was adjusted. Some new paragraphs were made
Updated Language
that were not in the original.
For example, we took the word “towardly” and
Bold headings have been added to help the reader
changed it to “promising”; changed “tractable” to
better follow the flow of thought. We have also added
“responsive”; “conversation” to “manner of life”;
quotations set off in the body of the text, to identify
“tippling” to “drinking”; “manners” to “conduct”;
what we felt were great statements in those sections.
“froward” to “obstinate”; “denominate” to “name.”
Scripture quotations have been presented in a more
Updated Spelling
consistent format, and, while Matthew Henry’s text is
We also updated the spelling of certain words, saturated with Scripture, actual references were placed
particularly those which followed the British spelling in parentheses.
of the seventeenth century. For example, we updated
“publick” to “public”; “chuse” to “choose”; “ocurrent”
to “occurrences”; “hath” to “has”; “doth” to “does”;
“perswade” to “persuade.”

8 9
 Introduction:

On April 16, 1704 Matthew Henry preached an

abundantly practical sermon entitled,
“A Church in the House,
A Sermon
Concerning Family-Religion”
This sermon illuminates the importance of
spiritual life in the home. He shows fathers very
specific ways to make their houses hot beds of
spiritual life. He says houses ought to be like “little
churches.”
I believe this is one of his finest works. Henry
(1662-1714) was an English non-conformist
pastor and Bible commentator who is an emblem
of faithful fatherhood. It is said that the Henry
household was like unto the “gates of heaven” He shows fathers,
in very spe-
where the parents governed all family life by the cific ways how
Word of God. It was a home full of the truth and to make their
the happiness and the mercies of the Kingdom houses “little
of God. churches.”

11
 The Importance of Mr. Henry’s Sermon Henry argues that every house should be as a
for Our Time little church. This is an important sermon because
We live in an era where most men do not under- in it he casts a vision of the beauty of a Chris-
stand the biblical doctrines that govern home life. tian home under the loving direction of the head
For this reason, we are afflicted with a shallow of that household—a father who functions as
understanding of the way home life should be “prophet, priest, and king” . In this sense, a home is a
“The Henry
household was conducted under the goverment of God. The type of church. Scripture proves similar qualities
like unto the Puritans understood those doctrines, and Matthew of church and home in several ways. For example,
‘gates of heaven’ as Christ is the head of the church, so is the
where the par-
Henry was an exemplary communicator of them.
ents governed all In times like these, we need the Biblical vision of husband the head of the wife (Eph 5). Further, in
family life by the home life to refresh our memory in the midst of the Christian home children are trained and in the
Word of God.” our spiritual amnesia. “A Church in the House” is the church they are equipped (Eph 4, Eph 6). Also, in
kind of message that we need today. It promises the Christian home there are brothers and sisters
to expand our vision beyond the thinking of our and in the church we are all brothers and sisters.
own era and fortify us with timeless principles that The church is a “household”, and the home is
the Great Designer has established. a household. Similarly, the church is charged to
The content and the potency of a man’s vision deliver the whole counsel of God (Acts 20) while
of home life is foundational, for that vision will home life is meant to be saturated with the Word
determine what kind of home he has. Further- of God, while you sit in the house, when you walk
more, the home he grew up in will have a dramatic by the way, when you lie down and when you rise
formational effect on that vision. If he grew up in up (Deuteronomy 6). The connections between
a flophouse or a crack house, a godless house or a church and home are obvious.
lukewarm house, his vision for his own household Even though we do not agree with Mr.
will be affected. But if he grows up in a household Henry view of infant baptism we do affirm
of God, it makes all the difference in the world. that, like a church, a household should be the
On this subject, Matthew Henry is not a cold place of Scripture reading, prayer, singing, and
academic, for he draws from Holy Scripture and catechizing.
his rich life experience and then communicates the
He especially pleads with heads of household
best practices that create “the gates of heaven” on
to make the Bible central to all of life. He said,
earth.

12 13
 “It is better to be without bread in your houses A Good Mentor for Fathers
than without Bibles, for the words of God’s mouth
What is clear from Henry’s writings is that he
are and should be to you more than your necessary
understood the teaching of Scripture on the family
food. But what will it avail you to have Bibles in your
houses, if you do not use them? To have the great in a way that most modern people do not. He is a
things of God’s law and gospel written to you, if you good mentor for fathers living in any century, but
count them as a strange thing? You look daily into particularly the twenty-first, when the practices of
your shop-books, and perhaps converse much with biblical fatherhood have been at such a low water-
the news books, and shall your Bibles be thrown by mark in the church.
as an almanac out of date?” The Influence of His Father, Philip
He addresses many of the roadblocks and chal- Perhaps one of the most important aspects of
lenges in establishing homes dedicated to God. He Matthew Henry’s mentorship is his relationship
addresses how it is accomplished during times of with his own father, Philip Henry in the home
excessive busyness, heavy travel, times of transi-
of his youth. This father and son duo from the
tion, and singleness. He even shows how to have
seventeenth century presents some of the best
“a church within the house” when you are living in
role models in Christian history for the dynamics
a godless home.
of fathers passing on their faith from one genera-
Henry believed that making the family a little tion to the next.
church was the key to reformation and that there
would be no reformation without it. This reforma- Matthew maintained the exemplary patterns
“This father and
tion that Henry conceived was a reformation of of his father in his own home. The lifestyle in his son duo from
healing and happiness. He wrote, home was so much like that of his teacher, that the seventeenth
his great commentary had its beginnings in the century presents
“Now I know not any thing that will contribute notes from Phillip’s expositions before his family
some of the best
more to the furtherance of this good work than the role models in
in his home when Matthew was a mere stripling. Christian history
bringing of family-religion more into practice and Matthew used his handwritten notes from these for the dynam-
reputation. Here the reformation must begin. Other same commentaries to instruct his own children. ics of fathers
methods may check the disease we complain of, but passing on their
Then, he had his children copy down his exposi- faith from one
this, if it might universally obtain, would cure it. tions, leaving them with their own personal record generation to the
Salt must be cast into these springs, and then the of the teachings of their father, written in their own next.”
waters would be healed.”

14 15
 hand. These simple notes were the beginnings of “How the houses of the good old Protestants were
the great commentary series on the whole Bible perfumed with this incense daily, especially on Lord’s
that we enjoy today. Days, we, says Mr. Henry, ‘have heard with our
ears, and our fathers have told us.’
Of course, Matthew Henry is best known for
this wonderful set of commentaries on all of the “Prayer succeeded singing. The whole was usually
books of the Bible entitled “An Exposition of the comprehended within the space of half an hour, or
Old and New Testaments.” His warm-hearted and a little more.
accurate expositions are beautiful testimonies of
“When prayer was over, his children received his
a son who was walking in his father’s footsteps.
blessing, which he pronounced with great seriousness,
George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon used
solemnity, and affection.
Matthew Henry’s commentaries and recom-
mended them. One commentator says that George “The better to engage the attention of his family,
Whitefield read it through four times, the last time he required from them, at the close of the exercise,
on his knees. Spurgeon said, “Every minister ought to an account.
read it entirely and carefully through once at least.”1 “On the Sabbath the same order was observed, the
Practical Help for Spiritual Disciplines in household assembling about eight o‘clock. Nor were
the Home his public engagements on that sacred day allowed to
interfere, either with the observance itself, or his own
Biographer J.B. Williams recounts the spiritual
personal attention to it.
disciplines practiced in Matthew Henry’s house-
hold. In the following description you will see “The worship being concluded, Mr. Henry took
the genius and simplicity of his methods in his his family to the solemn assembly. After dinner he
home. sang a psalm, offered up a short prayer, and so retired
to his closet till the time returned for meeting the
“He was comprehensive, but neither tedious nor
congregation. In the evening he generally repeated, in
hurried. The exercise commenced by invocation…
his own house, both the sermons; on which occasion
unless the chapter was short he divided it into
many neighbors attended; the repetition was followed
sections; confining himself generally, to eight or ten
by singing and prayer; two verses more of a suitable
verses, of which he gave a brief, and edifying expla-
hymn were then sung; the blessing pronounced, and
nation.
the younger children catechized. After supper he sang

1. Commenting and Commentaries: Two Lectures Addressed to the students

of The Pastors’ College, Metropolitan Tabernacle, by C. H. Spurgeon, Presi-
16 17
dent London: Pass more & Alabaster, Paternoster Buildings, 1890
 the 136th Psalm; then catechized his elder children God-Centered Home Life
and servants; heard them repeat what they could
Matthew Henry strove for a God-centered
remember of the sermons; and concluded the day
home, and he seemed to take every opportunity to
with supplications.
breathe the joy of the Lord into it. Tender words
“Besides the daily oblations, and Sabbath services toward God were constantly brought into the
“His piety ‘at which have been noticed, Mr. Henry often kept family home. One small piece of evidence of this is a
home,’ em-
fasts; sometimes in unison with invited friends; at copy of the baptismal covenant handwritten and
braced the
whole compass others with his own household. And frequently he signed by him and his daughters. They would recite
of relative reli- fasted alone. On these occasions, like the believing it each Lord’s Day in the evening. It is a beauti-
gion; he was an patriarch, he wrestled for ‘spiritual blessings.’ And ful Trinitarian devotional and a tender-hearted
‘example to be-
lievers,’ not only
whatever were the cares or fears, or trials of himself, covenant which pulsates with the proclamation of
as a husband, or his friends, they were committed, with filial simplic- the goodness of the Lord.
a father, and ity and confidence, to God.
a master; but This baptismal covenant was signed October
also as a son, “His piety ‘at home,’ embraced the whole compass 20, 1686. J.B. Williams says that Matthew took
a son-in-law, a of relative religion; he was an ‘example to believ- pains that his family understood it through expla-
brother, and a
ers,’ not only as a husband, a father, and a master; nation and regular recitation.
friend.”
but also as a son, a son-in-law, a brother, and a
Here is how it reads:
friend.”2
I take God the Father to be my chiefest good and
Beautiful Home Life
Highest end. I take God the Son to be my Prince
He fostered a beauty in his home life that is both and Savior. I take God the Holy Ghost to be my
rare and recoverable. It was maintained by three sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comforter. I take the
primary means: consistency, simplicity, and leader- Word of God to be my rule in all my actions. And
ship. He kept at it on a daily basis and it was simple the people of God to be my people in all conditions.
for the curriculum was the Bible itself. Nothing And this I do deliberately, sincerely, and freely and
new had to be created. On the contrary, he drew forever.
from the deep well of Holy Scripture.
Matthew Henry was an exemplary father who
understood biblical order in the church and the
home.

