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in the highest degree to the personal venerableness and dig nity of the parent. When we think of any object, whatever may be its nature, we necessarily associate with it those ideas which have customarily been connected with it in our minds. Children naturally regard a parent with reverence. But they cannot fail to reverence a respectable parent more, and a contemptible parent less, on account of his personal character. Whenever they have been accustomed to behold their parent daily sustaining the office of a minister of God, they necessarily associate with every idea which they form of his person and character this solemn and important apprehension. Every image of this venerable relation presented to their minds will include in it that of a divinely appointed guardian of their spiritual concerns; a guide to their duty, given them from above; a venerated and beloved intercessor for their salvation.

At the same time, the apparent habitual piety thus exhibited, will persuade the children that the authors of their being are sincere in all their religious professions, and in their various moral instructions to them; and that they are therefore, in the evangelical sense, virtuous. The evidence furnished in this manner may be, I acknowledge, and often is, overthrown by the sinful conduct even of praying parents. But I see not how this conviction can exist, where parents do not maintain the worship of God in their families. The want of such worship presents to the eye of children a palpable and indubitable inconsistency between their conduct and their professions, which no child can fail to see, or feel. An unhappy conviction will here unavoidably spring up in their minds, which cannot be stifled, and which will necessarily lessen the character of the parent, and the weight of his commands; a conviction that these persons, notwithstanding their venerable name, and their relation to himself, are unpossessed of that singleness of heart, and that integrity of profession, which he cannot avoid regarding as indispensable.

This union in their worship, presents also in a very forcible manner to the eyes of their offspring that peculiar union of views and affections, of interests and designs, with respect to the most important of all subjects, and by necessary consequence with respect to every other, without which, it is

hardly necessary to observe, no parental government can be successful; and the happy influence of which is proverbially acknowledged wherever it is found.

It is unnecessary to insist here upon the interesting nature of these subjects. It is unnecessary to show how indispensable it is that children should entertain the most reverential thoughts concerning their parents, feel an undoubting conviction of their sincerity in all things, and realize in the strongest manner their cordial union in every valuable purpose. I shall only add therefore that, from the numerous complaints so often made by parents concerning the difficulty of governing their children, it may fairly be inferred, that all persons sustaining this character, and possessed of common understanding, must consider so efficacious an addition to their authority as of inestimable value.

4. This worship, in an eminent degree, preserves and promotes religion in a family.

Whenever a family or an individual observes an exact régularity in performing the duties, and celebrating the ordinances of the Gospel, religion naturally becomes flourishing and vigorous in their hearts, and in their lives. From family prayers both the parents and their offspring go, happily prepared, to the devotions of the closet; and from these devotions return, with the same becoming spirit, to the worship of the house and from the retired and affectionate services of the week, they proceed with the best preparation to the more solemn duties of the sanctuary.

To children, and servants, especially, the worship of the house is of incalculable importance. The advantages of both these clases of mankind for understanding and practising the duties of religion, in many respects, are obviously few and limited; while their minds are imperfectly fitted to make the most advantageous use of such as they enjoy. To increase their number, and their power, and certainly not to lessen either, must naturally be the wish of every benevolent man. Among these, the household worship is eminently important. Here, so soon as they are able to understand any thing, they 'see religion appearing, daily, in one of its most affecting forms; celebrated by those whom nature teaches them most to respect and love; and occupied about interests which they easily understand, and deeply feel. Under the happy influence of these

considerations, they grow speedily into fixed habits of thinking reverentially, and believing favourably concerning religion. The very aspect of the service teaches them, that it holds the uppermost place in the mind of a parent; while a conviction of this truth renders his opinions and conduct more venerable and affecting in those of the children. In these circumstances they naturally feel as if God was always to be worshipped, sought, honoured, and praised; and that his blessing was to be implored in every concern, temporal and spiritual.

A family, habituated in this manner, goes from the house to the church with the most profitable apprehensions concerning the ordinances of the Sabbath. Religion, in the view of all its members, wears a solemnity and importance, ordinarily not otherwise attainable; and a frame of mind is acquired, most happily susceptible of the best impressions in the house of God.

