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OFFICES OF DEVOTION

FOR THE

USE OF FAMILIES,

AND FOR

Persons in Various Conditions.

The following admonition, read occasionally before family-wor ship, is very proper to produce seriousness of mind, and to keep up a godly jealousy, lest hypocrisy and formality render this important duty of no use. It is necessary to preserve us from shamefully contradicting in our tempers through the day, the prayers we offer up. This horrid absurdity hath greatly contributed to banish family-worship, as a practice of no benefit.

My Friends and Fellow Christians,

WE, dust and ashes, are now met to call upon the Lord God Almighty. He deserves all possible adoration and reverence. He also strictly charges us to take heed we draw not nigh to him with our lips, whilst our hearts are far from him. He assures us, he will exalt those only who abase themselves, and give grace only to the humble. He is also of purer eyes than to accept our prayers, unless they be of fered up in dependence upon the mediation of Jesus Christ the righteous, our advocate, and the propitiation for our sin.

Now, therefore, may we have grace to lift up our hearts to God with sincerity, reverence, lowliness of mind, and lively faith in Christ; then shall we receive whatever we ask according to his will. With these dispositions, we should at all times desire to pray. So shall our worship be pleasing to God, comfortable to ourselves, and make us excellent in our tempers to every one about us.

Family Prayer for the Morning of the Lord's Day.

ALL praise be given unto thee, O God, our heavenly Father, for this holy day, in which we imitate the company in heaven, whilst we assemble in thy courts on earth.

Instead of rejecting us for our pride, and wilful ignorance, and forgetfulness of thee, thou hast set apart thy day to teach us the knowledge of thy name, and of our own condition. Thou hast commanded us to make public confession of our sins, and thy perfect hatred of them; of our manifold disobedience, and thy amazing forbearance; of our depravity and perpetual need of thy grace. Thou hast commanded us thus to abase ourselves before thee, lest a proud, self-sufficient spirit should destroy us. Thou hast commanded us to make intercession for all men, that our hearts may be enlarged in love towards them, and our hands ready to minister to their necessities. Thou hast sent thy word unto us for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, to make us wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. And thou hast required us to give thee thanks in the great congregation, in order that our hearts may be filled with gratitude to thee for all thy benefits. O how amiable on these accounts, Lord God of hosts, are thy houses in our land! We especially adore thy goodness, in passing over the provocations and insults we have so often repeated, by rushing into thy house, in pride, hypocrisy, and contempt of thy salvation. Instead of cutting us off in this most dreadful state, thou hast been pleased to lay it all open to our view. Therefore we now, on our knees, implore of thee every disposition of heart which can make us acceptable worshippers. O our God, send forth light and truth, forcibly to impress tts with the great importance of the work we have to

do. Shield us from all distractions. Whilst we confess our sins, fill us with deep self-abasement and godly sorrow. Give us to ask in full assurance of receiving the things we need, pardon, righteousness, and strength, from thy love in Christ Jesus. Accompany thy oracles, and the preaching of thy servants with the power of the Holy Ghost, that we may be more wise, and more diligent to follow the examples set before us: that thy judgments and threatenings against transgressors may deter us from walking after the flesh, and the fashion of this world. O that, by hearing thy gospel, we may clearly perceive, and gladly embrace the great salvation it proclaims, and be careful to observe and do whatsoever our Lord commands. And when we offer up our prayers for all estates and conditions of men, give us to feel bowels of mercies, and to beg for their support, deliverance, and salvation, as for our own.

Thou knowest, Lord, our sad condition; that when we would do good, as thy holy law requires, evil is present with us. We would wait upon thee without a wandering thought; but our weakness and depravity, alas! are manifest, after all our endeavours to be wholly taken up in thy service. Arise, O God, and save us from those idle thoughts, which else will hinder our prayers; and though we can have nothing to rejoice in what we do, may we rejoice in thy goodness and tender mercies, in the redemption of our souls by the blood of Jesus, and in thy exceeding great and precious promises.

Thou, Lord, hast appointed pastors and teachers, whose lips should retain knowledge, and the people are to be instructed in thy law from their mouths. We pray thee to give unto them all the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, that they may be taught how to lay, like able builders, the true foundation; and, by their preaching, may

knowledge be increased, and sinners turned from their evil ways. By their preaching, may thy children be comforted and established, the beauty of holiness and the sinfulness of sin be effectually set forth; that after due improvement of thy day, house, and word, we may for ever rejoice in the rest which remaineth for all the people of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Evening Family Prayer on the Lord's Day.

THOU, O Lord our God, art great, wonderful, and holy. Thou art exalted far above all blessings and praise which men or angels can offer; yet thou hast taught us, that whoever offereth thee thanks, he honoureth thee. Much cause have we now to praise thy name for thine ordinances, which we have this day observed. Pardon the iniquity of our holy things, and cleanse us from the defilement cleaving to our best services. Accept our prayers and praises, for the sake and through the intercession of our great and merciful High-Priest. For his sake, O heavenly Father, fulfil all the requests we have made this day before thee, that the benefit we gain in calling upon thy name together may be manifest in our deportment, and felt in our hearts. Thus may we love and serve thee, waiting in joyful hope for that hour when we shall see thee face to face, and know even as we are known.

To thy mercy we recommend all our relations, and all our friends. Enlighten their minds, that they may not profane thy holy day; give them grace to worship thee in spirit and in truth, with the great congregation; to spend their time with joy in retirement, and secret prayer, and meditation upon the multitude of mercies they have received from thy hand.

Visit, O Lord, the nations yet sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. May the day spring from on high shine upon them, to guide their feet into the way of peace. O that the fulness of the Gentiles may come into Christ, and all Israel be saved! O that the mountain of the Lord's house may be esta blished upon the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, and the earth be filled with the glory of the Lord!

We beseech thee, O Lord, to put an end to all idolatry and superstition in the nations called after thy name. Cause the power of godliness to flourish in all thy churches. Utterly destroy formality and hypocrisy amongst the professors of thy holy faith, that there be no offence given to scoffers, or that they should have any cause to say, what advantage does the gospel of Christ impart?

Take us this night, O our God, under the shadow of thy wing. When we awake, may we think of thee: and if our life is spared to the return of day, may we walk in the light of thy countenance, and in all thy commandments blameless. And when our departure is at hand, may we enjoy a sweet foretaste of heavenly bliss, and know, that when we are re moved from waiting upon thee in the courts of thy house below, we shall, with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, for ever laud and magnify thy name, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom be ascribed, as is most due, glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Morning Prayer for a Family.

O BLESSED GOD, who hast so loved the world, as to give thine only begotten Son, to the end that all who believe in him should not perish, but have cternai life, mercifuny look upon us, miserable

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