2. J.B. Williams, The Lives of Philip and Matthew Henry, Two Volumes in One,
18 The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974, Vol. 2, pp. 167-169. 19
 He patterned his family life in the manner of
his father Philip who diligently held family worship
in his household without break in the pattern, no
matter what other demands were placed on him.
Matthew Henry is an example of a father who
maintained patterns that cultivated a beautiful and
godly family life. Creating this kind of home life
is one of the great difficulties for heads of house-
holds today, particularly as everything in modern
life seems to work against it. I hope this sermon
will help fathers on their journeys to become like
their heavenly Father, in all of their fatherhood
activities.

Scott T. Brown

20
 Chapter One
Here The Reformation Must Begin
“With the Church That is in Their House”
1 Corinthians 16:19

S ome very good interpreters I know understand

that 1 Corinthians 16:19 refers to a settled, stated,
solemn meeting of Christians at the house of
Aquila and Priscilla, for public worship. The early church
was glad for houses to meet in. Where they wanted those
better conveniences, with which the church was afterwards
in her prosperous days accommodated, then they thankfully
made use of what they could get.
Nor was it only Aquila and Priscilla whose house was used
as a church. In Romans 16:5, we see that Nymphas also had
a church in his house. We see the same in Colossians 4:15
and Philemon, v.2.
I recommend family-religion to you, under the notion of a
church in the house. When we see your public assemblies so
well-filled and so well-attended, we cannot but thank God,
and take courage. Your diligent attendance on the public

23
 ministry of the Word and prayers, is your praise, Many a time, no doubt, you have been urged
and I trust, through grace, it adds to your spiritual to this part of your duty. Many a good sermon
comfort and benefit. perhaps you have heard, and many a good book
has been put into your hands with this design, to
Is Spiritual Life Flourishing or Withering
persuade you to keep up religion in your families,
in Your House?
and to assist you there. But, I hope a further attempt
“Is it upon the But, my subject at this time will lead me to to advance this good work, by one who is a hearty
inquire into the state of religion in your private well-wisher to it, and to the prosperity of your “Salt must be
throne, or un-
cast into these
der foot in your houses, as to whether it flourishes or whether it souls and families, will not be thought altogether springs, and
home?” withers there. Is it upon the throne, or under foot needless, and that by the grace of God it will not then the waters
in your home? Here, I desire to deal plainly and be wholly fruitless. At least it will serve to remind would be
faithfully with your consciences, and I beg you healed.”
you of what you have received and heard to this
will give them leave to deal so with you. purpose, that you may hold fast what is good, and
Here the Reformation Must Begin repent of what is amiss (Revelation 3:3)

The pious and zealous endeavors both of The lesson then which I would recommend to
magistrates and ministers for the reformation of you from the text is this:
conduct and the suppression of vice and profane-
ness, are the joy and encouragement of all good That the Families of Christians
people in the land. This is a happy indication Should be Little Churches:
that God has yet mercy in store for us. I do not or thus,
know of anything that will contribute more to the That Where-ever We Have a House,
furtherance of this good work than the bringing God Should Have a Church in It
of family-religion more into practice and reputa-
tion. Here the reformation must begin.
Unhappy contests there have been, and still
Other methods may check the disease we are, among wise and good men about the consti-
complain of, but this, if it was universally prac- tution, order, and government, of churches. May
ticed, would cure it. Salt must be cast into these God by His grace heal these breaches, lead us into
springs, and then the waters would be healed. all truth, and dispose our minds to love and peace,
that while we endeavor to walk according to the

24 25
 light God has given us, and we charitably believe “The Lord loves the Gates of Zion
that others do too, have a longing to be where we more than
shall be all of one mind.
all the dwellings of Jacob” (Psalm 87:2)
But I am now speaking of churches, concerning
which there is no such controversy regarding the
importance of home life. All agree that masters of A Church in the House Does Not Usurp the
families, who profess religion, and the fear of God Office of the Church
themselves, should, according to the talents they We must not forsake the assembling of
are entrusted with, maintain and keep up religion ourselves together, under excuse of exhorting one
and the fear of God in their families, as those another daily at home. Far be it from us to offer
that must give account. And, that families as such anything that may allow the invading of the office
should contribute to the support of Christianity in of the ministry, or laying it in common, and the
a nation, whose honor and happiness it is to be a usurping or superceding of the administration of
Christian nation. sacraments. No, but these family-churches (which
Families Are Little Churches are but figuratively so) must be erected and main-
tained in subordination to those more sacred and
As nature makes families little kingdoms, and
solemn establishments.
perhaps economics were the first and most ancient
“Families were politics; so grace makes families little churches. Now that I may the more distinctly open to
the primitive
Families were the primitive churches of the Old you, and press upon you, this great duty of family-
churches of the
old-testament, Testament, before men began to call upon the religion, from the example of this and other texts
before men be- name of the Lord in solemn assemblies, and the of a church in the house, I shall endeavor,
gan to call upon sons of God came together to present themselves
the name of the (I.) To show you what this church in the house
Lord”
before Him. is, and when our families may be called churches,
Not that I would have these family churches set (II.) To persuade you by some motives thus to
up and kept up in competition with, much less in turn your families into churches, and then,
contradiction to, public religious assemblies, which
ought always to have the preference, (III.) To address to you upon the whole matter
by way of application.

26 27
 Chapter Two
What Does it Mean to Have
a Church in the House?

I am in the first place to tell you what family-religion

is. It is as a church in the house. This is what we are
persuading you to.
Sacred Societies
Churches are sacred societies, incorporated for the honor
and service of God in Christ in two ways. First, they are
devoted to God, and second, they are employed for Him. So
should our families be.
1. Churches are societies devoted to God, called out of
the world, taken in out of the common to be enclosures for
God: He has set them apart for Himself. And because He
has chosen them, they also have chosen Him, and set them-
selves apart for Him. The Jewish church was separated to
God for a peculiar people, and kingdom of priests (Exodus
19:6; 1 Peter 2:9).

29
 Houses Consecrated to God Here is a church in the house
Thus our houses must be churches. We must Baptism was ordained for the discipling of
give up our houses to the Lord, to be to Him for a nations (Matthew 28:19) in order that the kingdoms
name and a people. All the interest we have, both of the world, as such, might, by the conversion of
in our relations, and in our possessions, must be their people to the faith of Christ, and the conse-
consecrated to God. Under the law, all that the cration of their powers and governments to the
servant had was his master’s for ever, after he had honor of Christ, become His kingdoms (Revela-
consented to have his ear bored to the door post. tion 11:15).

When God effectually called Abram out of Ur Thus by baptism households likewise are disci-
“The master of
the family, gives of the Chaldees, his family put on the face of a pled, as Lydia’s, and the Jailor’s, (Acts 16:15, 33).
up all his right, particular Church. In obedience to God’s precept, In their family-capacity, they are given up to Him,
title, and
and in dependence on God’s promise, they took who is in a particular manner the God of all the
interest, in his families of Israel (Jeremiah 30:1).
house, and all all the substance they had gathered, and the souls
that belongs to they had gotten, and put themselves and their all Circumcision was at first a family-ordinance,
it, unto God” and in that particular way, as well as others, baptism
under a divine conduct and government (Genesis
12:5). does somewhat symbolize it. When the children
of Christian parents are by baptism admitted
Even Little Families Can Be Churches members of the universal church, as their right to
His was a great family, not only numerous, but baptism is grounded upon, so their communion
very considerable. The father of it was the father with the universal church during their infancy,
of all them that believe. But even little families, maintained and kept up chiefly by their immedi-
jointly and entirely given up to God, so become ate relation to these churches in the house. There-
churches. This can happen when all the members fore they are first given back, and in them they
of the family yield themselves to God, subscribe are deposited, under the tuition of them, to be
with their hands to be the Lord’s. They surname trained up till they become capable of a place and
themselves by the name of Israel. The master of a name in particular churches of larger figure and
the family gives up all his right, title, and interest, extent. So that baptized families, that own their
in his house, and all that belongs to it, unto God, baptism, and adhere to it, and in their joint and
relative capacity make profession of the Christian
to be used for Him, and disposed of by Him.
faith, may so far be called little churches.

30 31
 Dedicating Your Household to God Let holiness to the Lord be written upon the
house, and all the furniture of it, according to the
More than once in the Old Testament we read
Word which God has spoken (Zechariah 14:20,
of the dedication of private houses. This is spoken
21). It is God’s desire that every pot in Jerusalem
of as a common practice (Deuteronomy 20:5).
and Judith shall be holiness to the Lord of Hosts.
What man is there that has built a new house, and
Let God by His providence, dispose of the affairs
has not dedicated it, i.e., taken possession of it; in
of my family, and by His grace dispose the affec-
the doing of which it was usual to dedicate it to
tions of all in my family, according to His will,
God by some solemn acts of religious worship.
to His own practice. Let me and mine be only,
The 30th Psalm is entitled, A Psalm or Song at the
wholly, and for ever His.
Dedication of the House of David. It is a good
thing when a man has a house of his own and The Dedication of Your Homes
then converts it into a church, by dedicating it to
Be persuaded brethren, to dedicate your houses
the service and honor of God, so that it would be
to God, and beg of Him to come and take posses-
a Bethel, a house of God, and not a Bethaven, a
sion of them. If you never did it, do it tonight
house of vanity and iniquity. “Look upon
with all possible seriousness and sincerity. your houses
Every good Christian that is a householder as temples for
Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted
dedicates his house habitually and virtually. God, places for
up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory worship, and all
Having first given his own self to the Lord, he
shall come in (Psalm 24: 9). your possessions
freely surrenders all he has to Him. But it may be as dedicated
of good use to do it often to repeat this act of Bring the ark of the Lord into the tent you have things, to be
resignation, this stone which I have set for a pillar pitched, and oblige yourselves, and all yours, to used for
shall be God’s house (Genesis 28:22). attend it. Look upon your houses as temples for God’s honor.”
God, places for worship, and all your possessions
Let all I have in my house, and all I do in it, be
as dedicated things, to be used for God’s honor,
for the glory of God. I own Him to be my great
and not to be alienated or profaned.
landlord, and I hold all from and under Him. To
Him I promise to pay the rents (the quit-rents) 2. Churches are societies employed for
of daily praises and thanksgivings; and to do the God, pursuant to the true intent and meaning of
services, the easy services of gospel obedience. this dedication.

