But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
— Job 4:5-6
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
— Job 6:14
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
— Job 5:8
Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
— Job 27:10
Five Minutes’ Advice to Prayerless Persons and Families, by Robert Hawker.
Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
— JOB XV. 4
I consider prayerless hearts as so many defenceless citadels, lying open and exposed to the incursion of every foe; whereas the houses of the truly devout are like castles in which the Lord dwells, and which are garrisoned with the Divine Presence.
The great and pressing claims of prayer, considered as a means of grace, are so fully allowed by every one of common sense and common reason to be positive and indispensable, that there can be but one character upon earth who will presume to question or deny them. He, and he only, will do it, who hath thrown off all sense of religion, and hath dared to say with his mouth, what hitherto the fool hath only ventured to suggest in his heart, that “there is no God.”
It is not, therefore, to confirm the positiveness of the duty, neither is it to give conviction of what no reasonable man can want to be convinced of, that these Five Minutes’ Advice are offered; but it is to warn those who profess in words to believe, but neglect to carry it into practice, that something more is necessary than the mere consent of the understanding, in the great concerns of religion.
Among many apparently well-disposed persons, there are not a few who are, like Agrippa, but almost Christians; and, among others, the numbers are, perhaps, as many who, like Nicodemus, though they own Christ in their hearts, are afraid to profess him openly. Would to God the former would seriously consider the extreme folly of halting between two opinions; and that the latter would frequently place before him those awful sentences pronounced by the blessed Author of our religion on this culpable timidity—”He that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God; and whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels.”
An awakened sense of the infinite importance of the great duty of prayer; an increasing apprehension of the danger of living without it; a serious concern for the souls of all such unthinking characters; and an earnest desire of contributing, though in the smallest degree, as an instrument in the Divine Hand, to stir up the minds of men to a proper regard to it; these are the causes which have prompted the author of this little work to try somewhat out of the common way, in order to awaken, if possible, a spirit of piety in the land; and may He, who alone can give energy to what is said, bless the labours to the end intended!
The writer presumes, that ” Five Minutes’ Advice” on so important a subject, cannot be considered tedious by any one; and he presumes also, that the most busy life will not complain much of the impertinence of so short an interruption; and, if he were to add any thing farther to these considerations, by way of gaining the indulgence of a favourable hearing, he would say moreover, that as the object in view, in giving the advice here offered, does not proceed from any interested views in the writer, he should suppose there would need no stronger reason to persuade the reader to regard it.
My brother, consider well these arguments before thou refusest the advice here offered thee; and do not turn from it with a fastidious indifference and disregard. Alas! if the world could but see the thick film of prejudices with which the eye of the understanding, in a state of nature, is darkened, how gladly would they accept of any help which might place them in the way of its removal !
The almost Christians, like Agrippa, who were just now mentioned, and the half-believers, like Nicodemus, both need nothing more than the frequent recollection of the unpardonable duplicity of an unsettled and wavering conduct; and of the increased condemnation which must finally fall on such in the great day of account. Reader, art thou ashamed of prayer? ashamed of that which is the distinguishing character of man, and the noblest privilege with which he is furnished? Anticipate, I beseech thee, that hour when the shame will be on the opposite side of the question; when it will not be the shame of man; of of a poor fleeting creature of a day, like thyself; but the shame of an offended God, an injured Redeemer, and the presence of the whole world of congregated beings, at the judgment-seat of Christ!
But while the author of this little work looks up to God with an eye of humble supplication, that his grace may bless these considerations to both these sorts of prayerless persons, he cannot but more earnestly implore the Divine Goodness that they may affect prayerless families.
It is to rouse inconsiderate, unnatural, and thoughtless fathers, parents, and masters, for which these hints are given —it is to convince them of their iniquity and their danger; for to their shameful neglect of this necessary duty, must, in a great measure, be ascribed the prevalence of profaneness and impiety which abound in life; and, oh! that all such would but duly consider what a brutal part they are acting towards those whom the ties of nature and affection have so intimately linked together, that they should be so anxious as they are to see them “labouring for the meat that perisheth,” and not bestow a thought or concern how they may obtain “that bread which endureth to everlasting life !”
