Divers practical cases of conscience satisfactorily resolved ... to which are added some counsels…

2. In your Families: Christians, now the Lord calls aloud upon you to set your houses in order. Oh see what is amiss in them, and strive to cast out that which may be a provocation. Three things I advise you to with reference to your Families.

1. That you set up the Solemn exercise of Catechising weekly among them: Methinks I would not question but that in every Godly Family there is a care of the Catechism. But when Governors do only impose it in general upon their Families; and occasionally take an account, I find but little progress is made: and therefore I beseech you, to make it a Solemn, standing, and constant exercise; and to expect of your children and servants as due an account weekly of what they have learnt in the Principles of Religion, as of any business of your own. Oh the incredible benefit that would speedily come of this, if I could but persuade and prevail with my hearers in so small a request as this!

1. That you set up the Solemn exercise of Catechising weekly among them: Methinks I would not question but that in every Godly Family there is a care of the Catechisme. But when Governours do onely impose it in general upon their Families; and occasionally take an account, I find but little progress is made: and therefore I beseech you, to make it a Solemn, standing, and constant exercise; and to expect of your children and servants as due an account weekly of what they have learnt in the Principles of Religion, as of any business of your own. Oh the incredible benefit that would speedily come of this, if I could but perswade and prevail with my hearers in so small a request as this!

2. That you be often enquiring into their spiritual estates; Follow them close, and let them have no quiet till you see they seriously mind and seek spiritual things. Put them upon secret Prayer: Provide helps for them till they are able to go without them: Show them often the necessity of Regeneration, and Conversion, and the nature thereof. Put them in mind of the fearful misery of an unregenerate estate. Ask them often whether they are Converted or not. Show them the danger of delaying in such a case. Beloved, 'tis too sadly evident that as the Ordinances are now somewhere managed, there is little of Conversion work like to be done. Oh you Governors of Families, do but your duty in your several places, and I doubt not but many Souls will nevertheless be Born to Christ, even in such a day as this.