Here is a large scope for daily prayer. And here you may pray that all may fulfil their relative duties, whether it be as father and mother, husband and wife, master and mistress, inmate, servant, and child; and that all may apply themselves faithfully, constantly, and diligently, in their respective situations, to the work which God has given them to do; that they may exhibit the truth of David's saying, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

FAMILY FRIENDS. The parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends of those assembled together, and the minister by whom they are instructed, should not be forgotten. Your immediate neighbourhood, the town in which you dwell, the nation to which you belong, the king, and all in authority, and specially the cause and Church of Christ throughout the world, the Jews and the benighted Gentiles, should all have place in your prayers.

FAMILY MERCIES. In the morning, after having been kept in safety through the defenceless hours of night, free from fire, accidents, or disturbance; in the evening, when the wants of the family for the day have all been supplied, it is surely right, and almost natural for you, to unite in acknowledging God's mercies. That you have bread enough and to spare; that you have light, life, liberty, health, and strength, call for your united praise. But above all, the common salvation, (Jude 3,) offered to you all; the common faith, (Titus i, 4.) which you all profess to receive; the union in Christ Jesus---One body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all: (Eph. iv,

4-6.) all these things bestowed on Christians, through the inestimable love of God in Christ Jesus, require you to offer united sacrifices of thanksgiving.

GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS is another part of family prayer, which no Christian master can neglect. The Apostle after reproving those who commanded to abstain from meats, goes on to assert, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving, of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Tim. iv, 3, 4, 5. In discharging this part of family worship, take heed of a few mere formal words. Be serious and devout in every approach to the great God.

The MANNER of conducting family worship is of much importance. Be not on the one side needlessly tender about your own reputation in mere outward things, nor on the other careless aud remiss. Let us have a greater awe of God's majesty, than of man's presence. We will now notice some things to be avoided.

Some, by a voice too loud or too low, or from using a particular whine or tone-or by a repulsive mannerby aiming at fine expressions, or by vulgar and coarse ones, or by excessive length, fatigue and perhaps disgust those whom they desire to edify. Let all be natural and simple, short and devout, and your voice such as you use in conversing with your friends on serious subjects. In the multiplied engagements of large towns, long prayers are not suited to the situations of most families; yet do not abridge the duty so as to make it a mere form, and as if you were glad to hurry through it. Seek, in short, to have your worship such that a

piously disposed family may rejoice when the time of prayer is come: and amid the cares, distractions, and sorrows of life, may count it a relief and a privilege.

We have hitherto considered the duty of the Head of the family. The DUTIES OF THOSE WHO JOIN IN FAMILY WORSHIP, are, duly to prize the privilege, and to beware of a wandering, cold, and careless spirit, which will destroy all your benefit and comfort in it, whoever teaches, whoever prays. It is the joining of every heart in the requests offered up, which gives to family prayer its greatest efficacy. You should agree to ask; your spirit should join the spirit of him who prays; let there be a secret Amen in your hearts to every petition, (1 Cor. xiv, 16.) and thus you will obtain the promised blessing. And do not think it sufficient for you to have joined in family worship, and that you may then neglect secret prayer. Never forget to pray in secret also.

What a lovely sight it is to see a whole family thus uniting together morning and evening, preparing and being made meet, day by day, for the inheritance of the saints in light; obtaining on earth, the humble, dependent, thankful, holy, and heavenly state of mind, which fits them for joining the family of their Lord in heaven. Whatever storms rage without, such a family, obeying the direction, Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, till the indignation be overpast, (Isa. xxvi, 20.) are safe. They are able to say, God is our refuge and strength. Ps. xlvi, 1.

May what has been said induce THOSE WHO HAVE HITHERTO LIVED IN THE NEGLECT OF THIS DUTY,

to take up at once David's firm resolution, Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into

my

bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Ps. cxxxii. Let me beseech you lose no time. Not a single day. Difficulties may be multiplied; but only set about it in faith and prayer, wisely and vigorously, and they will all vanish. Say firmly, as Jacob did to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments, and let us arise, and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God. Gen. xxxv, 2, 3.

And may THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED TO THIS DUTY, find the hints which have been given, an additional help to the performance of it; and also feel pledged, by their prayers and instructions, to bring into the family in the day the character which they have inanifested, and the graces which they requested in their united devotions.

But let them not think, as some have been ready to think, that a discharge of this duty will absolve them from the constant practice of daily morning and evening devotions in secret. He who prays only before others, has much reason to suspect that he prays to be seen of men, and has no real love to God, nor true knowledge of the nature of prayer,

CHAP. VIII.

Social Prayer.

THE term social, may be applied to all kinds of prayer in which we join with others, but it is here restricted to the united prayer of Christian friends, distinct from public, and family worship. It would be well if Christians were more accustomed than they are to sanctify their occasional meetings by prayer, and to meet also for the purpose of uniting in prayer to obtain those blessings which they need. The particular promise given to united prayer has led many to practise this both as a privilege and as a duty. If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. xviii, 19.

We have scriptural examples to encourage us to the performance of this. When Peter was in prison, prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him; (Acts xii, 5.) and when he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, he found there many that were gathered together, praying. Acts xii, 12. When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, they comforted each other by social prayer. Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts xvi, 25. When Moses' hands were heavy, Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side, and his hands were