A37049:808
A37049:808
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Amongst other things in this Command, there is more express mention, of the whole Families joining in this Duty, than is in other Commands: Therefore it being a concerning-Duty to us; and a special thing included in the Command; we shall speak to that Point concerning Family Worship, (before we speak of the Second General proposed about the Particular Mor •lity of this Command, and the meaning of the Words of it,) that ye may see, that it is no invention of Men; when ye are called to it, and when it is pressed upon you.
Amongst other things in this Command, there is more express mention, of the whole Families joyning in this Duty, than is in other Commands: Therefore it being a concerning-Duty to us; and a special thing included in the Command; we shall speak to that Point concerning Family Worship, (before we speak of the Second General proposed about the Particular Mor •lity of this Command, and the meaning of the Words of it,) that ye may see, that it is no invention of Men; when ye are called to it, and when it is pressed upon you.
We shall here, 1. show you, that, This Command holdeth forth a Family, or Domestic • Worship. 2. We shall confirm it more largely from other Scriptures, and Grounds of Reason. 3. We shall show, wherein it consisteth in particular, ⟨p. 208⟩and on whom it mainly lieth to be discharged. 4. We shall show the Advantages, of Conscientious discharging of it, and the Prejudices of neglecting it, with the Aggravations of that Sin.
We shall here, 1. shew you, that, This Command holdeth forth a Family, or Domestic • Worship. 2. We shall confirm it more largely from other Scriptures, and Grounds of Reason. 3. We shall shew, wherein it consisteth in particular, ⟨p. 208⟩and on whom it mainly lyeth to be discharged. 4. We shall shew the Advantages, of Conscientious discharging of it, and the Prejudices of neglecting it, with the Aggravations of that Sin.
That there is such a thing as Family-Worship, included in this Command, will be clear, by considering, 1. What Worship to •od in general is. 2. What Family-Worship is. 3. What this Command requireth:
1. By Worship, is understood some Tribute payed, by the Reason able Creature to God, as the Great and Sovereign Lord Creator; wh •ther it be immediately and directly payed, and performed to Him, as Prayer, and Praise; or for Him and at His Command, and for His Honour, as Preaching, Hearing, and receiving of Sacraments; which are Worship, when Rightly gone about. In a word, we call that Worship, more •tr •ctly and properly, which is a Duty of the First Table; and cometh in as commanded in it, for the Honour of God, and not for our own, or others External Profit; which, though commanded in the Second Table, cannot be so properly called Worship, much-less Immediate-Worship. Thus, Teaching others the Duties of Piety, may be Worship, when Teaching the Duties of any other ordinary calling, is not.
1. By VVorship, is understood some Tribute payed, by the Reason •ble Creature to God, as the Great and Soveraign Lord Creator; wh •ther it be immediately and directly payed, and performed to Him, as Prayer, and Praise; or for Him and at His Command, and for His Honour, as Preaching, Hearing, and receiving of Sacraments; which are VVorship, when Rightly gone about. In a word, we call that VVorship, more •tr •ctly and properly, which is a Duty of the First Table; and cometh in as commanded in it, for the Honour of God, and not for our own, or others External Profit; which, though commanded in the Second Table, cannot be so properly called VVorship, much-less Immediate-Worship. Thus, Teaching others the Duties of Piety, may be Worship, when Teaching the Duties of any other ordinary calling, is not.
2. We call that Family-Worship, which is to be performed, by such and such Relations; or by all the Constituent Members of the Family jointly: And so it differeth, 1. From Secret or Solitary Worship, which one performeth alone to, and before God. 2. From Public Worship, which one performeth by Joining in a Congregation of many Families together. 3. From that Worship performed occasionally, in Mutual Fellowship amongst Believers or Professors, of divers Families: For 1. That may not be Ordinary as this, nor so frequent. 2. That is free to this or that Believer, as they shall choose; or as occasions do cast them to be together. This is not at Choice, but is necessary, as to the same persons. 3. This is performed, by Virtue of Domestic Relations, and not of Christian only. 4. This may have, and should have an Authority Domestic, in it's Regulation; For a Master of a Family, may Authoritatively command the Members of the Family, to Pray, keep the Sabbath, &c. and may suitably Correct for the Neglect ⟨p. 209⟩of those Duties; whereas that other is by Christian Communion, and Admonition only.
2. We call that Family-VVorship, which is to be performed, by such and such Relations; or by all the Constituent Members of the Family joyntly: And so it differeth, 1. From Secret or Solitary VVorship, which one performeth alone to, and before God. 2. From Publick Worship, which one performeth by Joyning in a Congregation of many Families together. 3. From that Worship performed occasionally, in Mutual Fellowship amongst Believers or Professours, of divers Families: For 1. That may not be Ordinary as this, nor so frequent. 2. That is free to this or that Believer, as they shall choose; or as occasions do cast them to be together. This is not at Choice, but is necessary, as to the same persons. 3. This is performed, by Vertue of Domestick Relations, and not of Christian only. 4. This may have, and should have an Authority Domestick, in it's Regulation; For a Master of a Family, may Authoritatively command the Members of the Family, to Pray, keep the Sabbath, &c. and may suitably Correct for the Neglect ⟨p. 209⟩of those Duties; whereas that other is by Christian Communion, and Admonition only.
