The Nature and Importance of Family and Closet Religion,
Considered in a Circular Letter from the Baptist Ministers
and Messengers, Assembled at Leicester, May 29, 30 and 31, 1787.Maintaining the important Doctrines of three equal Perfons in the Godhead; eternal and perfonal Election; original Sin; particular Redemption; free Juistification by the imputed Righteoufnefs of Chrift; efficacious Grace in Regeneration; the final Perfeverance of the Saints; and the Independency, or congregational Order of the Churches of Chrift inviolably.
By Robert Hall To the feveral Churches they reprefent, or have received Letters from, meeting at Codnor, Sutton-Afhfield, Nottingham, Sheepfhead, Leicefter, Sutton-in-the-Elms, Arnfby, Clip!lone, Oakham, Gretton, Spalding, Soham, Kettering, Waldgrave, Moulton, Guilfborough, Northampton, Road, Carlton, Olney, Thorn, and St. Alban's.
Grace be unto you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift.
Dear Brethren!
WITH gratitude to our indulgent God, we inform you of our being favoured with another annual interview, and with fuch gracious tokens of his prefence as have rendered the feafon in fome degree pleafing and profitable. The letters from the churches were attended to with fuch fenfations as the different fubjects were calculated to promote. While we mourn over the moral defects particularly in fome, we are very thankful that encouraging accounts were tranfmitted to us from moft of the churches. The means of grace are in general well attended, and in various places evidently bleffed. Several churches which were destitute, are now happily provided with minifters and paftors. The bleffing of peace is enjoyed in our refpective congregations as extenfively as we ever remember it to have been. And in the doorines of rich grace and the intereft of true holinefs, there appears a general and cordial union.For the beftowment, continuance and increafe of fuch bleffings, we truft you will unite with us in prayer and praife. Confider, dear brethren, that genuine dependance on the Lord is infeparably connetted with a clofe confcientious attendance upon him. It is for the promoting of your faith and joy, which are fo intimately connected with a diligent waiting upon God, in all the means of his appointment, that we once more crave your moft ferious attention to our united epiftle.
You have been addreffed for a feries of years with great plainnefs of fpeech, on many precious and important branches of religion. Thefe letters have been the refult of our joint concern to promote in you an
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univerfal conformity to the whole will of God; and knowing the tendency of divine truth in the hands of the Holy Spirit to produce fuch conformity, we have attempted in our annual letters to illuftrate, confirm and improve, feveral of the facred truths of the gofpel. In purfuance of the fame end, we shall this year lay before you the nature and importance of family and clofet religion. Laft year we addreffed you upon the authority and fanctification of the Lord's day, which related chiefly to public worfhip; this year we would turn your attention to that which is more private, but of equal importance.Religion ought to be the main bufinefs of our lives; and religion in the family and the clofet makes a confiderable part of the chriftian life. It is here, if any where, that the true chriftian will be diftinguifhed from others. While many content themfelves with fuch public exercifes as fall under the eye of the multitude, the language of his heart is, As for me, and my houfe, we will ferve the Lord.
We are not without painful apprehenfions that thefe duties are not fo generally and uniformly regarded as they ought. Many wholly defpife and totally neglect them, as accounting them unfafhionable and puritanical; and others who more particularly profefs to be the followers of Chrift, though they may not lay them wholly afide, yet, we are afraid, give them but a very negligent and fuperficial attendance. Thefe things wear a melancholy afpect, and muft give pain to every pious heart. But, brethren, we hope better things of you, though we thus fpeak; yet with our hope you will allow us to exercife a godly jealoufy over you. To fay the leaft, you find your temptations, difficulties, and difcouragements in the exercife of thefe duties; a word of caution, direction and encouragement, therefore, cannot be unfeafonable.
