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Influence of Family Worship on Individual Piety (3)

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Influence of Family Worship on Individual Piety (3)

5 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Family worship furnishes a means of making increased graces in the head of the household available to the benefit of the members. It is not every sincere servant of Christ, who has the gift of free and acceptable and impressive discourse on divine subjects; though the attainment should be sought by all. The hindrances are various: Lack of education; consciousness of small attainment; slowness of speech; natural diffidence; inexcusable pride or false shame; and a sense of inconsistency in the life. These causes may operate to keep the father of a family in a state of inactive insulation.

Nothing tends so directly to break a channel for right influences, in this respect, as the regular and faithful observance of domestic worship. A word fitly spoken, at such a time, is an apple of gold. A psalm, rightly chosen, and sung with the spirit and understanding, may bear up all hearts to God. A prayer, “in the Holy Ghost,” though issuing from one who has not the lips of the eloquent, may go more deeply into the soul of the prodigal son, or the careless neighbor, than all the sermons of the year. These are influences which are undervalued, because they are not singly powerful, yet when constant, they are mighty; they drop as the rain, and distil as the dew, “as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.” In the day of judgment and revelation, it will perhaps appear, in the case of many, that they have owed more in regard of individual piety to the operation of family religion, than to any single class of causes.

In reckoning the influence of domestic worship, we must reflect, that aside from any thing peculiar, it is just so much added to all the other institutions of religion. It comes day after day, and for a life-time. I have before my mind’s eye “an old disciple,” the son of an old disciple. This ancient servant of God, now eighty-four years of age, has enjoyed this means of instruction and elevation, since he was competent to receive any impression, more than fifty thousand times. Let no one smile at the arithmetic of the statement: it will come home to all the children of the church, in the day when “after a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them” (Mt. 25:19).


In the day of judgment and revelation, it will perhaps appear, in the case of many, that they have owed more in regard of individual piety to the operation of family religion, than to any single class of causes.


But we have conceded too much. Family worship has striking peculiarities of influence. Its lessons and devotions begin at the earliest period, when the infant soul is yielding as wax. Here the father, or the grandfather, or perhaps the Eunice and the Lois (2 Tim. 1:5), reach forth the moulding influence which is to last for life. These means are used in circumstances peculiarly tender, when the heart is above all susceptible; at the home and fireside; among objects of reverence; in the circle of love. Here, if any where, the individual soul will feel the word to be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). Here, if anywhere, the heart will respond to the call of devotion, and be prompted to burst forth in prayer. Here the fainting experience will plume its wings for the attempts of a higher flight; and the joys of a hidden devotion will mingle with the flames of a common altar. Can our Christian life readily sacrifice or forego the aids and comforts of such an institution? Or can he, who has received so great a blessing from the home of his boyhood, willingly deny it to his own offspring?

The truth must not be concealed, that in order to realize these advantages from the worship of God in the household, we must see to it, that it is conducted in a due manner. It must not be a stated formality, however punctual or decorous. It must not be the empty expression of a life which does not exist. It must be approached as if we were going to the very feet of Christ. Those who have it in charge, whether fathers, or mothers, or the elder son, or the Levite under the roof, must be in a state of preparation, and must eye the true import and design of the ordinance. Where these cautions are observed, it will never fail to be a powerful instrument in awakening, edifying, and comforting the individual soul.

Dr. James W. Alexander (1804-185% eldest son of the renowned Archibald Alexander, wrote many volumes on practical Christian themes, including Plain Words to a Young Communicant (1854) and Thoughts on Preaching (1864). This article is drawn from his Thoughts on Family Worship (1847).

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 juni 1987

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Influence of Family Worship on Individual Piety (3)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 juni 1987

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's