Family-hymns gathered (mostly) out of the best translations of David's psalmsFamily-hymns gather'd (mostly) out of the best translations of David's psalms

What shall I say then to persuade Masters of Families who have hitherto neglected their duty, to begin it now; Better late than never. The experience of many that make conscience of it will testify both the sweetness and profit of it. If Psalms were more sung in Families, they would be better sung in Congregations. Let none plead want of time as their excuse; for how can time be spent better than in praising God? And is there not a great deal of our precious hours thrown away every day upon other things that are less to the purpose of a Christian? Nor will there be room for this pretence, if care be taken not to defer Family Worship too late, either morning or evening, so as to crowd ⟨image 5⟩it into a corner (as many do by a thousand impertinences) as likewise so to proportion the other parts of the duty, that they may not jostle out this. It is the wisdom of Masters of Families, so to manage their Family Worship, that they may make it, as much as possible, a pleasure, and not a task to their Children and Servants. Nor let want of skill be an excuse; there may be much of acceptable Affection, where there appears but little of Art. Plain Song best befits plain Israelites. A small degree of skill (and that easily attained by any that give their minds to it) will suffice to the management of this duty decently and in order, and more there needs not; for in private Families the quickest way of singing seems to be most agreeable; such singing as the Great Athanasius appointed in the Church of Alexandria, ut pronunciani vicinior esset quàm canenti, more like reading than singing. So Austin tells us, Confess. lib. 10. cap. 33. and approves of it as a good means to preserve that spiritual delight which should be in this Ordinance, from degenerating into a sensitive pleasure, which it is apt to do when Tunes and Notes are over-much ⟨image 5⟩studied and affected, and the Ear tickled with them.

What shall I say then to persuade Masters of Families who have hitherto neglected their duty, to begin it now; Better late than never. The experience of many that make conscience of it will testifie both the sweetness and profit of it. If Psalms were more sung in Families, they would be better sung in Congregations. Let none plead want of time as their excuse; for how can time be spent better than in praising God? And is there not a great deal of our precious hours thrown away every day upon other things that are less to the purpose of a Christian? Nor will there be room for this pretence, if care be taken not to defer Family Worship too late, either morning or evening, so as to crowd