Some that are convinced that Family Prayer is a duty, vvill sometimes practice it, and yet but seldom; some upon the Lord's Day, and yet but once then, in the Evening, and that serves for all the ⟨p. 324⟩week, till the evening of the Lord's day next doth come: Others pray once a day through the week, but omit it in the morning, when yet the very same reasons which should move them to do it at all should be cogent for more frequent performance of it, and are so. Though it be not determined expressly in the Scripture that Christian Families should pray together morning and evening every day, yet in the general it is required that we should continue in Prayer, Col. 4.2. which seems to be meant of Family Prayer: For the Apostle had been speaking to Family relations, Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, Masters and Servants, and treating of Family relative duties, carrying on his speech still to the same persons, saith, continue in Prayer; but such as make such great gaps, as from one Lord's day to another, cannot be said to continue therein.1 We have general precepts to serve God all the days of our lives, Luke 1.75. So that that worship for which we have opportunity every day, should no day be omitted; but Families have, or may have such opportunities every day, if they be well ordered, and wisely governed as they ought to be: particulars are commanded under generals; God hath commanded us to preserve our own lives and the lives of others, and therein is included food and physic, &c. yet God hath not expressly commanded, that we shall eat once or twice or thrice a day, nor how often we shall take physic, yet we do these as often as we find we need them. Know your selves, feel your own spiritual wants, and do so as to Prayer, and we need to say no more upon this subject. But because we are not so sensible of the wants of our Souls, as of our Bodies, and are not so easily brought with frequency to our knees in our Families together, as to sit down at our Tables together,2 something must be said to show the reasonableness, usefulness, and necessity of daily praying to God in our Houses.
Some that are convinced that Family Prayer is a duty, vvill sometimes practice it, and yet but seldom; some upon the Lord's Day, and yet but once then, in the Evening, and that serves for all the ⟨p. 324⟩week, till the evening of the Lord's day next doth come: Others pray once a day through the week, but omit it in the morning, when yet the very same reasons which should move them to do it at all should be cogent for more frequent performance of it, and are so. Though it be not determined expresly in the Scripture that Christian Families should pray together morning and evening every day, yet in the general it is required that we should continue in Prayer, Col. 4.2. which seems to be meant of Family Prayer: For the Apostle had been speaking to Family relations, Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, Masters and Servants, and treating of Family relative duties, carrying on his speech still to the same persons, saith, continue in Prayer; but such as make such great gaps, as from one Lord's day to another, cannot be said to continue therein.1 We have general precepts to serve God all the daies of our lives, Luke 1.75. So that that worship for which we have opportunity every day, should no day be omitted; but Families have, or may have such opportunities every day, if they be well ordered, and wisely governed as they ought to be: particulars are commanded under generals; God hath commanded us to preserve our own lives and the lives of others, and therein is included food and physick, &c. yet God hath not expresly commanded, that we shall eat once or twice or thrice a day, nor how often we shall take physick, yet we do these as often as we find we need them. Know your selves, feel your own spiritual wants, and do so as to Prayer, and we need to say no more upon this subject. But because we are not so sensible of the wants of our Souls, as of our Bodies, and are not so easily brought with frequency to our knees in our Families together, as to sit down at our Tables together,2 something must be said to shew the reasonableness, usefulness, and necessity of daily praying to God in our Houses.
- 1Praceptum est generale, ut serviamus Deo cunctis vi•e nostr•e diebus. Luk. 1.75. Ille igitur cultus, qui commodè possit quotidie frequenta•i, non debet ullo die omitti. Sed oratio [etiam cum domesii. is] est talis: Ergò. Ames. Cas. Consc.
- 2Quoad dispesitionem & preparationem cordis ad orandum, debemus perpetuò illam retinere: quoad actum orationis, debemus occasionem omnem caper & captare illius exercendi. Similis phraesis 2 Sam. 9.13. Mephibosheth semper comedebat in mensa regis. Ames Cas. Cons. Cum fenestras suas aperiret versus Jerusalem, hoc symbolo & sibi & domesticis suis ostendere voluit, see perseverare in sp. & fiducia promissae redemptionis. Calv. in loc.Quoad dispesitionem & preparationem cordis ad orandum, debemus perpetuò illam retinere: quoad actum orationis, debemus occasionem omnem capere & captare illius exercendi. Similis phraesis 2 Sam. 9.13. Mephibosheth semper comedebat in mensa regis. Ames Cas. Cons. Cum fenestras suas aperiret versus Jerusalem, hoc symbolo & sibi & domesticis suis ostendere voluit, se perseverare in sp. & fiducia promissae redemptionis. Calv. in loc.