Reader, art thou a parent, a father, or a master? Awake to the duties of these high characters! Consider the souls of thy household as entrusted in some sort to thee, and suffer not “those souls to perish” through thy neglect, for whom Christ died. How agonizing will be the interview between such cruel and irreligious parents and their unhappy children at the last day! What dreadful reproaches! How painful the accusations which the children will throw upon them! And with what a piercing bitterness will the sound of their cries enter into their ears! and let it be observed that these matters will be in an increased proportion of evil between those tender relations, where the parent hath attended to every thing in this life for his child’s interest but the “one thing needful.” The more solicitous and provident he hath proved, as the father and the friend, in the concern of this world’s good, the more bitter will be the reflection, for not having regarded the important concerns of a better. Let the mind conceive, if possible, the horrors with which the prayerless father will hear the accusation from the son or daughter of his own bosom, in terms perhaps like these —”Ah, cruel parent! was this the seeming tenderness with which you studied my happiness in yonder world, in contriving every amusement and pleasure for my enjoyment, while leaving me ignorant of that in which alone true happiness is founded, and for the want of which I am miserable for ever?”
Reader, art thou a parent? and dost thou call thyself a tender parent? wouldest thou be displeased to be accused of inattention to thy children’s welfare? Attend, then, to that which concerns their welfare indeed! even their eternal welfare; and know, that void of this, though thou labourest night and day for their earthly comfort, and though thou leavest behind thee the richest worldly possessions to thy children, and to thy children’s children, yet art thou infinitely worse and more foolish than the senseless ostrich of the wilderness, who “leaveth her eggs in the dust,” and is regardless of every attention to her young. Oh, may the eye that reads this, if he stands in either of the relative situations of the head of a family, and is among the unhappy characters who neglect household devotion, be awakened to an instant discharge of it! and may the prime Mover and Hearer of all prayer be graciously pleased to pour out the Spirit of supplication upon him from on high!
But perhaps thou art one of those who art so far awakened as to feel an anxiety for thy own personal salvation, and art attending upon the means of grace thyself, but hast not set up religion in thine house. This is one of those unaccountable problems which excites the wonder of men and angels. What a contradiction is such a man’s life to himself! Anxious to discharge one duty, and neglectful of all the rest! In secret serving God, but ashamed to do it openly ! It would be a most unnecessary service to offer any argument upon this point. A moment’s reflection is enough to convince every man of this complexion both of his iniquity and his danger. Awake, awake, therefore, from this delusion, and let not the fear of Man any longer bring a snare. Attend only to that cutting expostulation of God by the prophet, which is enough to drive out all lesser fears: “Who art thou that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be as grass, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker?” May this awful consideration be so accompanied with divine grace as to operate to the purpose intended!
I fear the five minutes I requested, is nearly, if not quite exhausted, and therefore, reader, I take my leave. Farewell! Let not a stranger, and perhaps unknown, feel this concern for thy eternal salvation, and thou remain uninterested. Add but thy prayer to his, and God will bless the means to the end intended: and however the fashion of the world may be against this great duty a world whose customs are declared enmity to God; however “fools make a mock of sin, and scorners delight in scorning,” let nothing intimidate thee from taking up the resolution of Joshua, and saying “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
To assist in the execution of this desirable purpose, and that none may want a proper form of devotion, here are added short Prayers both for morning and evening service in a family, and also an additional help for the Lord’s Day. They are not given as perfect models, but merely as helps to devotion. The great principles, by which the Christian religion is peculiarly distinguished, are carefully preserved in them; and though they are by no means meant to fetter the spirit of piety to those who need no form of prayer, yet it is to be hoped they will answer the purpose to those that do. Gladly would the author throw them aside, was that blessed effect more generally manifested in the world, which is promised of God, when “a Spirit of grace shall be poured out from the Lord;” and when the Spirit shall so plentifully be helping our infirmities, as to teach us in our hours of devotion, what to speak; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but, in the mean time, we are admonished not to despise the day of small things.
Such as they are, they are humbly offered to those who may stand in need of helps of this nature; and the author can only earnestly pray to God that a divine blessing, like that which distinguished the fleece of Gideon, by the dew falling upon it, while all the
earth around was without moisture, may be sensibly felt by ” all that in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus;” distinguishing them from those prayerless families who live “without God in the world,” and lie down and rise up like the herd of the stall, never saying ” Where is God our Maker?”
It would, perhaps, much conduce to the infusing a spirit of piety in a family and especially among the younger branches of it if a short Admonition was sometimes made use of by the head of it, before the Prayers were begun. Such, for example, as the following :
“We are going to take upon us, who are but sinful dust and ashes, to speak unto the High and Holy One, who inhabiteth Eternity; who dwelleth in that light which no man can approach to; and to whose mercy-seat we cannot draw nigh but through the merits and intercession of our ever-blessed Redeemer: with what reverence and godly fear ought we to approach him! Let our souls be awfully impressed with becoming sentiments of the lowest humility; and let us beg of God, that such a sense of his divine Majesty may possess every faculty of our nature, that we may never be in danger of “drawing nigh unto him with our mouth, and honouring him with our lips, while our hearts are far from him.”
