A37049:826
A37049:826
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.
5. If secret and public worship were only required in this Command, then should we equally and alike sanctify the Lords day with other Families and persons, not of that Family whereof we are Members; for in these we join alike for them and with them; but there is some peculiar thing required here which will not agree to be performed by all alike; therefore it is Family-worship that must be here required.
5. If secret and publick worship were only required in this Command, then should we equally and alike sanctifie the Lords day with other Families and persons, not of that Family whereof we are Members; for in these we joyn alike for them and with them; but there is some peculiar thing required here which will not agree to be performed by all alike; therefore it is Family-worship that must be here required.
6. This Command requireth of Masters, (suppose them to be Ministers, or • Magistrates) another way of Sanctifying the Sabbath, and Worshipping of God, in and with their Families, than it doth in Reference to other Families; the Command being so particular, to him, and to all that are within his Gates or Doors, and Members of his Family, speaketh this clearly. But except it be joint going about of Duties with them, there can be no other thing understood to be required: for, 1. One may exhort another. 2. All come in public together. 3. By the Masters example after the public they all ⟨p. 213⟩withdraw (or should at least) to secret exercises. 4. Magistrates and Ministers may Command other Families to Sanctify that day; What is peculiar then, as to their own Families, but to join with them in Duties of Worship?
6. This Command requireth of Masters, (suppose them to be Ministers, or • Magistrates) another way of Sanctifying the Sabbath, and Worshipping of God, in and with their Families, than it doth in Reference to other Families; the Command being so particular, to him, and to all that are within his Gates or Doors, and Members of his Family, speaketh this clearly. But except it be joynt going about of Duties with them, there can be no other thing understood to be required: for, 1. One may exhort another. 2. All come in publick together. 3. By the Masters example after the publick they all ⟨p. 213⟩withdraw (or should at least) to secret exercises. 4. Magistrates and Ministers may Command other Families to Sanctifie that day; What is peculiar then, as to their own Families, but to joyn with them in Duties of Worship?
7. If there were not Domestic-worship required on this day, then except it were in▪ public, Members of a Family could not converse together; for they cannot converse together in doing their own works, or in speaking their own words, their fellowship therefore must be in exercises of worship, and so that must needs be required in this Command.
7. If there were not Domestick-worship required on this day, then except it were in▪ publick, Members of a Family could not converse together; for they cannot converse together in doing their own works, or in speaking their own words, their fellowship therefore must be in exercises of worship, and so that must needs be required in this Command.
8. Some other thing is required by this Command, of a Member of a Family which seeketh God, than of a person in an Heathenish Family; or some other thing is required from so many persons joined together as Members in one Family, than from such persons suppose them to be scattered from one another, amongst heathenish Families; certainly where Husband, Wife, Children and servants are Christians and Professors of the same true Religion, there is some other thing required of them than where only the Husband, the Wife, the child or the servant is so; but if they were scattered and became parts or Members of diverse Families among Heathens, they would be obliged to seek God a-part; therefore no less, but much more is joint-seeking of God required of them, when they are united together as Members of one Family.
8. Some other thing is required by this Command, of a Member of a Family which seeketh God, than of a person in an Heathenish Family; or some other thing is required from so many persons joyned together as Members in one Family, than from such persons suppose them to be scattered from one another, amongst •eathenish Families; certainly where Husband, Wife, Children and servants are Christians and Professors of the same true Religion, there is some other thing required of them than where only the Husband, the Wife, the child or the servant is so; but if they were scattered and became parts or Members of diverse Families among Heathens, they would be obliged to seek God a-part; therefore no less, but much more is joynt-seeking of God required of them, when they are united together as Members of one Family.
9. This Command (when it mentioneth all within his Gates or Doors) requireth some other thing of a Master when at home with his Family, than when he is withdrawn from them: But a Master at a distance may Command all in his Family to worship God, and pray to God for them, and so may they all if they were scattered, worship God secretly; therefore when they are together, there is some other thing required of them by this Command, which is, no doubt, To worship God together.