FAMILY RELIGION includes not merely a fingle act of devotion, but extends to the feveral duties which devolve upon us as the heads of fuch collective bodies. Its exercifes might perhaps be rendered more pleafureable and advantageous by confidering its different branches, and fo managing our affairs as to give each branch its proper place. Catechizing and privately inftructing at feafonable opportunities, we prefume, would be but fulfilling the truft we owe to our domeftics. Ignorance, prejudice and pride, are the attendants of human nature; all concur to render inftruction neceffary. Inform them of their condition as fallen creatures, the impoffibility of enjoying God in fuch circumfiances; with the neceffity of a divine change in heart and life; inftruct them alfo in the riches and freenefs of the grace of Chrift, and his fufficiency and fuitablenefs to perfons in their circumftances!
Reading fome part of the holy fcriptures fhould likewife be an ordinary part of our family worfhip. We with you, brethren, not only to fearch the fcriptures daily for yourfelves, but to read them, or caufe them to be read in your families; and that conftantly and carefully. There is no inftruction like that which is derived from the word of God. It was of old enjoined Ifrael, faying, Ye fhall lay up thefe my words in your heart, and in your foul; - and ye fhall teach them your children, fpeaking of them when thou fitteft in thine houfe, and when thou walkeft by the way, when thou lieft down, and when thou rifeft up. It is recorded to the honour, it fhould feem, of Eunice the mother of Timothy, that from a child he had known the holy fcriptures.*
At proper feafons it might affift our devotion, and keep up a greater
----------------- * Deuteronomy xi, 18, 19. 2 Timothy iii, 15.
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variety in our worfhip, to fing a few verfes of a pfalm or hymn. Such a practice, where it may comport with family circuftances, and can be conducted with order and regularity, may be of an enlivening tendency; but where it is otherwife, it is better omitted, as it would add neither folemnity nor fweetnefs to our worlhip.+At all events attend to family prayer; let not this he omitted on any avoidable account whatever. Let it be regular and conftant; and this, we apprehend, it cannot be, unlefs it be daily. Chrift taught his difciples to pray for fpiritual bleffings as often as they prayed for their daily bread.x On many accounts it is fuitable to begin and end the day with prayer; in the morning to acknowledge God's watchful care through the night, to intreat his prefence and bleffing through the enfuing day; and at evening to adore him for the bounties of the paft day, to bewail our imperfections, plead his divine promifes, and commit all our concerns into his hands. Prayer is the key, which in the morning opens to us the treafures of God's mercy, and in the evening fhuts us up, as it were, under his protection and fafeguard.
It is difficult to give particular diretlions refpecting the moft proper mode of conducting this fervice. Your circumftances and occupations are fo various, that perhaps no determinate rule could be given to which all families could accede. We can only fay, therefore, in general, brethren, that fuch a feafon fhould be chofen as is leaft liable to interruption; and when all, or moft of your domeftics can attend. Beware efpecially of putting off the fervice too long, left the world engrofs thofe thoughts that fhould be otherwife employed. If the mind is once keenly fet on worldly concerns, it will exceedingly damp and deaden the heart to holy duties. As earth caft upon the fire puts it out; fo the world, when it fpreads over the affections, muft ftrangely damp that holy flame that fhould afcend up to heaven in our facrifices. You know, brethren, it is not eafy to rife under a heavy load; nor to fummon the foul in a moment from the world, to attend upon God wirh becoming folemnity and fpirituality. God requires, and is wortiy of the firft-fruits of our time, attention, and affections. Never let us offer him the lame and the blind in our facrifices; but go when we can wait upon him with moft freedom of fpirit.
At evening as well as morning prayer, late fervices fhould as much as poffible be avoided. How unfit are we for the worfhip of God when our animal frame is nearly exhaufted, and our fenfes in a fort locked up; with what pleafure can we reflect upon thofe fervices in which the bodies of at leaft fome in the family, even while proftrate before the Lord, have been overcome with drowfinefs!