“With every holy disposition of soul, and with a lively faith in God’s mercy, through Christ, let us now fall upon our knees, and present our supplications at the footstool of his grace.”
MORNING PRAYER FOR A FAMILY
O LORD God, most high, most holy, and most gracious, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of our nature, the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God.
We draw nigh to thee through the prevailing intercession, and atoning merits of Christ!-and as we approach thy awful presence, Lord, quicken us by thy Holy Spirit to call upon thy name! Put words. into our mouth, that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts may be always acceptable in thy sight!
We desire to adore thy divine Majesty, and to worship thee with humble reverence ! Thou art infinitely wise, powerful, and gracious, far above all our highest thoughts, and above all our warmest praises! But we implore grace to present our morning sacrifice of thanksgiving, that thou hast brought us to the light of another day, and raised us from the bed of sleep in peace and safety. Praised be thy goodness, O God, for these and all our other undeserved mercies! Let our souls praise the Lord, and all that is within us bless his holy name !
But when, from considering the greatness and goodness of thy nature, we return to the recollection of ourselves, how utterly unworthy are we to come into thy holy presence! Thou art in Heaven, and we upon earth. Our being is but of yesterday, and our foundation in the dust. Born in sin, and living in transgression, how have we offended from tour. childhood to this very hour, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us!
But, Lord, take away the guilt of our sins by the atoning merits of Christ’s blood! Subdue the power of our iniquities by thy holy Spirit. Pity, O heavenly Father, the blindness of our nature, and the corruption of our hearts! Work in us sincere repentance: it is thou only that canst give us this gift, or renew a right spirit within us. Form us after thine own image, which was lost by the sin of our first parents, and preserve us from all the dangers to which we are exposed, amidst the several enemies of our salvation!
Let thy providences be all sanctified, whether of affliction or prosperity; – let thy mercies draw us nearer to thyself; and let thy chastisements have this intended effect upon our hearts, to wean us from sin, to mortify us to the world, and to keep us in a constant readiness to depart from it.
If it be thy blessed will, continue to us the mercies of health and prosperity, and give us grace in the midst of all to expect and to be ready for a change; and, as in a day or an hour, our prosperity may be turned into adversity, our health into pining sickness, and our very life into death, -O, merciful Lord, establish us, we pray thee, in Christ Jesus; seal us for thy faithful people; give us the earnest of thy Holy Spirit, and let holiness to the Lord” be inscribed upon all we are, and all we do or say; Lord, strengthen us this day mightily by thy Spirit in the inner man!-whatever temptations we may meet with from the world, from the powers of darkness, or in ourselves, enable us to overcome!-and do thou keep us by thy grace, both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls!
As we are required, so would we cheerfully testify a true and Christian love and charity to the whole race of men, by remembering them in our prayers. O thou Almighty Maker of the spirits of all flesh, blocks in formation look down and pity a lost, miserable world! Send the light of thy gospel into the dark corners of the earth, until thou hast brought all to the knowledge of the truth, and made every knee to bend to the name of Jesus! Particularly bless the preaching of righteousness in this land, to which we belong! May the purity of our faith be manifested by the piety of our lives! and may we live as the redeemed of the Lord! and while we pray for the people of this land, we would yet more immediately desire a blessing on this our house and family! That thou, who makest men to be of one mind in a house, wouldst inspire all the members of it with a spirit of love and concord; and let this benefit be always produced from our prayers, that we may rise from our knees with such refreshments of grace as may manifest to each other, and to the world, that a true spirit of piety lives in our souls, by that spirit of love and unity with which, as brethren, we dwell together!
Comfort and protect all our absent friends and benefactors! Sanctify to them their condition, whatever it may be; visit and relieve the oppressed; pity, Lord, and in thy own appointed time relieve the sick, and sanctify the afflictions of their bodies to the endless comfort of their souls; instruct the ignorant, reclaim the disobedient, and them that are out of the way, and let sinners be converted unto thee. Bless our enemies, and do good to them that hate us! and bring into the bonds of Christian fellowship all that are at variance, that it may be known whose disciples we are by our love to one another!
Finally, Lord, while we thus implore the continuance of mercies, accept all that our cold hearts can offer of thankfulness for those already received; for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of our lives; but, above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ!
Accept all our petitions through his prevailing name and powerful intercession; to whom, with thee, and the Holy Ghost, we desire to ascribe all praise, and glory, and honour, both now and for ever! Amen.
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