‘and being brought under the Power of it.

94- Family-Religion recommehded

the Obligations which bind you in Confcience to the Practice of it, will farther appear, if you confider,

The many Advantages, which will, by the Divine Blefling, attend a proper Difcharge of it. And here, I would more particularly reprefent the good Influence, which Family Devotions are likely to have,—upon the young Perfons committed to your Carer-upon your own Hearts,—and upon the Advancement of a general Re- formation, and the Propagation of Religion to thofe that are yet unborn.

Confider in the firll Place, what is mofi obvious, the happy Influence which the Duty I am recommending might have upon the young Members of your Family, the Cbildren and Servant: committed to your Care. For I now confider you, as a Parent, and a Mailer. ‘Tb: Fatber of a Family is a Phrafe, that comprehends both thefe Relations; and with great Propriety, as Humanity obliges us to endeavour to take a parental Care of all under our Roof. And indeed,

You ought to confider your Ser-‘valzts, in this View, with a tender Regard. They are probably in the Flower of Life, for that is the Age which is commonly fpentin Service ; and you lhould recollect how poflible it is, that this may be, if rightly improved, the belt Opportunity their whole Life may aFord them for learning Religion, If your Ser- vants are already infiruéted in it, by being brought up in Families where thefe Duties have been maintained ; let them not, ifthey fhould finally mifcarry, have Caufe to impure it to you, and to teliify before Goo in the Day of their Condemnation, “ that it was under your “ Roof that they learnt the Neglect and Forgetfulnefs “ of Goo, and of all that their pious Parents, perhaps “ in a much inferior Station of Life to you, had in ear- “ lier Days been attempting to teach them; to teach “ them, in Moments taken from Labour, or from Re- “ pofe alznoit neceiTary' for their Sublillence.” On the other hand, if they come to you quite ignorant of Re- ligion, (as if they come from prayerlefs Families, it is very probable that they do,) have Compafiion upon them, I entreat you, and endeavour to give them thofe Advan-

rages

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