32 33
 Three Things Are Necessary for Maintain- truth as it is in Jesus. But, care must be taken, and
ing a Church in the House means used, that you and yours be well acquainted
There are three things necessary to the well- with that truth, and that you grow in that acquain-
being of a Church. These three have more influ- tance, to the honor of Christ and His holy religion,
ence than anything else. They are, doctrine, and the improvement of your own minds, and
worship, and discipline. theirs that are under your charge.

Homes should be places where the truths of You must dwell with your families as men of
Christ are professed and taught, the ordinances knowledge (I Peter 3:7), i.e., as men that desire
of Christ administered and observed, and due to grow in knowledge yourselves, and to commu-
care taken to put the laws of Christ in practice. nicate your knowledge, for the benefit of others,
When these are in execution among all that which are the two good properties of those that
profess themselves His subjects, and this under deserve to be called men of knowledge.
the conduct and inspection of a gospel-ministry, You must read the Scriptures to your families,
there is a church. in a solemn manner, requiring their attendance on
And, something answerable hereunto there your reading, and their attention to it; and inquir-
must be in our families, to name them little ing sometimes whether they understand what you
churches. read.
Masters of families, who preside in the other I hope you are none of you without Bibles in
affairs of the house, must go before their house- your houses, but that you would have a store of
holds in the things of God. They must be as Bibles, and every one with a Bible. Thanks be
prophets, priests, and kings, in their own families, to God we have them cheap and common in a
and as such they must keep up family-doctrine, language that we understand. The book of the law
family-worship, and family-discipline. Then is is not such a rarity with us as it was in Josiah’s
there a Church in the house, and this is the family- time. We need not fetch this knowledge from afar,
religion I am persuading you to. nor send from sea to sea, and from the river to the
ends of the earth to seek the Word of God. No,
A. Keep Up Family-Doctrine
the Word is near us. When popery reigned in our
It is not enough that you and yours are baptized land, English Bibles were scarce things. A load of
into the Christian faith, and profess to own the hay (it is said) was once given for one torn leaf of

34 35
 a Bible. But now Bibles are everyone’s money. You God, and your own and your family’s edification.
know where to buy them, or if you are not able It will help make the Word of God familiar to
“It is better
to do that, perhaps in this charitable city you may yourselves, and your children and servants, that
to be without
bread in your know where to beg them. you may be ready and mighty in the Scriptures.
houses than From this you will be thoroughly furnished for
without Bibles”
It is better to be without bread in your houses
every good word and work. It will also furnish
than without Bibles. For the words of God’s
you with matter and words for prayer, and so be
mouth are and should be to you more than your
helpful to you in other parts of the service.
necessary food.
If some parts of Scripture seem less edifying,
You have great encouragements to read the
let those be more frequently read that are most so.
Scripture; for notwithstanding the malicious
David’s psalms are of daily use in devotion, and
endeavors of atheists to vilify sacred things, the
Solomon’s proverbs in our manner of life. It will
knowledge of the Scripture is still in reputation
be greatly to your advantage to be well versed in
with all wise and good men. You also have a variety
them.
of excellent helps to understand the Scripture, and
to improve your reading of it; so that if you or Reading the Whole Bible
yours perish for lack of this knowledge, as you
And I hope I need not press any Christian to
certainly will if you persist in the neglect of it, you
the study of the New Testament, or any Chris-
may thank yourselves. The guilt will lie wholly at
tian parents to the frequent instructing of their
your own doors.
children in the pleasant and profitable histories “if you persist
Let me therefore with all earnestness press it of the Old Testament. When you only hear your in the neglect
of it, you may
upon you to make the solemn reading of the Scrip- children read the Bible, they are tempted to look thank yourselves.
ture a part of your daily worship in your families. upon it as no more but a school-book. But, when The guilt will lie
When you speak to God by prayer, be willing to they hear you read it to them in a solemn, religious, wholly at your
hear Him speak to you in His Word, that there manner, it comes, as it ought, with more authority. own doors.”
may be a complete communion between you and Those masters of families who make conscience
God. This will add much to the solemnity of your of doing this daily, morning and evening, reckon-
family-worship, and will make the transaction the ing as part of that which the duty of every day
more full of awe and serious, if it be done in a right requires, I am sure have comfort and satisfac-
manner. This will conduce much to the honor of tion in so doing, and find it contributes much to

36 37
 their own improvement in Christian knowledge, men sleep. If this good work is not kept going
and the edification of those that dwell under their forward, it will of it self go backward. Wisdom will
shadow. And there will be an even larger effect if direct you to manage your catechizing, as well as
the families read what the minister is preaching the other branches of family-religion, so as not to
about or some part of it. make it a task and burden. It should be a pleasure
to those under your charge, that the blame may lie
Reading Other Books
wholly upon their own impiety, and not at all upon
It is easy to add under this head, that the season- your imprudence, if they should say, Behold what
“When you
able reading of other good books will contribute a weariness is it! (Malachi 1:13)
only hear your very much to family-instruction. In helps of this
This way of instruction by catechizing does, in a
children read kind we are as happy as any people under the sun,
the Bible, they special manner, belong to the church in the house.
if we have but hearts to use the helps we have, as
are tempted to For that’s the nursery in which the trees of righ-
look upon it as those that must give an account shortly of them
teousness are reared that afterwards are planted
no more but a among other the talents we are entrusted with.
school-book. in the courts of our God. Public catechizing will
But, when they You Must Catechize Your Children turn to little account without family catechizing.
hear you read
You must also catechize your children and The labor of ministers in instructing youth, and
it to them in a
servants, so long as they continue in that age of life feeding the lambs of the flock, therefore proves to
solemn, reli-
gious, manner, which needs this milk. Oblige them to learn some many a labor in vain, because masters of families
it comes, as it good catechism by heart, and to keep it in remem- do not do their duty, in preparing them for public
ought, with instruction, and examining their improvement
more authority” brance, and by familiar discourse with them help
them to understand it, as they become capable. by it. As mothers are children’s best nurses, so
This is an excellent method of catechizing, which parents are (or should be) their best teachers.
God Himself directs us to (in Deuteronomy 6:7), Solomon’s father was his tutor (Proverbs 4:3,4).
to teach our children the things of God, by talking And he never forgot the lessons his mother taught
of them as we sit in the house, and go by the way, him (Proverbs 31:1).
when we lie down, and when we rise up. The baptism of your children as it laid a strong
It is good to keep up stated times for this service, and lasting obligation upon them to live in the
and be constant to them, as those that know how fear of God, so it brought you under the most
industrious the enemy is there to sow tares, while powerful engagements imaginable to bring them

38 39
 up in that fear. The child you gave up to God to entered your children in Christ’s school, and
be dedicated to Him, and admitted a member of listed them under His banner, you do not make
Christ’s visible church, was in God’s name given conscience of training them up in the learning of
back to you, with the same charge that Pharoah’s Christ’s scholars, and under the discipline of His
daughter gave to Moses’s mother, Take this child, soldiers.
and nurse it for me. In nursing it for God, you
Very Young Children Are Capable of
nurse it for better preferment than that of being
Honoring God
called the son of Pharoah’s daughter.
Consider what your children are now capable
It is worth observing, that he to whom God first
“Public catechiz- of, even in the days of their childhood. They are
ing will turn to did the honor of entailing the seal of the covenant
capable of receiving impressions now which may
little account upon His seed, was eminent for this part of family-
without family abide upon them as long as they live. They are
religion: I know Abraham that he will command
catechizing.” turned as clay to the seal, and now is the time to
his children of the Lord (Genesis 18:19). Those
apply to them the seal of the living God. They
therefore who would have the comfort of God’s
are capable of honoring God now, if they be well
covenant with them and their seed, and would
taught, and by their joining, as they can, in religious
share in that blessing of Abraham which comes
services with so much reverence and application
upon the Gentiles, must follow the example of
as their age will admit. God is honored, and you in
faithful Abraham.
them if you present to Him living sacrifices, holy
The inheritance of the covenant of grace is and acceptable. The hosannas even of children
forfeited and cut off if care be not taken with it well taught will be the perfecting of praise, and
to transmit the means of grace. To what purpose highly pleasing to the Lord Jesus.
were they discipled if they are not taught? Why
Consider Their Purpose on Earth
did you give them a Christian name if you will not
give them the knowledge of Christ and Christi- Consider what your children are designed for in
anity? God has owned them as His children, and this world. They must be a seed to serve the Lord,
born unto Him (Ezekiel 16:20). Therefore, He which shall be accounted to Him for a generation.
expects they should be brought up for Him. You They are to bear up the name of Christ in their
are unjust to your God, unkind to your children, day, and into their hands must be transmitted that
and unfaithful to your trust, if having by baptism good thing which is committed to us. They are to

