PREFACE.

Ir is acknowledged, with thankfulness to the Great Head of the Church, that Family Prayer has become more general of late years than it used to be, and that there are unnumbered thousands who can bear their testimony to the benefit they have derived, and the comfort they have enjoyed, through its means. It is lamented that there are in our favoured nation any professedly Christian families, by whom this duty and privilege are still neglected, to the injury of their souls and to the dishonour of God. It is impossible for words to express the guilt and the danger of those prayerless families, who never meet together to acknowledge their dependence on God, or confess their obligations to His love and service. If God has revealed His purpose of pouring out His indignation on the heathen, how much more upon those Christian families, who call not upon His name. Every head of a family, who is conscious of the infinite value of the human soul, must be self-condemned in the judgment, if he neglect the spiritual welfare of those who ought, for their good, to be guided by his precepts, governed by his authority, and influenced by his example.

I. How shall this duty be most effectually performed, so as to combine devotion with enjoyment?

Forms of prayer have been represented by some persons as tending to damp our inward devotion, to induce formality and indifference, and to restrain the worshippers from introducing those suitable petitions which may be adapted to the peculiar and ever varying circumstances of this mortal life.

We would observe that forms of prayer should never be so used as to preclude the addition of such petitions as may seem desirable, or adapted to the present condition of the family, neighbourhood, or local circumstances, as the officiating person may think expedient. The success of the ministry, at home and abroad, the blessing to be implored on Missionary labour among Jews and Gentiles, the guidance of Divine Providence upon the governing authorities of the realm-instructing our Princes and teaching our Senators wisdom-are topics which it might be inconvenient to reiterate in ordinary forms, but which should never be omitted as time and occasion shall serve. Experience has shown that an approved form is desirable, and in many instances absolutely necessary, in order to save the social worship of families from the painful use of incoherent and irreverent expressions. In secret and retired communion with God, the contrite sigh and the grateful effusions of the heart, may be offered through the Divine Redeemer, and bring down the answer of peace, without graces of language or ornament of speech. But when the leader of worship, in the social circle, acts as a voice to others, it is needful that there should be a readiness of utterance, and a refined maturity of judgment, to conduct the devotions, without assistance, in an edifying manner. As many pious heads of families do not possess these abilities, and others