10. The Duties that are to be performed on this day will require this; such as, Instructing one another, Exhorting, Admonishing, Comforting, strengthening one another, and talking to, or conferring with one another, of the word, D •ut. 6. v. 7.8. ⟨p. 214⟩Which cannot be denied to be Duties called for, on this day; and yet they cannot be done but by joint concurring together in that work, and therefore it concludeth strongly that Family-worship, at least on the Lords day, is commanded here; and if Families be called to worship God jointly on the Lords day by the worship competent for that day, then by proportion are they also called to worship him jointly on other days by the worship suitable to them, there being the like ground for all.
10. The Duties that are to be performed on this day will require this; such as, Instructing one another, Exhorting, Admonishing, Comforting, strengthning one another, and talking to, or conferring with one another, of the word, D •ut. 6. v. 7.8. ⟨p. 214⟩Which cannot be denyed to be Duties called for, on this day; and yet they cannot be done but by joynt concurring together in that work, and therefore it concludeth strongly that Family-worship, at least on the Lords day, is commanded here; and if Families be called to worship God joyntly on the Lords day by the worship competent for that day, then by proportion are they also called to worship him joyntly on other dayes by the worship suitable to them, there being the like ground for all.
11. And lastly, that which is required of Families, is such a worship as ought to be performed by them, supposing there were no public worship, nor yet any other Family, worshipping him in the World. So Joshua resolveth Chap. 24.15. I a •d my House will serve the Lord, and Sanctify His Sabbath (that being a special piece of His service) what-ever ye will do; but if there were no worshipping of God in all the World but in one Family, then ought that worship to be joint according to that same word of Joshua's, I and my House, otherwise we behooved to say, that there might be a plurality of worshippers of God in the World, and yet without any joining together in worship, which were in it self absurd and contrary to Joshua's Religious Resolution.
11. And lastly, that which is required of Families, is such a worship as ought to be performed by them, supposing there were no publick worship, nor yet any other Family, worshipping him in the World. So Joshua resolveth Chap. 24.15. I a •d my House will serve the Lord, and Sanctifie His Sabbath (that being a special piece of His service) what-ever ye will do; but if there were no worshipping of God in all the World but in one Family, then ought that worship to be joynt according to that same word of Joshua's, I and my House, otherwise we behooved to say, that there might be a plurality of worshippers of God in the World, and yet without any joyning together in worship, which were in it self absurd and contrary to Joshua's Religious Resolution.
It being thus made out by this Command, that there is such a worship as Family-worship, and that it is Commanded, we shall consider in the next place, how the Scriptures do otherwayes hold it out.
1. Then consider, that where the Scriptures speak of eminently Godly-men, they speak of them as making conscience of this, and take notice of their honouring of God in their Families as a special part of their eminency; So Abraham, Gen. 18. v. 19. Joshua. 24.15. Job. in the first Chapter of his Book, and David Psal. 101. are noted; It must then be a commanded and commendable Duty, which is so particularly remarked in them.
