The great Duty of Family-Religion.
JOSHUA xxiv. 15.
_As for me and my House, we will serve the_ LORD.
THESE words contain the holy resolution of pious _Joshua_, who having in a most moving, affectionate discourse recounted to the _Israelites_ what great things GOD had done for them, in the verse immediately preceding the text, comes to draw a proper inference from what he had been delivering; and acquaints them, in the most pressing terms, that since GOD had been so exceeding gracious unto them, they could do no less, than out of gratitude for such uncommon favours and mercies, dedicate both themselves and families to his service. “Now therefore, fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and truth, and put away the Gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood.” And by the same engaging motive does the prophet _Samuel_ afterwards enforce their obedience to the commandments of GOD, 1 _Samuel_ xii. 24. “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth, with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.” But then, that they might not excuse themselves (as too many might be apt to do) by his giving them a bad example, or think he was laying heavy burdens upon them, whilst he himself touched them not with one of his fingers, he tells them in the text, that whatever regard they might pay to the doctrine he had been preaching, yet he (as all ministers ought to do) was resolved to live up to and practise it himself: “Chuse you therefore, whom you will serve, whether the Gods which your fathers served, or the Gods of the _Amorites_, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
A resolution this, worthy of _Joshua_, and no less becoming, no less necessary for every true son of _Joshua_, that is intrusted with the care and government of a family in our day: and, if it was ever seasonable for ministers to preach up, or people to put in practice _family-religion_, it was never more so than in the present age; since it is greatly to be feared, that out of those many housholds that call themselves christians, there are but few that serve GOD in their respective families as they ought.
It is true indeed, visit our churches, and you may perhaps see something of the _form of godliness_ still subsisting amongst us; but even that is scarcely to be met with in private houses. So that were the blessed angels to come, as in the patriarchal age, and observe our spiritual oeconomy at home, would they not be tempted to say as _Abraham_ to _Abimilech_, “Surely, the fear of GOD is not in this place?” _Genesis_ xx. 11.
How such a general neglect of family-religion first began to overspread the christian world, is difficult to determine. As for the primitive christians, I am positive it was not so with them: No, they had not so learned CHRIST, as falsely to imagine religion was to be confined solely to their assemblies for public worship; but, on the contrary, behaved with such piety and exemplary holiness in their private families, that St. _Paul_ often styles their house a church: “Salute such a one, says he, and the church which is in his house.” And, I believe, we must for ever despair of seeing a primitive spirit of piety revived in the world, till we are so happy as to see a revival of primitive family religion; and persons unanimously resolving with good old _Joshua_, in the words of the text, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
From which words, I shall beg leave to insist on these three things.
I. _First_, That it is the duty of every governor of a family to take care, that not only he himself, but also that those committed to his charge, “_serve the_ LORD.”
II. _Secondly_, I shall endeavour to shew after what manner a governor and his houshold ought to serve the LORD. And,
III. _Thirdly_, I shall offer some motives, in order to excite all governors, with their respective housholds, to serve the LORD in the manner that shall be recommended.
And _First_, I am to shew that it is the duty of every governor of a family to take care, that not only he himself, but also that those committed to his charge, should serve the LORD.