The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

Ah how many Families are there whose houses are not the Church of God, but the Synagogue of Satan rather; God is not in all their thoughts, nor God is not in all their mouths, except it be in swearing and cursing, and blaspheming. Their bellies are their God, and their lusts are their Lord. It is said of Noah's Ark, that it was pitched within and without, Gen. 6.14. Such (says one) is the condition of many a mans house, it is a Noah's Ark, it is pitch within and without, nothing but the pollutions and defilements of sin in every room, and passage, and corner. Idleness stands at the door; Unconscionableness walks in the shop; Covetousness lurks in the counting-house; Luxury sits at the Table; Pride looks out at the window; Wantonness lodges in the bed; all pitchy and filthy both within and without.

Ah how many Families are there whose houses are not the Church of God, but the Synagogue of Satan rather; God is not in all their thoughts, nor God is not in all their mouths, except it bee in swearing and cursing, and blaspheming. Their bellies are their God, and their lusts are their Lord. It is said of Noahs Ark, that it was pitcht within and without, Gen. 6.14. Such (saies one) is the condition of many a mans house, it is a Noahs Ark, it is pitch within and without, nothing but the pollutions and defilements of sin in every room, and passage, and corner. Idleness stands at the door; Unconscionableness walks in the shop; Covetousness lurks in the counting-house; Luxury sits at the Table; Pride looks out at the window; Wantonness lodges in the bed; all pitchy and filthy both within and without.

And therefore Christians for the Lords sake, out with all this rubbish, if it should be found in your families; How do you in London here delight to have your houses clean, and hereupon sweep them, and wash them, and rub them; oh that you would be as careful to cleanse your Families from sin, as you are to cleanse your houses from dirt; how soon would this great City become an Habitation of Righteousness, and a Mountain of Holiness; how would this Family-Reformation prevent the guilt of Family-sins, and keep out Family-distractions, and secure from Family-desolation. Therefore Sirs, set up family watchfulness, and family-correction; let every house be an house of correction of it self; and set about family-reading, and family-conference, and family-repetition, and especially family-prayer. That all your houses may be like Gods house; you know his is called an house of Prayer,