If you read a part of God's word, or fing, as well as pray in your families, care fhould be taken that you do not run to an inconvenient length. We apprehend that fome good people have protraCted their prayers far beyond the bounds of prudence; as they not only weary and difguft many of their domeftics, and fo render the fervice irkfome; but likewife go beyond the fervour of their own affections. Hence it is that a difagreeable languor, and unpleafing tautology are generally the attendants of fuch fervices. We wifh you, brethren, to be more particular
----------------- + We would here recommend a Selection of Hymns lately publifhed by our brother Rippon of London, which is not defigned to fet afide the Pfalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts, which are fo generally ufed and fo juftly efteemed in our churches but to ferve as an Appendix to them, on which account none of his pfalms and hymns are included in this felection, but a great variety of the beft hymns from a number of either author, with many originals never before publifhed.
x Matthew vi. 9-13.
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with refpect to the folemnity and fpirituality of your devotions, than the length to which they fhall be extended. Confider yourfelves as prophets and priefts in your refpective families: - As prophets, give them inftruction, rebuke, exhort, admonifh; be not indifFerent to immoralities in fervants, for if let alone, they may bring your children to ruin. Read the 101ft pfalm upon this fubject; it is an exceilent pfalm upon family government. - As priefts, collect the offerings, the guilt, the miferies, the neceffities of your families, and prefent them before the Lord. When you approach the throne of grace, think with holy Job, It may be, that my fons, or fervants have finned againft the Lord - It may be fome of them never pray for themfelves. Make thofe cafes your own which once were your own! While you have a God to go to, fay with Samuel, God forbid that I fhould fin againft the Lord, in ceafing to pray for you! - While you are thus prefenting the offerings of your families, take ehcouragement from the many great and precious promifes, the purport of all which, is, that God never faid to the feed of Jacob, feek ye my face in vain. Keep your eye alfo upon the blood of iprinkling; never forget your great high-prieft, through whofe inter ceffion all your prayers are accepted, and all Jehovah's promifes fulfilled. Confider yourfelves as prophets and priefts in your refpective families: - As prophets, give them inftruction, rebuke, exhort, admonifh; be not indifferent to immoralities in fervants, for if let alone, they may bring your children to ruin. Read the 101ft pfalm upon this fubject; it is an excellent pfalm upon family government. - As priefts, collect the offerings, the guilt, the miferies, the neceffities of your families, and prefent them before the Lord. When you approach the throne of grace, think with holy Job, It may be, that my fons, or fervants have finned againft the Lord - It may be fome of them never pray for themfelves. Make thofe cafes your own which once were your own! While you have a God to go to, fay with Samuel, God forbid tbat I fhould fin againft the Lord, in ceafing to pray for you! - While you are thus prefenting the offerings of your families, take ehcouragement from the many great and precious promifes, the purport of all which, is, that God never faid to the feed of Jacob, feek ye my face in vain. Keep your eye alfo upon the blood of fprinkling; never forget your great high-prieft, through whofe interceffion all your prayers are accepted, and all Jehovah's promifes fulfilled.While we recommend a diligent, regular, and conftant attention to the religion of the family, we wifh you, brethren, not to forget that of the CLOSET. By clofet religion is intended thofe tranfactions which take place between God and our own fouls in private. To this exercife our Lord counfels his difciples, faying, Enter thy clofet, and when thou haft fhut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in fecret, and thy Father who feeth in fecret fhall reward thee openly.* If this is neglected, our fouls can never profper; and furely we would not wifh to watch over our families, as over the vineyard of others, and at the fame time neglect our own.