40 41
 be praising God on earth when we are praising you reprove, exhort, and encourage them as there
Him in heaven. Let them then be brought up is occasion; if you pray with them, and for them,
accordingly, that they may answer the end of their and set them a good example, and at last consult
birth and being. They are designed for the service their soul’s welfare in the disposal of them; you
of their generation, and to do good in their day; have done your part, and may comfortably leave
consult the public welfare then, and let nothing be the issue and success with God.
wanting on your parts to qualify them for useful-
B. Keep Up Family-Worship
ness according as their place and capacity.
You must not only as prophets teach your
Consider Their Purpose in Heaven
families, but as priests must go before them, in
Consider especially what they are designed for offering the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and
in another world. They are made for eternity. Every praise. In the same way, you must tread in the
child you have has a precious and immortal soul, steps of faithful Abraham, whose sons you are
that must be forever either in heaven or hell. Will while you are alive.
it not be very sad, if through your carelessness
You must not only (like Abraham) instruct “Will it not
and neglect your children should learn the ways
your household, but like him you must with them be very sad, if
of sin, and perish eternally in those ways? Give
call on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God through your
them warning, that, if possible, you may deliver carelessness and
(Genesis 21:33). Wherever he pitched his tent,
their souls, at least that you may deliver your own, neglect your
there he built an altar unto the Lord (Genesis children should
and may not bring their curse and God’s too, their
12:7, 8; 13:4, 18), though he was yet in an unset- learn the ways of
blood and your own too, upon your heads. sin, and perish
tled state, but a stranger, and a sojourner; though
eternally in
Make a Consistent Pattern he was among jealous and envious neighbors, for those ways.”
the Canaanite and the Perezite dwelled then in the
I know you cannot give grace to your children.
land. Yet wherever Abraham had a tent God had
Nor is a genuine faith always the result of a reli-
an altar in it, and he himself served at that altar. In
gious education. The race is not always to the
this practice, he has left us an example.
swift, nor the battle to the strong. But if you make
a consistent pattern of doing your day, by keeping Family-Prayer Days
up family-doctrine; if you teach them the good
Families, as such, have many activities at the
and the right way, and warn them of by-paths; if
throne of grace, which furnish them with matter

42 43
 and occasion for family-prayer days. Families have of His pasture. Especially adore Him as the God
activities which cannot be done so well in secret of all the families of Israel, in covenant-relation
or public, but are best done by the family together, to them, and having a particular concern for them
and apart from other families. And it is good for above others (Jeremiah 31:1). Give honor to the
those that go before the rest in family-devotion, great redeemer as the head of all the churches,
ordinarily to dwell most upon the concerns of even those in your houses. Call Him the master of
those that join in their family-capacity, that it may the family, and the great upholder and benefactor
be indeed a family-prayer, not only offered up of it; for He it is in whom all the families of the
in and by the family, but suited to it. In this and earth are blessed (Genesis 12:3). All family-bless-
other services we should endeavor not only to say ings are owing to Christ, and come to us through
something, but something to the purpose. His Hand, by His blood.
Five things especially you should have upon Own your dependence upon God, and your
your heart in your family-prayer, and should obligations to Christ for all good things pertaining
endeavor to bring something of each, more or both to life and godliness, and make conscience
less, into every prayer with your families. of paying homage to your chief Lord, and never
set up a title to any of your enjoyments in compe-
1. You ought to make family-acknowledg-
tition with His.
ments of your dependence upon God and
His providence, as you are a family. Our 2. You ought to make family-confessions
great business in all acts of religious worship of your sins against God; those sins you have
is to give unto the Lord the glory due unto His contracted the guilt of in your family-capacity. We
name; and this we must do in our family-worship. read in Scripture of the iniquity of the house, as
Give honor to God as the founder of families by of Eli’s (I Samuel 13:14); iniquity visited upon the
His ordinance, because it was not good for man children; sins that bring wrath upon families; and
to be alone. Give honor to the founder of your a curse that enters into the house to consume it
families by His providence, for He it is that builds with the timber there, and the stones there (Zech-
the house, and sets the solitary in families. Give ariah 5:4).
honor to Him as the owner and ruler of families;
How sad is the condition of those families
acknowledge that you and yours are His, under
that sin together, and never pray together; that by
His government, and at His disposal, as the sheep
concurring in frauds, quarrels, and excesses, by

44 45
 strengthening one another’s hands in impiety and 3. You ought to offer up family thanksgiv-
profaneness, fill the measure of family-guilt, and ings for the blessings which you, with your “How sad is the
never agree together to do any thing to empty it. families, receive from God. Many are the mercies condition of
which you enjoy the sweetness and benefit of in those families
And even religious families, that are not polluted that sin together,
common. If even one of these mercies were taken
with gross and scandalous sins, still have need and never pray
away, the whole family would notice it. Has not together...and
to join every day in the solemn acts and expres-
God made a hedge of protection about you and never agree to-
sions of repentance before God for their sins of gether to do any
your houses, and all that you have (Job 1:10)? Has
daily infirmity; their vain words, and unprofitable thing to empty
he not created a defense upon every dwelling-place it.”
converse among themselves; their manifold defects
of Mount Zion, as well as upon her assemblies
in relative duties; providing one another’s lusts
(Isaiah 4:5)?
and passions, instead of provoking one another
to love, and to good works. These ought to be The dreadful alarms of a storm, and the deso-
confessed and bewailed by the family together, that lations made as by a fire once in an age, should
God may be glorified, and what has been amiss make us sensible of our obligations to the Divine
may be amended for the future. It was not only in Providence for our preservation from tempests
a time of great and extraordinary repentance that and fire every day, and every night. It is of the
families mourned apart (Zechariah 12:11). But in Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, and
the stated returns of the day of sacrifice for sin, buried in the ruins of our houses. When the whole
the priest was particularly to make atonement for family comes together safe in the morning from
his household (Leviticus 16:17). their respective retirements, and when they return
safe at night from their respective employments,
In many things we all offend God, and one there having been no disaster, no adversary, no evil
another, and a penitent confession of it in prayer occurrence, it is so reasonable, and it is so natural
“Never set
up a title to together, will be the most effectual way of recon- for them to join together in solemn thanksgivings
any of your ciling ourselves both to God, and to one another. to their great protector.
enjoyments in The best families are those in which piety and love
competition
prevails most, yet in many things come short, and I wonder how any that believe in God or His
with His.” providence can omit it. Do you not find health in
do enough every day to bring them upon their
knees at night. your family? Has sickness been kept or taken from
the midst of you? Does not God bring plentifully

46 47
 into your hands, and increase your substance? Have to pray for it every day, but to pray together for it,
you not your table spread, and your cup running saying, Our Father, give it to us. There are affairs
over, and manna rained about your tents? And and employments which the family is jointly
does not the whole family share in the comfort of concerned in the success of, and therefore should
all this? Then, let there be the voice of thanksgiv- jointly ask for God’s wisdom for their management
ing in those tabernacles where the voice of rejoic- and prosperity. There are family cares to be cast
ing is (Psalm 118:15). Is the vine by the house-side upon God by prayer. There are family comforts
fruitful and flourishing, and the olive plants round to be fought for. There are family crosses which
the table green and growing? Are family-relations they should together beg for the sanctification and
comfortable and agreeable, not broken, nor embit- removal of.
tered, and shall not that God be acknowledged who
When you do this, your children will be more
makes every relationship which we have? Shall not
effectually possessed with a belief of, and regard
the God of your mercies, your family-mercies, be
for the Divine Providence. This will be more effec-
the God of your praises, your family-praises, and
tive than all the instructions you can give them.
that daily?
This will look best in their eye, when it is reduced
May the benefit and honor of your being Chris- to practice by your daily acknowledging God in all
tian families, your having been in God’s house, and your ways.
being placed within your walls, furnish you with
You desire that God will give wisdom and “There are
abundant matter for joint thanksgivings. He has
grace to your children. You travail in birth again family cares
known you above all the families of the earth, and to be cast
till you see Christ formed in them and you pray
therefore He expects in a special manner to be upon God by
for them. This is good. But, it is not enough. You prayer. There
owned by you. Of all houses, the house of Israel,
must pray with them and let them hear you pray are family
the house of Aaron, and the house of Levi, have
to God for a blessing upon the good instructions comforts to
most reason to bless the Lord, and to say that His be fought
and counsels you give them. It may perhaps put
mercy endures forever. for.”
them upon praying for themselves, and increase
4. You ought to present your family-peti- their esteem both of you, and of the good lessons
tions for the mercy and grace which your you teach them. You would like for your children
families stand in need of. Daily bread is received to be diligent and faithful, and this perhaps would
by families together, and we are taught not only help to make them so. But, parents do not give to

48 49
 their children that which is just and equal if they 5. You ought to make family-intercessions
do not continue in prayer with them. They are put for others also. There are families you stand
together for God’s sovereign purposes (Colossians related to, or which by neighborhood, friendship,
4:1, 2). or acquaintance, you become interested in, and
concerned for, and these you should recommend
“There are some Prayer for Family Temptations
temptations in your prayers to the grace of God. Your family
which families lie There are some temptations which families that is joined with you in these friendships and alli-
open to...There- lie open to. Busy families are in temptation to ances should join with you in those prayers.
fore not only worldliness, and neglect of religious duties; mixed
watch, but pray Evil tidings perhaps are received from relations
together, that they families are in temptation to discord, and mutual
at a distance, which are the grief of the family.
be not overcome jealousies. Decaying families are in temptation to
God must then be sought unto by the family for
by the distrust, discontent, and indirect courses. To help
temptations they help and deliverance. Some of the branches of
themselves, they should therefore not only watch,
are exposed to.” the family are perhaps in distant countries, and in
but pray together, that they be not overcome by
dangerous circumstances, and you are solicitous
the temptations they are exposed to.
about them. It will be a comfort to yourselves, and
Seeking Family-Blessings perhaps will be of advantage to them, to make
There are family-blessings which God has mention of them daily in your family-prayers. The
promised, and for which He will be sought, such benefit of prayer will reach far, because He that
as those on the house of Obed-Edom for the ark’s hears prayer can extend His hand of power and
sake. There are family-blessings like the mercy mercy to the utmost corners of the earth, and to
which St. Paul begs for the house of Onesipho- them that are afar off upon the sea.
rus (2 Timothy 1:16). These joint blessings must
In the public peace we and our families have
be brought out by joint prayers. There is a special
peace, and therefore if we forget you, O Jerusa-
blessing which God commands upon families that
lem, we are unworthy ever to stand in thy courts,
dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1, 3), which they
must seek for by prayer. They must come together or dwell within your walls. Our families should be
to seek for it, in token of that unity which quali- witnesses for us that we pray daily for our native
fies for it. Where God commands the blessing, we land, and the prosperity of all its interests; that
must beg the blessing. God by promise blesses it, praying everywhere we make supplication for our
too (2 Samuel 6:20). leaders, and all in authority (I Timothy 2:2, 8).

