p. 85 | PRAYER by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 29, 1858

PRAYER.

By A. S. Hutchins

BY A. S. HUTCHINS.

(Continued)

WE are now prepared to consider the duty of FAMILY WORSHIP. And in entering upon this part of our subject, we are aware that many professing Christians not only entirely neglect family prayer, but some are found who oppose it, from the fact that no express command is given in the Scriptures for its performance.

To this objection we remark, that we can see no necessity for an express precept enjoining this duty upon Christians.

1. From the fact that we believe all Christians not only regard family devotion as a privilege, but also a very important duty. Especially will they feel thus if they have a proper regard for their family, and a due desire for their salvation. Such will often be moved out by God's Holy Spirit to offer up to him prayers and supplications for, and with, their family, with “strong crying and tears,” that they may all escape the wrath to come.

2. The various circumstances in which God's children are placed from time to time, seem to render such a command impracticable. Often it would be, in the case of some inferior members of families, cruelly and bitterly opposed by leading members.

3. The sacred Scriptures furnish us with the example of holy men, those who were bright and shining lights in the world, from which we may gather profitable instruction in favor of the discharge of this duty.

An able writer on this point says:

“There are some very important means of grace, and outward observances, which are plainly implied in the word of God, for the performance of which we have few, if any, positive, plain, and express precepts. We are left to gather them from the examples of holy men, and from various incidental circumstances: such in some degree, is the duty of public, and such more plainly is the duty of family worship.

“The reasons may be these. The Christian dispensation is designed as a religion for people in every country, and in every situation in which a human being can be placed. It is more of a spiritual transaction between God and the soul than the Mosaic dispensation was. Had there then been positive precepts respecting the means of grace, and the circumstances of religion, and particularly respecting time, place, or frequency, the tender conscience, for which God has ever manifested particular regard, would necessarily have been burdened when placed in situations where the duty was impracticable.

“By this, also, another important end is answered. A trial is made of men's spirits. It is seen, whether, because a positive precept cannot be brought requiring its performance, men will neglect a duty plainly implied. Thus more of the real state of our minds is discovered, and it is manifested whether we have, or have not, a full and ardent love for God, his worship and service.

“It will not, however, be difficult to prove the obligation to family worship in various ways.

“Consider the example of Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the friend of God. His family piety is that for which he is blessed by Jehovah himself:

“I know Abraham, that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Abraham is here commended for instructing his children and his household in the most important of all duties, the way of the Lord, great doctrines of religion, and justice and judgment, its great duties. And observe, he will command them; that is, he will use that just authority which God gives the father and the head of a family in the religious instruction of his children. Abraham also prayed with, as well as instructed his family. Wherever he fixed his tent, there he built an altar to the Lord. This we read he did in the plain of Moriah. And when he removed to the mountain on the east of Bethel, there he built an altar, and called upon the name of the Lord. Gen. xii. 7, 8. Now, we may say to those who neglect family worship, that as all real Christians are Abraham's seed, [Gal. iii, 29.] if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. John viii, 39. Your neglect of this duty, tends to show that you do not really belong to Christ.

“The examples of other holy men are similar to that of Abraham. Consider the holy determination of Joshua, who declared to all Israel, Choose ye this day whom ye will serve; as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Josh. xxiv, 15. Neither the exalted station which he occupied, nor the various and pressing public labors, prevented his attention to the religion of his family. When David had brought the ark of God into Jerusalem with gladness, sacrifices and thanksgivings, after discharging all his public duties, and blessing the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, he returned to bless his household. 1 Sam. vi, 20. In addition to these might be brought the examples of Job, [chap. i, 5.] Daniel, [chap. vi, 10.] and others. While the ark rested in the house of Obed-edom, a blessing came upon him and all his household. Would you then obtain the blessing of God on your household, let your family be daily assembled for prayer and praise. Observe the praise given to Cornelius; he was a devout man, and one that feared God, with all his house; which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”

“Family worship, when duly conducted, is attended with many happy effects on your whole family. No wonder that those who neglect this, are continually troubled with the misconduct and perverseness of those under them and about them; no wonder that jarrings, dissensions, and other disagreeable circumstances, are continually disquieting them. It is just what might be expected. How can they, who neglect the worship of God in their families, look for peace, or comfort in them? I am sure, also, that I may confidently appeal to those who have regular and daily family prayer, that, when conducted in a simple and devout spirit, it has a tendency to remove, or allay, all those unhappy passions to which our common nature is subject, and which, more or less, appear in every family. It unites the members of the family together gives the head of it a feeling of tenderness and affection for those under him, and makes them esteem and love him. Some masters are, on this account, almost considered as angels in their families. Cecil says of family worship rightly conducted, it may be used as an engine of vast power in a family. It diffuses a sympathy through the members. It calls the mind off from the deadening effect of worldly affairs. It arrests every member with a morning and evening sermon, in the midst of all the hurries and cares of life. It says, There is a God! There is a spiritual world! There is a life to come! It fixes the idea of responsibility in the mind. It furnishes a tender and judicious father, or master, with an opportunity of gently glancing at faults, where a direct admonition might be inexpedient. It enables him to relieve the weight with which subordination or service often sits on the minds of inferiors.

“Family prayer gains for us the presence and blessing of our Lord. There is a promise of his presence, which appears peculiarly applicable to this duty.Matt. xviii, 19, 20. Many have found in family worship, that help and that communion with God which they had sought for with less effect in private prayer. It was the experience of one Christian, I find more of the presence of God, and more of the real spirit of prayer, in praying with my family, than in almost any other means of grace. Surely, the Christian who really loves his Saviour, would regularly call his family together to pray with him, from this consideration alone, that he might enjoy more of his Lord's presence.”

The blessed effects of family religion no one can estimate now. It will only be realized when the saints are gathered to their long desired and happy home. When the palm, the robe, and the crown are given to him, who through patient continuance in well doing, has gained immortality and eternal life.

In that world of unfading beauty and imperishable happiness, many unbroken families will be gathered to join in the songs of the redeemed, which would have been broken, and most of them perhaps gone down to the “second death,” but for the godly example of some of its members, but for the sound of prayer around the family altar, fervently poured forth from the heart consecrated to God.

O, ye sleeping, half-feeling parents, arouse! awake! speedily to the duty you owe to your family, to your children! We live in the time when God is turning the “heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,” lest the earth be smitten with a curse. Mal. iv.

What are you doing, reader, to save your soul, and the souls of others? Think, O think of the solemn and awful events of the future, I beseech you! Your time to work for God is closing with astonishing rapidity!

But before we pass from the pleasing duty of family prayer, let us for a moment reflect upon the example of the dear Saviour, with his disciples, which may afford us instruction on this subject.

He represents himself as the Master of the house, and the disciples as the household. See John x, 25. Now if we compare the following scriptures together, [Matt. xiii, 51; xvi, 13; Luke ix, 18; xi, 1.] we shall find him often with them, asking them questions, teaching them, and praying with them.

Let none who strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, forget the declaration of John, “He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John ii, 6.

(To be Continued.)