Ye will see this Family-Worship clear: 1. By considering the Jews Eating of the Passover: Where there was, 1. Secret Worship, no question a-part. 2. There was Public-Worship; a Holy Convocation the First Day, and the Last: But 3. There was peculiarly a Family-Worship; or, if the Family was little, two joined together, for Eating the Passover, within the House, wherein all the Members of that Family; or of those two little Families that were Circumcised were necessarily to be present, and to be joiners: this is Family-worship.
Ye will see this Family-Worship clear: 1. By considering the Jews Eating of the Passover: Where there was, 1. Secret Worship, no question a-part. 2. There was Publick-Worship; a Holy Convocation the First Day, and the Last: But 3. There was peculiarly a Family-Worship; or, if the Family was little, two joyned together, for Eating the Passover, within the House, wherein all the Members of that Family; or of those two little Families that were Circumcised were necessarily to be present, and to be joyners: this is Family-worship.
2. By considering Psal. 101. compared with other Scriptures, where ye have 1. David mentioning his private carriage, and longing for God, and walking in a perfect way. 2. His public carriage as a Magistrate in cutting off the wicked from the City of God, as ye have. 3. Elsewhere his public-worship as Psal. 122.1. and 2 Sam. 6. 4. his fellowship with all the Godly, being a Companion to them that feared God, Psal. 119. v. 63. Yet 5thly, and lastly: Ye have a walk within his House with a perfect heart mentioned there as contradistinct from all; which must infer some Religious performances of duties, or exercise of worship in his House in reference to that station, as well as in private or in public, yea a joint▪ exercise; because it is such an exercise as he performed only at home in his house; whereas had it been Praying for them, or any thing, that other-wise he might have done a-part: he needed not go home to them, for performing of it: Yet, 2 Sam. 6. ver. 20. when the Public Worship is done, he goeth home to bless his House; which manifestly showeth a Peculiar Duty performed by him, in his Family, according as he resolved in that 101. Psalm.
2. By considering Psal. 101. compared with other Scriptures, where ye have 1. David mentioning his private carriage, and longing for God, and walking in a perfect way. 2. His publick carriage as a Magistrate in cutting off the wicked from the City of God, as ye have. 3. Elsewhere his publick-worship as Psal. 122.1. and 2 Sam. 6. 4. his fellowship with all the Godly, being a Companion to them that feared God, Psal. 119. v. 63. Yet 5thly, and lastly: Ye have a walk within his House with a perfect heart mentioned there as contradistinct from all; which must infer some Religious performances of duties, or exercise of worship in his House in reference to that station, as well as in private or in publick, yea a joynt exercise; because it is such an exercise as he performed only at home in his house; whereas had it been Praying for them, or any thing, that other-wise he might have done a-part: he needed not goe home to them, for performing of it: Yet,
3. It will yet further appear, that there is such a thing, and some way, what it is; by considering Zach. 12. from verse 10. to the last: where there is, First, • Public Mourning of the Whole Land. 2. Of several Families together: Families shall mourn then. 3. Families a-part. 4. Their Wives a-part, and so every Particular Person in secret. In which place, it i • ⟨p. 210⟩clear, 1. That there is a Worship of Families, besides Public and Secret Worship. 2. That, that Worship includeth the same Duties, jointly performed by the Members of the Family, which Persons in secret perform; and so Family-Worship, will be a Worshipping of God, (beside what is in Public and Secret,) in a Dome •tick and Family-Relation, Jointly.
3. It will yet further appear, that there is such a thing, and some way, what it is; by considering Zach. 12. from verse 10. to the last: where there is, First, • Publick Mourning of the Whole Land. 2. Of several Families together: Families shall mourn then. 3. Families a-part. 4. Their Wifes a-part, and so every Particular Person in secret. In which place, it i • ⟨p. 210⟩clear, 1. That there is a Worship of Families, besides Publick and Secret VVorship. 2. That, that VVorship includeth the same Duties, jointly performed by the Members of the Family, which Persons in secret perform; and so Family-VVorship, will be a VVorshipping of God, (beside what is in Publick and Secret,) in a Dome •tick and Family-Relation, Joyntly.
Thirdly, That, this Command requireth such a Family-worship distinct from public and secret, and something to be performed in worshipping of Go • amongst persons so related, which is not required of others; may thus be made out.
Thirdly, That, this Command requireth such a Family-worship distinct from publick and secret, and something to be performed in worshipping of Go • amongst persons so related, which is not required of others; may thus be made out.
1. The thing called for in this Command is certainly worship, yea immediate worship; it being a Command of the first Table, and such a thing as the sanctifying of the Sabbath.
2. This Command taketh in all Domestic-Relations, Parents, Children, Sons and Daughters, Masters and Servants, Men or Women, yea and Strangers that may be for the time, or on that day, sojourning there; these are all constituent Members of a Family.
