A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

First, Whose Word it is that is to be read in the Family together: the Word of the eternal, blessed, glorious God. And doth this call for and require preceding Prayer no more than if you were to read the Book of some mortal man? The Word of God is that out of which God speaketh to us, it is that by which he doth instruct us and inform us in the highest and weightiest concernments of our Souls, it is that from which we must fetch remedies for the cure of our spiritual maladies, it is that from whence we must have weapons of defence against our spiritual enemies that do assault our Souls, and be directed in the paths of life: and is not Prayer together needful then, that God would prepare all their hearts to receive and obey what shall be read to them of the mind of God? Is all the Family so serious and so sensible of the Glory, Holiness, and Majesty of that God that speaketh to them in his Word, that Prayer is not needful that they may be so? And if it be needful, should it not first be done? And when it hath been read, and the threatenings, commands, and promises of the glorious God been heard, and your sins discovered, and God's wrath against them, and duties enjoined, and precious privileges opened, and promises of a faithful God, both great and precious promises made to such as do repent, believe and turn to God with all their hearts unfeignedly; have you not all need together to fall down upon your knees, to beg and cry and call to God for pardon of those sins that by this Word you are convinced you are guilty of, and to lament them before the Lord, and that, when your duty is discovered, you might have all hearts to practise and obey, and that you might unfeignedly repent and turn to God, that so you may apply those promises to your selves, and be partaker of those privileges? From this then there is great reason, when you read together, you should also pray together.¹

First, Whose Word it is that is to be read in the Family together: the Word of the eternal, blessed, glorious God. And doth this call for and require preceding Prayer no more than if you were to read the Book of some mortal man? The Word of God is that out of which God speaketh to us, it is that by which he doth instruct us and inform us in the highest and weightiest concernments of our Souls, it is that from which we must fetch remedies for the cure of our spiritual maladies, it is that from whence we must have weapons of defence against our spiritual enemies that do assault our Souls, and be directed in the paths of life: and is not Prayer together needful then, that God would prepare all their hearts to receive and obey what shall be read to them of the mind of God? Is all the Family so serious and so sensible of the Glory, Holiness, and Majesty of that God that speaketh to them in his Word, that Prayer is not needful that they may be so? And if it be needful, should it not first be done? And when it hath been read, and the threatnings, commands, and promises of the glorious God been heard, and your sins discovered, and God's wrath against them, and duties enjoined, and precious priviledges opened, and promises of a faithful God, both great and precious promises made to such as do repent, believe and turn to God with all their hearts unfeignedly; have you not all need together to fall down upon your knees, to beg and cry and call to God for pardon of those sins that by this Word you are convinced you are guilty of, and to lament them before the Lord, and that, when your duty is discovered, you might have all hearts to practise and obey, and that you might unfeignedly repent and turn to God, that so you may apply those promises to your selves, and be partaker of those priviledges? From this then there is great reason, when you read together, you should also pray together.