50 51
 We ought to bear upon our hearts the concerns C. Family Discipline
of God’s church abroad, especially the suffering
Thirdly, keep up family-discipline, so that you
parts of it, thus keeping up a spiritual communion
may have a complete church in your house, even
with all the families that in every place call on the
though it be a little church. Reason teaches us that
name of the Lord Jesus.
every man should rule in his own house (Esther
In a word, let us go by this rule in our family- 1:22). And since that is of God, it ought to be
devotions. And, whatever is the matter of our care, employed for God. They that so rule must be just,
let it be the matter of our prayer. And, let us allow ruling in His fear.
no care which we cannot in faith spread before
Joshua looked further than the acts of religious
God: and whatever is the matter of our rejoicing,
worship when he made that pious resolution,
let it be the matter of our thanksgiving; and let us
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord
withhold our hearts from all those joys which do
(Joshua 24:15). For we do not serve Him in sincer-
not dispose us for the duty of praise.
ity and truth, (which is the service he there speaks
Singing Together As a Family of, v. 14) if we and ours serve Him only on our
Under this head of family-worship I must not knees, and do not take care to serve Him in all the
omit to recommend to you the singing of psalms in instances of our everyday lives. Only those that
your families as a part of daily worship, especially have clean hands, and a pure heart, are accounted
Sabbath worship in your own homes. This is a part the generation who seek God (Psalm 24:4, 6). And
of religious worship, which participates both of without this those that pretend to seek God daily,
the Word and prayer. We are not only to give glory mock Him (Isaiah 58:2).
to God, but to teach and admonish one another. The authority God has given you over your
It is therefore very proper to make it a transition children and servants is principally designed for
from the one to the other. It will warm and quicken this end, that you may engage them for God and
you, refresh and comfort you, and perhaps if you godliness. If you use it only to oblige them to do
have little children in your houses, they will sooner your will, and so to serve your pride, and to do
take notice of it than of any other part of your your business, and so to serve your worldliness,
family-devotion; and some good impressions may you do not answer the great end of your being
thereby be fastened upon them insensibly. invested with it. You must use it for God’s honor,

52 53
 and use your authority to engage them as far as you Most people will be easier led than driven, and
can to do the will of God, and mind the business we all love to be appreciated. When you see any
of Christ. thing that is hopeful and promising in your family,
any thing of a promising and responsive disposi-
For example, David not only blessed his house- tion, much more any thing of a pious affection to
hold, but took care to keep good order in it. We the things of God, you should therefore do your
see this in the plan of his family discipline, which best to encourage it.
we have in the 101st Psalm, a psalm which Mr. Fox
Smile upon them when you see them set their
tells us that blessed martyr Bishop Ridley often
faces heavenwards, and take the first opportunity to
read to his family, as the rule by which he resolved
let them know you observe it, and are well pleased
to govern it. with it, and do not despise the day of small things.
You are made keepers of the vineyard. Be This will quicken them to continue and abound
faithful to your trust, and carefully watch over in that which is good. It will hearten them against
those that are under your charge, knowing you the difficulties they see in their way, and perhaps
must give account. may turn the wavering, trembling, scale the right
way, and effectually encourage their resolutions to
i. Encourage every thing that is good and cleave to the Lord.
praise-worthy in your children and servants. It
is as much your duty to commend and encourage When you set them forward to come to family-
worship, attentive to the Word, devout in prayer,
those in your family that do well, as to reprove
industrious to get knowledge, afraid of sin, and
and admonish those that do amiss; and if you take
careful to do their duty, let them have the praise of
delight only in blaming that which is culpable, you it, for you have the comfort of it, and God must
are not doing your whole duty. When we are slow have all the glory. “When you see
to praise that which is laudable, we give occasion to any thing that
Draw them with the cords of a man, and hold is hopeful and
suspect something of an ill nature not becoming a promising in
good man, much less a good Christian. It should them with the bands of love. This way, your your family...you
be a trouble to us when we have only reproofs rebukes, when they are necessary, will be more should therefore
to give, but no expressions of pleasure toward acceptable and effective. The great shepherd do your best to
gathers the lambs in His arms, and carries them in encourage it”
our children. We ought to be able to say with the
His bosom, and gently leads them, and so should
apostle, Now I praise you (I Corinthians 11:2).
you.

54 55
 ii. Discourage every thing that is evil in Be afraid of having wicked servants in your
your children and servants. Use your author- houses, lest your children learn their way, and get
ity for the preventing of sin, and the suppressing a snare to their souls. Drive away with an angry
of every root of bitterness, lest it spring up, and countenance all that evil communication which
“Be afraid of
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Frown corrupts good manners, that your houses may be having wicked
upon every thing that brings sin into your families, habitations of righteousness, and sin may never servants in your
and introduces any ill words, or ill practices. Pride find shelter in them. houses, lest your
children learn
and passion, strife and contention, idleness and their way, and get
intemperance, lying and slandering, these are sins a snare
which you must not allow, nor suffer to go without to their souls.”
a rebuke.
If you return to the Almighty, this among other
things is required of you, that you put away iniquity,
all iniquity. Put these and other similar iniquities,
far from your tabernacles (Job 22:23). Make it to
“Frown upon appear that in the government of your families
everything that
brings sin into
you are more jealous for God’s honor, than for
your families, your own authority and interest, and show your-
and introduce selves more displeased at that which is an offence
any ill words, or to God, than at that which is only an affront or
ill practices”
damage to yourselves.
You must indeed be careful not to provoke
your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged.
As to your servants, it is your duty to forbear or
moderate threatening; yet you must also with holy
zeal and resolution, and the meekness of wisdom,
keep good order in your families, and set no wicked
thing before your eyes, but witness against it. A
little leaven leavens the whole lump.

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 Chapter Three
The Motives To Persuade You To Turn
Your Houses into Churches

W hy should we turn our houses into little churches?

I come now to offer some motives to persuade
you to turn your families into little churches. And that I
could find out acceptable words, with which to reason with
you so as to prevail. Be patient with me a little, and I will
show you what is to be said on God’s behalf, which is worth
your consideration.
1. First, if your families be little churches, God will
come to you, and dwell with you in them; for He has said
concerning the church, This is my rest for ever, here will I
dwell. It is a very desirable thing to have the gracious presence
of God with us in our families, for He has promised that
where two or three are gathered together in His name there
He is in their midst. This was it that David was so desirous
of, O when will thou come unto me! (Psalm 101:2)

59
 His palace, his court, would be as a prison, tainment. Thus the good Shunamite invited the
as a dungeon, to him, if God did not come to prophet Elisha to the chamber she had prepared
him, and dwell with him, in it; and cannot your for him, by accommodating him there with a bed
hearts witness to this desire? You that have houses and a table, a stool and a candlestick (2 Kings
of your own, would you not have God come to 4:10).
you, and dwell with you, in them? Invite Him
Would you furnish your houses for the prefer-
then, beg His preference and court His stay. He
ence of God? It is not expected that you furnish
invites Himself to your houses by the offers of
them as His tabernacle was of old furnished, with
His favor and grace; behold He stands at your
blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. But
door, and knocks: it is the voice of your beloved.
set up and keep up for Him a throne and an altar,
Open to Him, and bid Him welcome. Meet Him
that from the altar you and yours may give glory
with your hosannas. Blessed is He that comes. He
to Him, and from the throne He may give law to
comes peaceably and He brings a blessing with
you and yours. Then you may be sure of His pref-
Him, which He will cause to rest upon the habita-
erence and blessing, and may solace yourselves
tions of the righteousness (Ezekiel 44:30). He will
from day to day in the comfort of it. God will
command a blessing, which shall amount to no
be with you in a way of mercy while you are with
less than life for evermore (Psalm 33:3).
Him in a way of duty. If you seek Him, He will
This preference and blessing of God will make be found of you. The secret of God shall be in
your relations comfortable, your affairs success- your tabernacle, as it was on Job’s (Job 29:4), as it
ful, your enjoyments sweet, and behold by it all is with the righteous (Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 3:32,
things are made clean to you. This will make your 33).
family comforts double comforts, and your family
2. Secondly, if you make your houses little
crosses but half crosses. It will turn a tent into a
churches, God will make them little sanctuar-
temple, a cottage into a palace…beautiful for situ-
ies. He will Himself be to you as a little sanctu-
ation, the joy of the whole earth, are the houses in
ary (Ezekiel 11:16). The way to be filled in your
which God dwells.
houses is to keep up religion and the fear of God
Now the way to have God’s preference with you in your houses; so shall be the munitions of rocks
in your houses is to furnish them for His enter- (Isaiah 33:16).

60 61
 The law looks upon a man’s house as his castle, and Christ day, which they only that abide under the shadow
makes it truly so. If God’s grace be the glory in the midst of the of the Almighty can promise themselves to be
house, His providence will make a wall of fire found about it safe from (Psalm 91:1, 5).
(Zechariah 2:5). If you would insure your houses by the best
Satan found it to his confusion that God made policy of insurance, turn them into churches,
a hedge about pious Job, about his house, and and then they shall be taken under the special
about all that he had on every side, so that he could protection of Him that keeps Israel, who neither
not find one gap by which to break in upon him slumbers nor sleeps. And, if any damage come to
(Job 1:10). them, it shall be made up in grace and glory. The
way of duty is without doubt the way of safety.
Every dwelling-place of Mount Zion shall be
Praying families are kept from more mischiefs
protected as the tabernacle was in the wilderness,
than they themselves are aware of. They are not
for God has promised to create upon it a cloud always sensible of the distinction which a kind
and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming Providence makes between them and others. God
fire by night, which shall be a defense upon all the is pleased sometimes to make it remarkable, as
glory (Isaiah. 4:5). in the story which is credibly related. There is a
If we dwell in the house of the Lord in this certain village in the canton of Bern in Switzer-
way, all the days of our life, by making our houses land, consisting of ninety houses, which in the year
His houses, we shall be hid in His pavilion, in the 1584 was all destroyed by an earthquake, except
one house, in which the good man and his family “If you would
secret of His tabernacle shall He hide us (Psalm
were at that time together praying. That promise is insure your
27:4, 5).
sure to all the seed of faithful Abraham, houses by the
Wherever we encamp, under the banner of best policy
Fear not, I am thy shield (Genesis 15:1) of insurance,
Christ, the angels of God will encamp round turn them into
about us, and pitch their tents where we pitch Wisdom herself has given her word for it (Proverbs 1:33) churches, and
ours. We little think how much we owe it to the then they shall
Whoever hearkens to Me wherever he dwells, he be taken under
ministration of the good angels that we and ours shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from all real evil the special pro-
are preserved from the malice of evil angels, who itself, and from the amazing, tormenting, fear of evil. tection of Him
are continually seeking to do mischief to good Nothing can hurt, nothing needs frighten, those that keeps Israel”
people. There are terrors that fly by night and by whom God protects.