2. This Command taketh in all Domestick-Relations, Parents, Children, Sons and Daughters, Masters and Servants, Men or VVomen, yea and Strangers that may be for the time, or on that day, sojourning there; these are all constituent Members of a Family.
3. The thing required of them is not simply rest from labour, for 1. That is commanded for the Beasts (lest men should be hindered from or interrupted in their holy rest by their waiting on them) and none will say, we hope, that there is no more required as to Children or Servants, than as to the Beasts. 2. Under the Negative, Thou shalt do no work, is included the Affirmative, Thou shalt san •tifie that day to the Lord. 3. The same Duty is required of all alike (in some respect) thou Father, and thou Son, thou Master, and thou Servant, and if worship be called for from the Father, and Master, for the sanctifying of that day, so it must be also from the Child and Servant.
4. The manner of performing this Worship of sanctifying the Lords day in Holy duties, is required not only to be in public, nor only in secret, but by the Members of each Family jointly, and a part from other Families.
4. The manner of performing this Worship of sanctifying the Lords day in Holy duties, is required not only to be in publick, nor only in secret, but by the Members of each Family joyntly, and a part from other Families.
For 1. It cannot be understood to require worship only in public together, because 1. there may be in some cases no access to public worship, and yet the Command of sanctifying ⟨p. 211⟩the Lords day lieth still on, and no doubt by Families. 2. Waiting on public worship is but one piece of sanctifying the Lords day, and that but in a part of it; therefore there must be some other thing included here. 2. It cannot be understood of the Master of the Family, his putting the Members of the Family separately to seek and worship God, and of his own going about Holy duties himself a-part.
For 1. It cannot be understood to require worship only in publick together, because 1. there may be in some cases no access to publick worship, and yet the Command of sanctifying ⟨p. 211⟩the Lords day lyeth still on, and no doubt by Families. 2. Waiting on publick worship is but one piece of sanctifying the Lords day, and that but in a part of it; therefore there must be some other thing included here. 2. It cannot be understood of the Master of the Family, his putting the Members of the Family separatly to seek and worship God, and of his own going about Holy duties himself a-part.
For 1. Though that be worship, yet is it not worship from persons in such a Relation or Family-worship, more than if they were not in such a Relation, or of such a Family; and though it might be said that such and such persons sanctified the Sabbath, yet could it not be said that the Family as such did it; even as Families or persons seeking God in secret, could not be exonerated thereby, as to their being in the Congregation; nor their serving of God be so accepted as Congregational-service, i • they met not together when they might: Just so it is here; yea as it lieth, by this Command, on a Congregation and a Minister to sanctify the Lords day, and to come together for that end; so doth it lye on the Family and Master of it.
For 1. Though that be worship, yet is it not worship from persons in such a Relation or Family-worship, more than if they were not in such a Relation, or of such a Family; and though it might be said that such and such persons sanctified the Sabbath, yet could it not be said that the Family as such did it; even as Families or persons seeking God in secret, could not be exonered thereby, as to their being in the Congregation; nor their serving of God be so accepted as Congregational-service, i • they met not together when they might: Just so it is here; yea as it lyeth, by this Command, on a Congregation and a Minister to sanctifie the Lords day, and to come together for that end; so doth it lye on the Family and Master of it.
2. By this Command there is more required than secret o • solitary sanctifying of the Sabbath, even a peculiar sanctification of it within one Family distinct from another: I say, 1. more than solitary worship, because the Lords saying thou, without repeating Son, Daughter, &c. had been sufficient to have laid it on all separately for themselves; the enumeration therefore of the whole Members of a Family must import some other thing, for the former is implied in all Commands, as Thou shalt not kill, that is, as far as in thee lieth, thou nor thy Son, &c. There must I say, be something more understood by the peculiar enumeration pressed in this fourth Command. I say, 2. Even a peculiar worship, because it's something laid on by this Command which is holden within Gates or doors, and neither goeth to the Congregation, nor to the persons of other Families, at least ordinarily, but reacheth the Members of such a Family who are within such a Mans Gates or Doors; therefore it must be a distinct Family-worship mainly performed by that Family together.
2. By this Command there is more required than secret o • solitary sanctifying of the Sabbath, even a peculiar sanctification of it within one Family distinct from another: I say, 1. more than solitary worship, because the Lords saying thou, without repeating Son, Daughter, &c. had been sufficient to have laid it on all separately for themselves; the enumeration therefore of the whole Members of a Family must import some other thing, for the former is implyed in all Commands, as Thou shalt not kill, that is, as far as in thee lyeth, thou nor thy Son, &c. There must I say, be somthing more understood by the peculiar enumeration pressed in this fourth Command. I say, 2. Even a peculiar worship, because it's something laid on by this Command which is holden within Gates or doors, and neither goeth to the Congregation, nor to the persons of other Families, at least ordinarily, but reacheth the Members of such a Family who are within such a Mans Gates or Doors; therefore it must be a distinct Family-worship mainly performed by that Family together.