blessing upon their joint labours for the good of the whole. 'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' And is it not fit that they who join in the work should join in a prayer for a blessing on their endeavour? There are family mercies that the whole society share in ; and is it not meet that they which eat of the same feast should join in the same song of praise to the founder of it ? In a word, there are judgments that may aflect the whole family ; and where all are concerned in the danger, all should lend their help to prevent it : many hands make light work. A rope twisted of many cords is stronger than those very cords if single ; and so the prayer of many together is more likely to prevail, because it is likely to be more fervent than of the same persons severally employed in their closets, though I would not have one to interfere with the other : there is room for both. Polanus tells us of a town in the territory of Bern, in Switzerland, consisting of ninety houses, that was, in the year 1584, destroyed by an earthquake, except the half of one house, where the master of the family was earnestly praying, with his wife and children, to God.
O, but I have not abilities and gifts for such a work, and it is better left undone than spoiled in the doing. No more hadst thou skill and ability for thy trade when thou went first apprentice. Apply thy mind to the work, bind the duty upon thy conscience, — search the Scriptures, where matter for prayer is laid up, and rules how to perform the duty; study thy heart, and observe the state of thy family, till the sense of the sins, wants, and daily mercies thereof, which thou hast lodged in thy memory, be left warm on thy spirit ; in a word, exercise thyself frequently in secret pi-ayer; be earnest there for the Spirit to assist thee in thy family service, and take heed of driving the Holy Spirit from thee, whose assistance thouprayest for, by sloth, worldliness, pride, or any other course of wickedness. Up, and be doing, and thou mayest comfortably expect God will be with thee to assist and accept thee in the work. Moses was sick of the employment to which God called him, and fain would have put it off with this excuse, — ' I am not eloquent, but slow of speech :' but this objection was soon answered, — ' And the Lord said unto Moses, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind ? Have not I, the Lord? Therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say,' Exod. iv. 11. His call was extraordinary, and his assistance was such. Thy call to this duty, as the head of a family, is ordinary, and so thou mayest look for ordinary assistance. Haply thou shalt never have an ability to express thyself as some others; but let not that discourage thee : God looks not at the pomp of words and variety of expression, but the sincerity and devotion of the heart. The key opens the door not because it is gilt, but because it fits the lock. Let but the matter of thy prayer be according to God's mind, and the temple of thy heart humble and fervent, and no fear but thou shalt speed : yea, let thy prayer be old, pray to-day what thou didst yesterday ; be but sure to bring new affections with thy old prayer, and thou shalt be received friendly into God's presence, though thou canst not on a sudden put thy requests into a new shape. God will not shut his child out of doors because he comes not every day in a new-fashioned suit.
Others there are who object not their own weakness as the reason of their not praying in their families, but the wickedness of others in their family. They are confident enough of their own gifts, but question others' grace, and whether they may pray with such. There may be such in thy family ; but is this a ground to lay aside the worship of God ? By this, the worship of God should not only be laid aside in most private houses, but in all our public congregations. If thou mayest not pray in thy family, because a wicked person is present, then you must not join in prayer with a public congregation, because thou canst never be assured that they are all godly ; nor must the minister pray there, for fear some wicked one should be in the company ; and so this part of Divine worship must be thrown out of the chiu-ch till we can fiiul an assembly made up of all true saints ; and where such a one ever was, or will be, on this side heaven, no one, I think, is able to tell. Surely, the saints in Scripture were not thus scrupulous. How often did Christ himself pray with his disciples, though a Judas was among them ! I have elsewhere clearly, I think, proved, that it is the duty of all, even of the wicked, to pray ; and that God will never charge
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