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 3. Thirdly, if you have not a church in your dant, may truly be said to be haunted by the devil.
house, it is to be feared Satan will have a seat They are most uncomfortable houses for any man
there. If religion does not rule in your families, to live in. They are holds of foul spirits, and cages
sin and wickedness will rule there. I know where of unclean and hateful birds, even as Babylon the
You dwell (says Christ to the angel of the church great will be when it is fallen (Revelation 18:2).
of Pergamos (Revelation 2:13), even where Satan’s
Now the way to keep sin out of the house is “Now the way
seat is; that was his affliction.
to keep up religion in the house, which will be to keep sin out
There are many whose sin it is, by their irreli- the most effectual antidote against Satan’s poison. of the house
gion and immorality, to allow Satan a seat in their When Abraham thought concerning Abimelech’s is to keep up
religion in the
houses, and that seat a throne. They are very willing house, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, house, which
that the strong man armed should keep his palace he concluded no less, But they will slay me for my will be the
there, and that his goods should be at peace; and wife’s sake, (Genesis 20:11). Where there is no fear most effectual
the surest way to prevent this is by setting up a of God, where there is no reading, no praying, no antidote against
Satan’s poison”
church in the house. devotion, what can one expect but all that’s bad?
Where there is impiety there will be immorality.
It is commonly said that where God has a
They that restrain prayer, cast off fear (Job 15:4).
church, the devil will have his chapel; but it may
more truly be said in this way: where God has But if religious worship has its place in the
not a church, the devil will have his chapel. If the house, it may be hoped that vice will not have a
unclean spirit find the house in this sense empty, place there. There is much truth in that saying of
empty of good, though it be swept and garnished, good Mr. Dod:
he takes to himself seven other spirits more wicked
Either praying will make a man give over sinning,
“There are many than himself, and they enter in and dwell there.
or sinning will make a man give over praying.
whose sin it is,
Terrible stories have been told of houses haunted
by their irreli- There remains some hope concerning those
gion and immo- by the devil, and of the fear people have had of
who are otherwise bad, as long as they keep up
rality, to allow dwelling in such houses. Those houses in which
Satan a seat in prayer. Though there is a struggle between Christ
rioting and drunkenness reign, in which swearing
their houses” and Belial in your houses, and the insults of sin
and cursing are the language of the house, or in
and Satan are daring and threatening, yet as long
which the more spiritual wickednesses of pride,
as Christ keeps the field, and the weapons of its
malice, covetousness, and deceit have the ascen-

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 warfare are made use of, we may hope the enemy beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments. (Psalm
will lose ground. 133:1, 2 KJV).
4. Fourthly, a church in the house will make it The saint of the Lord was consecrated: not
very comfortable to yourselves. Nothing is more only like the common dew to the grass, but like
agreeable to a gracious soul than constant commu- the dew which descended upon the mountains of
nion with a gracious God. This is the one thing it Zion, the holy mountains (Psalm. 133:1, 2). The
desires, to dwell in the house of the Lord. Here it communion of saints in that which is the work of
is as in its element. This is its rest for ever. saints, is without doubt the most pleasant commu-
nion here on earth, and the liveliest representation
If therefore our houses are houses of the Lord, and surest pledge of those everlasting joys which
we will for that reason love home, reckoning our are the happiness of the spirits of just men made
daily devotion the sweetest of our daily delights; perfect, and the hopes of holy souls in this imper-
and our family-worship the most valuable of our fect state.
family-comforts. This will sanctify to us all the
conveniences of our house, and reconcile us to Family-religion will make the affairs of the family
the inconveniences of it. What are Solomon’s successful, and though they may not in every thing
issue to our mind, yet we may by faith foresee that
gardens, and orchards, and pools of water, and
they will at last insure our good. If this beauty of
other delights of the sons of men (Ecclesiastes
the Lord our God be upon us and our families, it
2:5, 6, 8) in comparison with these delights of the
will prosper the work of our hands unto us. Yes,
children of God?
the work of our hands it will establish. It will estab-
Family-religion will help to make our family- lish our hearts in that comfort which makes every
relations comfortable to us, by promoting love, thing that occurs easy (Psalm 90:17; 112:8).
preventing quarrels, and extinguishing heats that We cannot suppose our mountain to stand so
may at any time happen. A family living in the fear strong but that it will not be moved. Trouble in the
of God, and joining daily in religious worship, flesh we must expect. That affliction may come in
truly enjoys itself. that from which we have our greatest comfort.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to When the Divine Providence makes our houses
dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon houses of mourning, then it will be comfortable
the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s to have them houses of prayer, and to have had
them so before the trouble comes.

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 When sickness, and sorrow, and death come into for their children, have been encouraged to hope
our families (and they sooner or later will come), it that the children of so many prayers should not
is good that they should find the wheels of prayer miscarry at last; and thus are encouraged. Joseph’s
moving, and the family accustomed to seek God. dying word has been the language of many a dying
For if we are then to begin this good work when Christian’s faith,
distress forces us to it, we shall drive heavily in it.
“I die, but God will surely visit you”(Genesis 50:24)
They that pray constantly when they are well, may
pray comfortably when they are sick. I have heard of a hopeful son, who said he
valued his interest in his pious father’s prayers far
5. Fifthly, a church in the house will be a
more than his interest in his estate, though it was a
good legacy and it will be a good inheritance,
considerable one.
to be left to your children after you. Reason directs
us to consult the welfare of posterity, and to lay You will likewise hereby leave your children
up in store a good foundation for those that shall a good example, which you may hope they will
come after us to build upon, and we cannot do this follow when they come into houses of their own.
better than by keeping up religion in our houses. A The usage and practice of families is commonly
family-altar will be the best support your children transmitted from one generation to another. Bad
will ever have. For this they will rise up, and call you customs are many times thus passed on. They that
blessed, and it may be hoped they will be praising burnt incense to the queen of heaven learned it
God for you, and praising God like you, here on from their fathers (Jeremiah 44:17). Their vain
earth, when you are praising Him in heaven. manner of life was received by tradition (I Peter
1:18). And why may not good customs be in like
In this way, you will leave your children the
manner handed down to posterity? Thus we should
benefit of many prayers put up to heaven. They
make known the ways of God to our children, that
will be kept (as it were) upon the file there, to be
they may arise and declare them to their children
answered to their comfort, when you are silent in
“A family-altar (Psalm 78:6), and religion may become an heirloom
will be the best the dust. It is true of prayer what we say: it never
in our families.
support your rots in the skies. The seed of Jacob knows they do
children will Let your children be able to say, when they are
not seek in vain, though perhaps they may not see
ever have”
their prayers answered. Some good Christians that tempted to sit loose to religion, that it was the
have made conscience of praying daily with and way of their family, the good old way, in which

68 69
 their fathers walked, and in which they themselves of God filling the land as the waters cover the sea;
were educated and trained up. With this they may to see holiness and love giving law, and triumph-
answer him that reproaches them. ing over sin and strife. We would be able to call
your city a city of righteousness, a faithful city, its
Let family-worship, besides all its other pleas
walls salvation, and its gates praise. All this would
“Family-
for itself, be able in your houses to plead prescrip-
be effected if family-religion were generally set up,
religion, if it tion. Even though family-worship is a powerful
and kept up.
prevails, will put tool in the hand of God, a higher and better prin-
a face of Christ ciple should maintain it. It should not purely be When the wall was to be built about Jerusalem,
upon the land,
and it will very performed to keep up the custom of the family. it was presently done by this expedient, every one
much advance Yes, it is better to do it than not at all, and the form undertook to repair over against his own house
the beauty and of godliness may be the grace of God toward your (Nehemiah 3:10, etc.) And if ever the decayed walls
peace of our
family. It may prove to be the happy vehicle of its of the gospel Jerusalem be built up, it must be by
English Jerusa-
lem” power, and dry bones may be made to live. Thus a the same method. Every one must sweep before
good man leaves an inheritance to his children; and his own door, and then the street will be clean. If
the generation of the upright shall be blessed. there were a church in every house, there would be
such a church in our land as would make it a praise
6. Sixthly, a church in the house will contrib-
throughout the whole earth. We cannot better
ute very much to the prosperity of the church
serve our country than by keeping up religion in
of God in the nation. Family-religion, if it prevails,
our families.
will put a face of Christ upon the land, and it will
very much advance the beauty and peace of our Let families be well-catechized, and then the
English Jerusalem. This is that which I hope we public preaching of the Word will be the more
are all hearty well-wishers to. profitable, and the more successful. For want of
this, when we speak never so plainly of the things
Setting aside the consideration of denomina-
pertaining to the Kingdom of God, to the most
tions, parties, and separate interests, and burying “Every one
we do but speak parables. The book of the Lord is
all names of distinction in the grave of Christian must sweep
delivered to them that are not catechized, saying,
charity, we earnestly desire to see true Christianity, before his own
read this, and they say we are not learned; learned door, and then
and serious godliness in the power of it, prevail-
enough in other things, but not in the one thing the street will
ing and flourishing in our land. The practice of be clean.”
needful (Isaiah 29:12). But our work is easy with
family-worship will help us to see the knowledge

70 71
 those that from their childhood have known the
Holy Scriptures.
If every family were a praying family, public
prayers would be the better joined with, more
intelligently, and more affectionately. For the more
we are used to prayer, the more expert we shall
be in that holy and divine art of entering into the
Holiest in that duty. And, public reproofs and
admonitions would be as a nail in a sure place, if
masters of families would second them with their
family-discipline, and so clench those nails.
Religious families are blessings to the neighbor-
hood they live in, at least by their prayers. A good
man thus becomes a public good, and it is his
ambition to be so. Though he sees his children’s
children, he has small joy of that if he does not see
peace upon Israel (Psalm 128:5, 6).
And therefore postponing all his own interests
and satisfactions, he sets himself to seek the good
of Jerusalem all the days of his life. Happy were
we if we had many like this.