The great end of clofet devotion is the exercife of grace in one's own foul, to which end it feems better adapted than the more public devotions of the family. There we are under a kind of neceffity to feek out acceptable words, and to exercile our gifts, feeing what is done is not only for our own profit, but as well for the edification of others; but here we may exprefs our defires even in groans which cannot be uttered. Provided that our fpirits are but reverent, it matters not though the connexicn of words be broken and incoherent. Yes, here we may pray, and paufe, reflect and pray again. There are various perfonal concerns which we cannot exprefs with freedom before any creature; bitterneffes which our own hearts only know, and must know; but here we may pour out our whole foul! We may confefs our brutifh ignorance, without fear of being upbraided; bewail our moft fecret fins without danger of being expofed; in a word, we may carry our burdens, whatever they be, and caft them upon the Lord, and find reft to our fouls.
Let us, in the next place, point out to you, dear brethren, the importance of the duties, the nature and manner of conducting which we have attempted to explain. Family religion is both ancient and honourable; and is a dury incumbent upon all heads of families, (except fuch as labour under natural inability) and that from the very nature of things. We might challenge the moft irreverent and fneering deift to prove any thing irrational or unworthy of a man in any of thefe facred devotions. Yea, he muft not only take leave of chriftianity, but of rationality and common fenfe ere he can vindicate himfelf in the neglect of them. He may affect
----------------- * Matthew vi. 6.
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to laugh at fuch exercifes as the attendants of fanaticifm, the effects of fuperftious zeal, or low prejudices, or as making an oftentatious and needlefs parade; but all this is againft his own confcience, and merely for the purpofe of keeping himfelf in countenance in iniquity. Let him only put off the buffoon and affume the man, and one might afk him a few fuch queftions as the following; - What can be more becoming a dependent slate than to pay our united homage to the author of our being, and the fupreme governor of the world? Can any thing more fignificantly befpeak an ingenuous temper, or adminifter a greater fatisfaction to our moft refined feelings, than the exercifes of penitential devotion? Can there be a more fublime pleafure, or a more advantageous employ, than to contemplate the fource of all excellencies, and unbofom our fouls before him who feels for us, and fays, Caft thy burden upon me? Are no acknowledgements due to the divine Being from us as creatures? Have we no farther need of his protecting care; no more occafion for the bleffings of his goodnefs?Perfons of the above defcription, whenever they think proper to introduce the divine Being into their difcourfe, love to fpeak of him merely as the Father of his creatures. We might afk then, is it unworthy of the character of children to prefent themfelves before a parent, to exprefs their wants and commit themfelves to his protection? yea, and if they have offended him, is it a mean thing to acknowledge that offence, and implore forgivenefs? rather, is it not a mean thing, and the mark of a vagabond fpirit, when we have offended God, to fly from him, and try to forget our wretchednefs by wallowing in the mire of fenfual and fordid gratdications? King David, upon his dying bed, gave this charge to his fon Solomon, I go the way of all the earth; - SHEW THYSELF A MAN; - keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his ftatutes and his commandments!*
That avowed libertines fhould negleCt thefe duties, however, is no wonder; communion with God would not fuit or confilt with their courfe of life; but that any who profe!s to fear God, and to expect f~lvation by the Lord Jefus Chrill, thould Jive in fuch negleCt, is 1\r:..nge indeed. It feems there have been char<.Clers in the wor!J who have made great pro fdiion of religion, have given contlant attendance at the puhlic worfhip of God, and have appeared co entertain no doubts whatever of the {afcty of their own fiate, who neverthelcfs have lived in the habitual omifiion of thefe duties; and that under a pretence th:!t they lead to pbarifaical pride. We hope, dear brethren, that fuch notions and fuch praCtices are far from. you! It mu!t be very difficult to account for fuch perfons being full of Jove to God, and yet to have none for the fouls of their children and de pendants; or for their great regard to the gofpel while they are cnemie! to the law, which enjoins us to love our neighbour as oUJfelves. Beiides. who moft refembles the proud pharifee; he whofe religion is merely in public, where he is ftm ofmesr, or he who carries his religion horne to his: family, and his clofet? charaClns of the above defcription are not lo muclt to be rea{oned with, as rebuked and ihunned, that they r.nay be aihamed.