2. Ye will find it almost in all parts of Scripture, as Gen. 18. Exod. 12. Deut. 6. Joshua. 24. Job. 1. Psal. 101. and Psal. 30. At the Dedication of Davids House, which was not, sure, without some peculiar worship and craving of Gods blessing; even ⟨p. 215⟩as in other cases, those who had builded Houses were to Dedicate them, or to Consecrate them, and wherefore? because they were hoven in a manner, and as it were offered to the Lord, for seeking and worshipping Him in them: So, Altars, Numb. 7.84. were said to be Dedicated when they were set a-part for God's service, and Consecrated for that use. So Nehemiah 12.27. the Walls were Dedicated, and the Levi •es brought out for that end; which Dedication no doubt had a Religious use: &, Will any think that they began with Prayer or Praise as David did, and left off such Exercises afterward? see also 2 Sam. 6.20. where mention is made of Davids blessing his House. Esther and the Maids of her House, and the rest of the Jews in their several Families, fasted and prayed. We see it spoken of by the Prophets, as Jer. 10. ult. and Zach. 1 •.12. and that as a Prophecy of the Converts carriage under the New-Testament. We find it also mentioned,
3. Ye will see it thus practised and pressed before the Flood; God was honoured and worshipped in Families after it (before the Law) by Abraham, Job and others in their Families; under it, there was the Observation of it, and that by peculiar Ordinances, as namely, by the Passover; yea it is mentioned, and that most expressly in the very Law, as is said; it was kept up under the Captivity, and after the return renewed by Z •chariah especially; yea it is also renewed in the New-Testament, whereby it appeareth to be of very special Observation; from all which, it is not a little commended to us
3. Ye will see it thus practised and pressed before the Flood; God was honoured and worshipped in Families after it (before the Law) by Abraham, Job and others in their Families; under it, there was the Observation of it, and that by peculiar Ordinances, as namely, by the Passover; yea it is mentioned, and that most expresly in the very Law, as is said; it was kept up under the Captivity, and after the return renewed by Z •chariah especially; yea it is also renued in the New-Testament, whereby it appeareth to be of very special Observation; from all which, it is not a little commended to us
4. If we consider the many ways whereby the Scriptures press this Duty, it will be found that there is hardly any Duty more cleared and pressed than it. Is pressed: 1. By Command; 2. By Examples of Godly-men held forth as Patterns for Imitation. 3. By Promises made to it, and 4. By Blessings conferred on the conscientious practisers of it, Gen. 18. D •ut. 11. v. 18.19, 20, 21. 5. As evidencing sincerity, G •n. 18. Joshua. 24. 6. As making Folks liable to the Curse and wrath of God when neglected, Jer. 10.25. 7. As a fruit of the Spirit, and as a Companion of true Repentance, Zach. 12▪ 8. As a specially ⟨p. 216⟩commending and adorning qualification of persons that have it and scandalous where it is wanting, and as declaring one unmeet for public charge, Gen. 18. 1 Tim. 3.4. Tit. 1.6.
4. If we consider the many wayes whereby the Scriptures press this Duty, it will be found that there is hardly any Duty more cleared and pressed than it. Is pressed: 1. By Command; 2. By Examples of Godly-men held forth as Paterns for Imitation. 3. By Promises made to it, and 4. By Blessings conferred on the conscientious practisers of it, Gen. 18. D •ut. 11. v. 18.19, 20, 21. 5. As evidencing sincerity, G •n. 18. Joshua. 24. 6. As making Folks lyable to the Curse and wrath of God when neglected,
Hence the Argument runneth strong, That duty which in Scripture is commanded, by many examples commended, and by other motives pressed, the neglect whereof bringeth guilt and offence upon the persons neglecting; is no doubt a necessary Duty, but Family-worship is such: therefore it is a necessary duty.
1. That it is commanded, what we have said from this fourth Command may sufficiently make it out, yet we further add, Deut. 6. v. 7, 8. and Deut. 11. v. 18, 19. In which two places it is clear that observing of the law, is not only to be studied by a Master of a Family himself alone, but that the Religious duties of frequent speaking of it, diligent teaching of it, whetting and pressing of it on his Family, are to be performed by him; yea it is to be written on the posts of his Door, to show that Religion must be in the Family, & in all that enter into it, even as carrying the word on the frontlets betwixt their eyes was to mind them of the peculiar and particular sanctification that was called for from them.
1. That it is commanded, what we have said from this fourth Command may sufficiently make it out, yet we further add, Deut. 6. v. 7, 8. and Deut. 11. v. 18, 19. In which two places it is clear that observing of the law, is not only to be studied by a Master of a Family himself alone, but that the Religious duties of frequent speaking of it, diligent teaching of it, whetting and pressing of it on his Famaly, are to be performed by him; yea it is to be written on the posts of his Door, to shew that Religion must be in the Family, & in all that enter into it, even as carrying the word on the frontlets betwixt their eyes was to mind them of the peculiar and particular sanctification that was called for from them.