72
 Chapter Four
Exhortations for
Applying These Things

T hat which now remains is to address myself to you

upon the whole matter by way of exhortation. I
pray you would let my counsel be acceptable to you
while I endeavor to give every one his portion. Let your
consciences assist me, and take to yourselves that which
belongs to you.
1. First, let those masters of families that have, in
the past, lived in the neglect of family-religion, be
persuaded now to set it up, and from now on not neglect
it. I know it is hard to persuade people to begin even a good
work that they have not been used to; yet if God by His
grace set in with this work, who can tell but some may be
motivated to comply with the design of it?
We have no ill design in urging you to this part of your
duty. We have no motive but purely at the prosperity of your
families. We are sure we have reason on our side, and if
you will allow this principle to rule you, we shall gain our
75
 point, and you will all go home firmly resolved, best employment, and not neglect the one thing
as Joshua was, that whatever others do them- needful, while they are careful and cumbered
selves, and whatever they say of you, you and your about many things.
houses will serve the Lord. May God put it into,
Do not let those that have clothes and small
and keep it in, the imagination of the thought of
humble habitations be discouraged; the ark of
your heart, and establish your way before Him!
God long dwelt in curtains. Your dwelling is not
Proceed in the right method; first set up Christ so small but you may find room for a church in
upon the throne in your hearts, and then set up a it. Church-work used to be chargeable, but you
“Let those that church for Christ in your house. Let Christ dwell may do this church-work cheap. You do not need
have the stateli- in your hearts by faith, and then let Him dwell in to make silver shrines as they did for Diana, nor
est, richest, and your houses. You do not begin at the right end of lavish gold out of the bag, as idolaters did in the
best furnished,
houses, reckon a your work if you do not first give your own selves service of their dunghill gods (Isaiah 46:6). No, an
church in unto the Lord. God had respect first to Abel, and altar of earth shall you make to your God, (Exodus
them to be their then to his offering. Let the fear and love of God 20:24), and He will accept it. Church-work used to
best ornament.”
rule in your hearts, and have a commanding sway be slow work, but you may do this quickly. Put
and empire in your home, Then set up an altar for on resolution, and you may set up this tabernacle
God in your tents. You cannot do that acceptably tonight before tomorrow.
till you have first consecrated yourselves as spiri-
Would you keep up your authority in your
tual priests to God, to serve at that altar.
family? You cannot do it better than by keeping
And when your hearts, like Lydia’s, are opened to up religion in your family. If ever a master of a
Christ, let your house, like hers, be opened to Him, too family looks great, truly great, it is when he is
(Acts 16:14,15). going before his house in the service of God, and
presiding among them in holy things. Then he
Let there be churches in all your houses. Let
shows himself worthy of double honor when he
those that have the stateliest, richest, and best-
teaches them the good knowledge of the Lord,
furnished houses, reckon a church in them to be
and is their mouth to God in prayer, blessing them
their best ornament.
in the name of God.
Let those that have houses of the greatest
Would you have your family-relations comfort-
care and business reckon family-religion their
able, your affairs successful, and give an evidence

76 77
 of your professed subjection to the gospel of laying the foundation of the Lord’s temple in
Christ? Would you live in God’s fear, and die in your house, and then consider from this day and
His favor, and escape that curse which is entailed upward, as God by the prophet reasons with the
upon prayerless families? Let religion in the power people who neglected to build the temple (Haggai
of it have its due place, that is, the uppermost 2:18, 19). Take notice whether God does not from
place in your houses. this day remarkably bless you in all that you have
and do.
Your own corrupt hearts will make many objec-
“Do not despise tions against building these churches, but they will Do As Well As You Can
to begin a new all appear frivolous and trifling to a pious mind
custom, if it is Do not plead your own weakness and inability
that is steadfastly resolved for God and godliness.
a good custom. to perform family-worship. Make use of the helps
You will never go on in your way to heaven if you’ll
Begin a new cus- that are provided for you. Do as well as you can
tom, especially be frightened by lions in the street. Whatever is
when you cannot do so well as you would, and
if it is a duty the difficulty you dread, the discouragement you
demanded God will accept it of you.
might have in thinking about it, you will overcome
in scripture”
by the benefit. But he that is afraid of the clouds You will write what is necessary for the carrying
shall not reap. on of your trade, though you cannot write so fine
a hand as some others can. And will you not be
Do not despise to begin a new custom, if it is
as wife in the work of your Christian calling, to
a good custom. Begin a new custom, especially if
do your best, though it be far short of the best,
it is a duty demanded in Scripture, as certainly this
rather than not do it at all? To him who has but
is. If you continue in the neglect of it, you live in
one talent, and trades with it, more shall be given;
sin. For omissions are sins, and must come into
but from him that buries it, it shall be taken away.
judgment. It may be you have been convinced
that you ought to worship God in your families, Be at some pains to make the Scriptures familiar
and that it is a good thing to do so, but you have to you, especially David’s psalms, and then you
put it off to some more convenient season. Will cannot be put upon to seek for a variety of apt
you now begin it after hearing this sermon? Do expressions proper to be used in prayer, for they
not defer so good a work any longer. The present will be always at your right hand. Take with you
season is without doubt the most convenient those words, words which the Holy Ghost teaches,
season. Begin today. Let this be the day of your for you cannot find more acceptable words.

78 79
 And now shall I prevail with you in this matter? daily, and delighted to know His ways, as families
I am loath to leave you unresolved, or but almost that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordi-
persuaded. nances of your God. But now it is otherwise. The
altar of the Lord is broken down and neglected,
I beg of you for God’s sake, for Christ’s sake,
the daily sacrifice is ceased; and God has kept an “You are so
for your own precious soul’s sake, and for the chil-
account how many days it has ceased whether you eager in your
dren’s sake of your own bodies, that you will live worldly pur-
have or no (Daniel 8:13, 14). Now God comes
no longer in the neglect of so great, and necessary, suits that you
into your houses seeking fruit, but He finds none,
and comfortable, a duty as this of family-worship have
or next to none. You are so eager in your worldly neither hearts
is.
pursuits that you have neither hearts nor time for nor time for
When we press upon you the more inward duties religious exercises. You began at first frequently to religious exer-
of faith and love, and the fear of God, it will be cises.”
omit the service, and a small matter served for an
evident if we succeed in our errand to urge you to excuse to put it by, and so by degrees it came to
family-worship. It will not be good for you if this nothing.
sermon is lost upon you, if after you have heard
Oh, that those who have thus left their first
it, or read it, you continue in the neglect of family-
love would now remember whence they are fallen,
religion. If still you cast off the fear of God, and
and repent and do their first works. Enquire how
restrain prayer before God, your families will be
this good work came to be neglected. Was it not
witnesses against you that this work was undone.
because your love to God cooled, and the love of
This sermon will witness against you that it was
the world prevailed?
not for want of being called to do it, but for want
“It will not be of a heart to do it when you were called. But I Have you not found a manifest decay in the
good for you if hope better things of you, my brethren, and things prosperity of your souls since you let fall this good
this sermon, is
lost upon you,
that accompany salvation. work?
if after you 2. Secondly, let those that have kept up Has not sin got ground in your hearts and in
have heard it,
or read it, you family-worship formerly, but of late have left your houses? And though when you dropped your
continue in it off, be persuaded to revive it. This perhaps family-worship, you promised yourselves that you
the neglect of is the case of some of you. You remember the would make it up in secret worship, because you
family-reli-
gion.”
kindness of your youth, and the love of your were not willing to allow yourselves time for both,
spouses. There was a time when you sought God yet have you not declined in that also?

80 81
 Have you not grown less frequent, and less 3. Thirdly, let those who are remiss and
fervent, in your closet devotions, too? negligent in their family-worship be awakened
to more zeal and constancy.
Where is now the blessedness you have formerly
spoken of ? Some of you perhaps have a church in your
house, but it is not a flourishing church. It is like
I beseech you, lay out yourselves to retrieve it in
the church of Laodicea, neither cold nor hot, or
time. Say as that penitent adulteress,
like the church of Sardis, in which the things that
“I will go and return to my first husband, for then was remain are ready to die, so that it has little more
it better with me than now” (Hosea 2:7). than a name to live.
Cleanse the sanctuary, put away the strange Something of this work of the Lord is done
gods. Is money the god, or the belly the god, that for fashion-sake, and is done deceitfully. You have
has gained possession of your heart and house? in your flock a male, but you vow and sacrifice to
Whatever it is, cast it out! Repair the altar of the Lord a corrupt thing. You grow customary in
the Lord, and begin again the daily sacrifice and your accustomed services, and bring the torn and
oblation. Light the lamps again, and burn the the blind, the lame and the sick, for sacrifice. You
incense. Rear up the tabernacle of David which is offer to your governor: and though it is but little
fallen down. Lengthen its cords, and strengthen its you do for the church in your house, you think
stakes, and resolve it shall never be neglected again that you are doing too much, and you say,
as it has been. Perhaps you and your families have “Behold what a weariness is it!” (Malachi 1:3)
“Cleanse the been manifestly under the rebukes of Providence
You put it off with a small and inconsiderable
sanctuary, since you left off your duty, as Jacob was while he
put away the scantling of your day, that are the dregs and refuse
neglected to pay his vow.
strange gods... of it. You can spare no time for it in the morning,
that has gained I beseech you hear at length the voice of the rod, nor any in the evening, till you are half asleep. It
possession of and of Him that has appointed it, for it reminds
your heart and
is thrust into a corner, and almost lost in a crowd
house?”
you of your forgotten vows, saying, Arise, go up of worldly business, and carnal converse. When
to Bethel, and dwell there (Genesis 35:1). Let the it is done, it is done so slightly, in so much haste,
place that you dwell in always be a Bethel, so shall and with so much irreverence, that it makes no
God dwell with you there. impression upon yourselves or your families.

