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ift, Families are natural focieties, formed originally by God, and held together by his providence. Previous to all civil or religious establishments, families fubfifted. All the obligations which are incumbent on communities of any kind, were originally, and still continue to be, incumbent on particular families. Were the prefent state of fociety to be diffolved, and the patriarchal state restored, it is evident, that familyworship would be the only worship of God. Is it poffible, then, that this original obligation can ever be cancelled? What is there to be pled as a reafon for cancelling it? Will you fay, that the private duty is fuperfeded by the public ordinances which we have the opportunity of attending? This argument might as well be used to difprove the obligation to fecret and perfonal devotion and therefore, by proving too much, it proves nothing at all. For can any perfon seriously be of opinion, that the providence of God hath bestowed these public advantages on us, in order to relax the obligations which we owe to him in our houses, and in our closets?-But,

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2dly, As God is the founder, so he is likewife the gracious benefactor of our families. All the bleffings which we enjoy flow from his bounty, and depend entirely on his faSurely, then, if perfonal bleffings claim the private acknowledgements of the person who receives them, family bleffings ought, in like manner, to be acknowledged by united thanksgivings in our household. -Were a man, having a numerous offspring, to receive fome fignal favour from an earthly benefactor, by which his circumstances were changed from meannefs and want, to an eafy or a decent competence; would it not be a natural acknowledgement for him to bring his family and children in their best apparel, and present them to his benefactor, fed and clothed with his bounty, to offer him their united thanks? Would not such a scene be delightful on both fides? Would it not be enjoyed as a very lovely -appearance, even by a mere fpectator? And is there lefs beauty or propriety in the fame acknowledgements offered to the God in whom we live and breathe, and who giveth us all things richly to enjoy? Doth

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he fet the hedge of his protection around us, and defend us from the many evils to which we are continually exposed; and shall he yet have no tribute of praife offered up from thofe houfes in which he maketh us to dwell in fafety? How difingenuous and unreasonable must this appear to every candid and grateful mind!

3dly, As we receive all our family bleffings from God, fo we are guilty alfo of many family fins against him, and ought therefore to join together in the penitent confeffion of our fins, and in deprecating the judgements which we have deserved. In a word, whatever reason there is for fingle perfons to worship God, there is the fame reafon for families to do it. As there are perfonal fins, and wants and mercies, fo there are family fins, family wants and troubles, family mercies and deliverances; and therefore it must appear highly reafonable, that the members of each family fhould unite together in humiliation and prayer, and thanksgiving. Those who fin together, fhould ask forgiveness together; and those who receive mercies together, fhould

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should join in praifing their common benefactor.

Thus have I endeavoured to fhow, that family-worship is not only a duty by virtue of the divine command, but is fo fit and becoming in itself, that although the authority binding us to it were less apparent, yet every man who allows himself to think, must immediately be convinced, by his own reafon and confcience, that fuch homage is certainly due to God, and that they are highly criminal who refufe or neglect to of fer it. I proceed now, in the

Third place, To reprefent to you the manifold advantages which accompany the practice of this duty, and the pernicious confequences which flow from the neglect of it. bft, Then, the practice of this duty would .be of great ufe to promote even your temporal and worldly intereft. I addrefs myfelf to you who are parents or masters ; and furely this confideration must appear in your own eyes to merit fome regard. I need not stay to prove to you, that your prosperity, as well as your comfort, depends very

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much upon the dutiful behaviour of your children, and the fidelity of your fervants. This, I fuppofe, you will readily acknowledge. Now, it is evident to a demonftration, that nothing can contribute more effectually to this, than the good practice which I am recommending to you. Bring the fear of God into your families, and that will fecure your authority better than any thing else can do. The influence of a religious principle will be as powerful and operative, when you are abfent from them as when you are present, because God is always prefent; and confequently the obedience which flows from a regard to him, must in every place, and at all times, be the fame. Hereby, too, you will gain their esteem and love; which are the most powerful and permanent of all bonds of duty. There is a certain majesty in the image of God, which commands reverence to itself, even from the worst of men. Thus, we are told of Herod, (Mark vi. 20.), that he feared John, because he knew him to be a holy and a just man. And if this wicked prince was fo much overawed by the exemplary holinefs

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