Thus by prayer in the family, the religion of its members, if they are religious at all, is rendered more sincere, fervent, and efficacious. They are all better beings; better husbands and wives, better fathers and mothers, better children, brothers, and sisters, better masters and servants, than they otherwise would, or in the ordinary course of providence could be. All the endearing interests of families, all the strong ties, the tender relations, and the vigorous affections which grow out of this happy union of mankind in these little societies of nature, are in this manner converted into most useful means of promoting the holiness of all.

At the same time, and from the same source, children and servants are furnished with the most powerful persuasives to become holy. Family worship is a primary branch of religious education, as that education is a primary source of religion to mankind; and one of the two great pillars, on which rests the salvation of men. Without family worship, religious education will always be essentially defective; and the instructions, reproofs, and persuasives suspected, at least, if not accounted, insincere.

But holiness is the great interest of all rational beings. In itself it is happiness of the noblest kind. It is also the parent of all other happiness which is solid and enduring. On family prayer then God has founded a great and important

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part of all the real good of his rational creatures in the present world.

No man can be insensible to this consideration, who is not insensible both to the present and future welfare of his offspring. Almost all parents wish their children to be virtuous here, and happy hereafter; and this, even when themselves are vicious. Family prayer is one of the chief means, among those which are placed in the hands of parents, of rendering their children the subjects of holiness, and the heirs of eternal life. The parent therefore who does not make the utmost use of this mean, always in his power, so easily employed, so obviously fitted to produce the effect, and so fraught with invaluable consequences, ought never to pretend that he has any real love for his children.

When therefore he sees them sinful, thoughtless, and dissolute, let him, instead of complaining of the difficulty which he finds in governing and reforming his children; instead of quieting himself with the belief, that they are so peculiarly froward, as to frustrate every effort, and discourage every hope, take shame and confusion of face to himself for his own guilty negligence. Let him remember, that himself is eminently the cause of their profligacy, and their ruin. Let him tremble, lest the fury' invoked by Jeremiah upon the families which called not upon the name of God,' should descend upon his own house, as the proper reward of his own irreligion.

5. Families have the best reason to expect the blessing of God in answer to their prayers.

All the promises, and other encouragements, given in the Scriptures to prayer, are addressed to individuals, families, and larger communities, alike. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous' as truly availeth much' in the household, as in the closet, or the church. The house is the place to ask for family blessings. Here all concerned in them unite their humble and fervent requests for the merciful communication. Nations warrantably hope for national blessings, when they join in public supplications to God. The same observation is equally applicable to all inferior societies among mankind. The members of a household are here the persons interested, the persons who hope to receive, and therefore the persons who should ask. They are unitedly to receive; their suppli

cations therefore ought to be united. Nor is there any case in which a gracious answer to prayer may more justly be expected

Among the disadvantages, which flow from the neglect of family prayer, may be mentioned its unhappy influence,

1. On domestic order.

The mind naturally opposes order; and cannot be brought to observe or relish it, unless by influence long exerted, arguments often repeated, and habits slowly and firmly established. Where these advantages do not exist in some good degree, man more resembles a wild beast, than a rational being; is impatient of all regularity, and all restraint; and is precluded alike from all worth, usefulness, and enjoyment. But no means contribute so easily, so powerfully, or so happily, to the establishment of good order in the house, as family worship. I do not deny, that this benefit flows in various degrees from other sources. But even these are prevented of no small part of their influence, where this species of prayer is neglected. They are pillars, standing on one side of the building; and incapable of supporting it; because those on the other side are taken away.

2. On parental government.

By this neglect all the advantages, already mentioned with reference to this subject, are lost; and all the disadvantages derived from the opposite conduct are incurred. An irreligious parent cannot fail to be seen by children in an unhappy light. Nor is this any fault in them. The most dutiful children will regard him in this manner. Irreligion is in its nature odious and contemptible; and cannot, unless under the influence of strong habitual prejudice, fail to be seen as it is. The conscience of every child will tell him this truth, however affectionate and reverential may be his disposition.

But the parent who is thus viewed by his children, and who gives them reason to view him thus, will find his instructions, reproofs, and punishments stripped of their principal efficacy. This efficacy is chiefly dependent on the reverence with which he is regarded; and this reverence, in a higher degree than he will probably be aware, is inseparably dependent on their apprehension, that he is a religious man. But the omission of family worship will necessarily attach to his