2. That it is commended by examples is clear in Abraham's, who dealeth both with Children and servants in the Family, and that in things concerning the worshipping of God, as well as in things concerning his own particular Affairs; He Circumcised them, and commanded, yea charged them to serve the Lord, which cannot be supposed to have been done without other duties of worship. And in David's 2 Sam. 6.20. Who when he has been at public-worship goeth home to bless his Family, which was certainly to go about some Religious duty with them, as he had been doing with the people in the public; in the one he behaved himself as King, in the other as a Governor and Head of his own Family in particular; and had it been only to pray for them, that might have been done elsewhere than at home; but it denoteth the changing of public worship (wherein he had blessed the people as a public man, as a Prophet and godly King, and had joined with them v. 18.) ⟨p. 217⟩into Family duties, wherein he goeth to concur with them; Intimating that a Holy Solemnity should be partly spent in public, and partly in Family-duties, without neglect of secret duties: beside that in Psal. 30. & Psal. •01. it is clear; and appeareth to have been also practised by all that built houses, who did Dedicate them, and that not without Prayer, as is manifest by Davids Dedication of his, Psal. 30. as is said. Job's example likewise maketh it out Chap. 1. where there are 1 Sacrifices in his Family, as well as for his Family. 2. He sendeth to sanctify them who were absent, that is, to put them in a readiness for joining with him in that service with those that were at home, which he needed not to have done had they been beside or present with him: Yea 3. when he cannot do it personally, he will do it by another, that God may be worshipped by them all, some way together.
2. That it is commended by examples is clear in Abraham's, who dealeth both with Children and servants in the Family, and that in things concerning the worshipping of God, as well as in things concerning his own particular Affairs; He Circumcised them, and commanded, yea charged them to serve the Lord, which cannot be supposed to have been done without other duties of worship. And in David's
3. I say the neglect of it, is sadly threatened as Jer. 10. v. ult. Pour out thy fury on the Heathen that know thee not, and on the Families which call not on thy name; If not-worshipping of God in Families, be a Character of a Family appointed to destruction, and be threatened with a Curse, then prayer-worship in Families is a necessary duty; for it's clear from that place, 1. That by calling on Gods Name, is meant Gods worship in general, and prayer in particular, which is a special part of it. 2. That by Families are meant particular Societies and Companies whether lesser or greater that want this worship, and so are the Objects of that Curse.
3. I say the neglect of it, is sadly threatned as Jer. 10. v. ult. Pour out thy fury on the Heathen that know thee not, and on the Families which call not on thy name; If not-worshipping of God in Families, be a Character of a Family appointed to destruction, and be threatned with a Curse, then prayer-worship in Families is a necessary duty; for it's clear from that place, 1. That by calling on Gods Name, is meant Gods worship in general, and prayer in particular, which is a special part of it. 2. That by Families are meant particular Societies and Companies whether lesser or greater that want this worship, and so are the Objects of that Curse.
2. Ye will find it almost in all parts of Scripture, as Gen. 18. Exod. 12. Deut. 6. Joshua. 24. Job. 1. Psal. 101. and Psal. 30. At the Dedication of Davids House, which was not, sure, without some peculiar worship and craving of Gods blessing; even ⟨p. 215⟩as in other cases, those who had builded Houses were to Dedicate them, or to Consecrate them, and wherefore? because they were hoven in a manner, and as it were offered to the Lord, for seeking and worshipping Him in them: So, Altars, Numb. 7.84. were said to be Dedicated when they were set a-part for God's service, and Consecrated for that use. So Nehemiah 12.27. the Walls were Dedicated, and the Levi •es brought out for that end; which Dedication no doubt had a Religious use: &, Will any think that they began with Prayer or Praise as David did, and left off such Exercises afterward? see also 2 Sam. 6.20. where mention is made of Davids blessing his House. Esther and the Maids of her House, and the rest of the Jews in their several Families, fasted and prayed. We see it spoken of by the Prophets, as Jer. 10. ult. and Zach. 1 •.12. and that as a Prophesie of the Converts carriage under the New-Testament. We find it also mentioned, 1 Timothy 3. v. 4 • and 5. v. 8. and Titus 1.6.