82 83
 The Bible lies ready, but you have no time to who join with you may see and say that, God is
read. Your servants are otherwise employed, and with you of a truth, and may be struck thereby
you think it’s no matter for calling them in. You into a like holy awe.
yourselves can take up with a word or two of
You need not be long in the service, but you
prayer, or rest in a lifeless, heartless, tale of words.
ought to be lively in it; not slothful in this business,
Thus it is every day, and perhaps little better on
because it is business for God and your souls, but
Lord’s Days; no repetition, no catechizing, no
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
singing of psalms, or none to any purpose.
4. Fourthly, let those that have a church
Is it thus with any of your families? Is this the
in their house be very careful to adorn and
present state of the church in your house?
beautify it in their manner of life. If you pray
“I beseech you,
sirs, make a My brethren, these things ought not to be so. in your families, and read the Scriptures, and
business of your It is not enough that you do that which is good, sing psalms, and yet are passionate and obstinate
family-religion, but you must do it well. God and religion have in with your relations, quarrelsome and contentious
and not a by- effect no place in your hearts or houses if they with your neighbors, unjust and deceitful in your
business. Let it
be your pleasure have not the innermost and the uppermost place. dealings, intemperate and given to drinking, or
and delight, and Christ will come to be an underling. He is not a allow yourselves in any other sinful way, you pull
not a task and guest to be set behind the door. What comfort, down with one hand what you build up with the
drudgery.” what benefit, can you promise to yourselves from other. Your prayers will be an abomination to God,
such trifling services as these; from an empty form and to good men too, if they be thus polluted. Be
of godliness without the power of it? not deceived, God is not mocked.
I beseech you, sirs, make a business of your See that you be genuine in your religion, that
family-religion, and not a by-business. Let it be it may appear you are sincere in it. Show that you
your pleasure and delight, and not a task and believe a reality in it, by acting always under the
drudgery. Contrive your affairs so as that the most commanding power and influence of it. Be not
convenient time may be allotted both morning and Christians upon your knees and Jews in your shops.
“Be not Chris-
evening for your family-worship, so that you may While you seem to be saints in your devotions, do
tians upon your
not be unfit for it, or disturbed and restricted in it. not prove yourselves sinners in your manner of knees, and Jews in
This will make the wisdom you receive profitable life. Having begun the day in the fear of God, be your shops”
to direct. Address yourselves to it with reverence in that fear all the day long.
and seriousness, and a solemn pause, that those

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 Let the example you set in your families be house, and setting up shop, and settling in both,
completely good, and by it teach them not only to the more need you have of daily prayer, that by
read and pray, for that’s but half their work, but by it you may cast your care on God, and fetch in
it teach them to be meek and humble, sober and wisdom and direction from on high.
temperate, loving and peaceable, just and honest;
6. Sixthly, in all your travels be sure you “When you are
so shall you adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
take the church in your house along with you. in your city-
And those that will not be won by the word shall houses, let not
Abraham often removed his tent, but wherever he
be won by your life. Your family-worship is an the business of
pitched it, there the first thing he did was to build them crowd out
honor to you, see to it that neither you nor yours
an altar. It is observable concerning Aquila and your family-
be in any thing a disgrace to it. religion. Do not
Priscilla, of whose pious family my text speaks,
let the diversions
5. Fifthly, let those that are setting out in that when St. Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans of your country-
the world set up a church in their house at they were at Rome; for he sends salutations to houses indispose
first, and not defer it. Plead not youth and bash- them, and there it is said they had, your minds to
fulness. If you have confidence enough to rule a these serious
A church in their house (Romans 16:5). exercises”
family, I hope you have confidence enough to pray
with a family. Do not say, The time is not come, I But now when he wrote this epistle to the
am not experienced, and it is not the time that the Corinthians they were at Ephesus, for thence it
Lord’s house should be built. Do not be as those should seem this epistle bore date, and here he
who dwelt in their ceiled [with lining or ceiling] sends salutations from them; and at Ephesus also
houses, while God’s house lay waste (Haggai 1:2, they had a church in their house. As wherever we
4). It ought to be built right away, and the longer go ourselves we must take our family-religion with
you put it off, the more difficulty there will be in us. For in all places we need divine protection, and
the doing of it, and the more danger that it will experience divine goodness. I will therefore that
never be done. men pray everywhere (1 Timothy 2:8).
Now that you are beginning in the world (as When you are in your city-houses, let not the
you call it), is it not your wisdom as well as duty business of them crowd out your family-religion.
to begin with God? Can you begin better? Or can Do not let the diversions of your country-houses
you expect to prosper if you do not begin now? indispose your minds to these serious exercises.
The fuller your heads are of care about setting up That care and that pleasure are unseasonable and

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 inordinate which leave you without both heart and Let the children of praying parents, and the
time to attend the service of the church in your servants of praying masters, account it a great
house. privilege to live in houses that have churches in
them. Be careful to improve that privilege. Be
Absence From the Family
ready to every good work. Make the religious exer-
Let me here be an advocate also for those cises of your family easy and pleasant to those that
families whose masters are often absent from them, perform them, by showing yourselves forward to
because they are pursuing their health or pleasure, attend on them. Be careful to attend to them, for
especially on the Lord’s Day, or long absent upon your backwardness and mindlessness will be their
business. Let me beg these absent masters to greatest discouragement. Let your lives also be a
consider with whom they leave those few sheep in credit to good education, and make it appear to all
the wilderness (I Samuel 17:28) and whether they with whom you converse that you are every way
do not leave them neglected and exposed. Perhaps the better for living in religious families.
there is not a just cause for your absence so much,
8. Eighthly, let solitary people, that are
nor can you give a good answer to that question,
not set in families, have churches in their
“What dost thou here, Elijah” (1 Kings 19:9)? But if
chambers, churches in their closets. When
there be a just cause you ought to take care that the
every man repaired the wall of Jerusalem over
church in your house be not neglected when you
against his own house, we read of one that repaired
are abroad, and make sure that the work is done
over against his chamber (Nehemiah 3:30).
when you are not at home to do it yourself.
These that live alone out of the way of family-
7. Seventhly, let inferior relations help to
worship ought to take so much the more time for
promote religion in the families where they
their secret worship, and, if possible, add the more
are. If family-worship be not kept up in the houses
solemnity to it. If you do not have families to read
where you live, let so much more be done in your
the Scriptures to, read them so much the more
closets for God and your souls. If this is the case,
to yourselves. You who do not have children and
do not think that the lack of worship in your house
servants to catechize, nor parents or masters to be
will excuse you from secret worship. Do all you
catechized by, catechize yourselves then, that you
can to keep up the life of religion in your hearts,
may hold fast the form of sound words, which
and help you forwards towards heaven.
you have received.

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 Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13) might just no synagogue near, he utterly refused to accept the
as readily be addressed to ourselves: Exhort your- invitation, and gave that text for his reason, The
selves. You are not made keepers of the vineyards, law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands
and therefore the greater is your shame if your own of gold and silver (Psalm 119:72).
vineyard you do not keep. When you are alone, yet
10. Tenthly, let religious families keep up
you are not alone, for the Father is with you, to
friendship and fellowship with each other, and
observe what you do, and to own and accept you
as they have opportunity assist one another
if you do well.
in doing good. The communion of churches
9. Ninthly, let those that are to choose a has always been known by their beauty, strength,
settlement consult the welfare of their souls in and comfort, and so is the communion of these
the choice. If a church in the house be so neces- domestic churches. We find here, and in other
sary, so comfortable, then do not be unequally of St. Paul’s epistles, kind salutations sent to and
yoked with unbelievers who will have no kindness from the houses that had churches in them. Reli-
for the church in the house. They will not assist gious families should greet one another, visit one
in the support of it, but instead of building the another, love one another, pray for one another,
house, they will pluck it down with their hands and as becomes households of faith, do all the
(Proverbs 14:1). good they can for one to another. They all meet
now daily at the same throne of grace. And, they
Let apprenticeships and other services be chosen
will meet shortly at the same throne of glory to
by this rule. What is best for us is also best for our
be no more, even though they are now divided in
souls. Therefore it is our interest to go with those,
Jacob, and scattered in Israel.
and be with those, with whom God is (Zechariah
8:23). When Lot was to choose a habitation, he 11. Lastly, let those houses that have
was directed purely by secular advantages (Genesis churches in them, flourishing churches, have
13:11, 13), and God justly corrected his sensual comfort in them. Is the power of God uppermost
choice, for he never had a quiet day in the Sodom in your houses? And are you and yours serving the
he chose till he was fired out of it. Lord, serving Him daily? Go on and prosper, for
the Lord is with you, while you be with Him. See
The Jewish writers tell of one of their devout
your houses under the protection and blessing of
rabbis, who being courted to dwell in a place
heaven, and be assured that all things shall work
which was otherwise well-accommodated, but had

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 together for good to you. Make it to appear by
your holy cheerfulness that you find God a good
master. Wisdom’s ways are a pleasantness, and her
paths peace (Proverbs 3:17-18). There is no reason
to envy those that spend their days in carnal mirth,
for you are acquainted with better pleasures than
any they can pretend to.
Are your houses on earth, God’s houses?
Are they dedicated to Him, and employed for
Him?
Be of good comfort, His house in heaven shall be
yours shortly.
“In my Father’s house there are many mansions” (John
14:1-2), and there is one, you may be sure, for each
of you, that thus by a patient continuance in well-
doing seek for glory, honor, and immortality.

FINIS

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