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

8. Spend so much time in Family Prayer, that those that join might be affected; but not so much as to be wearied with the duty. Be not too short, nor yet too tedious: Not too short, for the heart is not easily tuned, nor the affections warmed, nor the mind brought into frame; our wants are many, and our sins are many, and some time must be spent to get the heart sensible of them, and of God's mercies to us: To rise up from your knees, before these can be probably done, is to come away no better than you went unto it. This overhasty brevity argues but little delight in the duty, and showeth you care not how soon you get out of God's special presence; I doubt such as thus slubber over Family Prayer with so much haste^*, do it because they may be said to do it, to stop the mouths of others, and the mouth of their own Conscience, with the work done: And yet too much prolixity and ⟨p. 336⟩length of the duty may have its inconveniences also,² and make it to some graceless persons in the Family, or to others that are good, but wearied in their daily Callings before, to be burdensome, and they more backward to it: But the most do not err on this hand, therefore to say little here will be enough, and leave it to the prudence of the Governor to consider the persons that join, and other concurring Circumstances, and to act accordingly. So much for the Directions for the Master of the Family.