The Bible prayer book: for family worship...

Front matter

ibxam of ®o\\ps$$

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Part First. Family And Closet

1. Duty of worship — Scriptures. Hymn. Devotional Meditation 28

2. Examples of worship. — Scrip., etc 29

3. Institution of the family. — Scrip., etc. t 31

4. Religious education of children. — Scrip., etc. 33

5. Counsel to children. — Scrip., etc. 35

DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.

6. God omnipotent. — Scrip., etc 87

1. God omniscient. — Scrip., etc 39

8. God omnipresent. — Scrip., etc. 40

9. God eternal. — Scrip., etc 42

10. God beneficent. — Scrip., etc. 44

11. God holy.— Scrip., etc. 46

LORD'S PRAYER.

12. God our Father. — Scrip., etc 48

13. God's name hallowed. — Scrip,, etc 50

14. God's reign contemplated. — Scrip., etc 52

15. Providential care acknowledged. — Scrip., etc 54

16. Forgiveness implored. — Scrip., etc 56

Vlll CONTENTS.

PA6B

17. Temptations deprecated. — Scrip., etc 58

18 God's sovereignty acknowledged. — Scrip., etc 60

19. Decalogue. 62

20. First commandment. — Scrip., etc 64

21. Second commandment. — Scrip., etc 66

22. Third commandment. — Scrip., etc 67

23. Fourth commandment. — Scrip., etc 69

24. Fifth commandment. — Scrip., etc 71

25. Sixth commandment. — Scrip., etc 73

26. Seventh commandment. — Scrip., etc 74

27. Eighth commandment. — Scrip., etc 76

28. Ninth commandment. — Scrip., etc 78

29. Tenth commandment.— Scrip., etc 79

SO. First great commandment. — Scrip., etc 81

81. Second great commandment. — Scrip., etc 83

BEATITUDES.

32. Poor in spirit blessed. — Scrip., etc. 86

33. Mourners. — Scrip., etc 88

34. Meek.— Scrip., etc 90

35. Hungering after righteousness. — Scrip., etc 92

36. Merciful.— Scrip., etc 94

37. Pure in heart. — Scrip., etc 97

38. Peace-makers. — Scrip., etc 99

39. Persecuted for righteousness' sake, blessed. — Scrip., etc 101

40. Reviled. — Scrip., etc 104

41. Sinfulness of man. — Scrip., etc , 106

42. Condemnation of man. — Scrip., etc 108

43. Restoration of man. — Scrip., etc 110

45. Divinity and ministry of the Holy Spirit. — Scrip., etc 112

46. Final happiness of the righteous. — Scrip., etc 114

47. Final punishment of the wicked. — Scrip., etc 116

48. Lord's Day morning. — Scrip., etc 118

49. Lord's Day morning. — Scrip., etc. 119

CONTENTS. IX

PAGE

50. Lord's Day evening. — Scrip., etc 121

51. Lord's Day evening. — Scrip., etc 122

Part Second. Public And Occasional "worship

62. Dedication of a place of worship. — Scrip., etc 143

63. Constitution of a church. — Scrip., etc 146

64. Church discipline. — Scrip., etc 148

65. Ordination of a pastor. — Scrip., etc 150

66. Deacons. — Scrip., etc 153

67. Baptism. — Scrip., etc 154

68. Lord's Supper. — Scrip., etc 156

69. Funerals and afflictions. — Scrip., etc 160

70. Funerals and afflictions. — Scrip., etc 162

71. Funerals and afflictions. — Scrip., etc 165

72. Funerals and afflictions. — Scrip., etc. 168

73. Charitable collections. — Scrip., etc 169

74. Evangelical associations. — Scrip., etc 172

75. Evangelical associations. — Scrip., etc. 174

76. Missionary meetings. — Scrip., etc 177

77. Missionary meetings. — Scrip., etc 179

X CONTENTS.

PAGE

78. Bible meetings. — Scrip., etc 182

79. Civic meetings. — Scrip., etc 185

80. Civic meetings. — Scrip., etc 188

81. Industrial meetings. — Scrip., etc 190

82. Public thanksgiving. — Scrip., etc 194

83. Public fast.— Scrip., etc 198

84. Peace meetings. — Scrip., etc 201

85. Temperance meetings. — Scrip., etc 203

86. Meetings in behalf of the Jews.— Scrip., etc 206

87. Meetings in behalf of seamen. — Scrip., etc 208

88. Educational meetings. — Scrip., etc 212

89. Meetings of the young. — Scrip., etc 215

90. Female meetings. — Scrip., etc 218

91. Musical conventions 221

Part Third. Brief Devotional Meditations For Particular Occasions

92. Last evening of the old year 223

93. First morning of the new year 224

94. Christmas morning 226

95. Christmas evening. 226

96. Spring 227

98. Autumn 229

100. Harvest 230

101. Rain after long drought 230

102. Fair weather after much rain 231

103. Fair weather 231

104. When a member of the family is sick 232

CONTENTS. XI

PAGE

105. When a member of the family ia dangerously ill 232

106. For recovery of a member of a family from sickness 233

107. Upon the death of dear friends 234

108. Contemplating a journey , 235

109. Returning from a journey 236

110. A friend at sea 237

111. Return from sea. .. , 237

112. Woman in travail 237

113. Happy Deliverance 237

114. A youth going abroad 238

115. A youth going from home to school 238

116. For children in ordinary circumstances 238

117. For Sunday Schools 240

118. For criminals in prison 241

119. For criminals about to suffer capital punishment 241

120. Before meat 243

121. After meat 244

1 P

* ct rf^ ^ rf^ *^ ^ ^ rfi. hU >U V W W K) iO tO *- 1 s— a — ji— * ACOK)MO^CO<lOi^WteMO<!WWOOWW^yiWtOQO<JOlj^W^M

S a ft en

! I ft

*0

HO»00»J05W*.WbSl-' OlCOKJOD-IOiOltO— CO 00 05 *>. W to — CO O >*». W ir

i y

F

P

(0Q0^)OiW.6.WtfMOffl00v|O]0li(i.WK)i-Ot00D<IfflOI*.WK)M g B § p ft fed bd g. g ft

UUUtSM h-i MMHH

(0Q0OK)O-J0)WO00«J0!VlfrU»0MWt5-Ot0Q0vI0ifei*.UlS r 1

QD00g0-^rJ~3^I^J^l<j<JO5aiO5aiC5O5CnOitnWCnOiOi>t».>«i.i^.*.*>

(2"

P

8 F S-

P ft

<»ose*i^w«ch-i->©ooo<io>iyi*.wK£©ffl<io50**».wi->Swto!5o ft

!S*.tawow^«oo)ww-!oooa*.Knoooovjo)*.K)o»JO)Sn»MO

F

86,87

92, 93

95, 96

97,98

99, 101

110, 111

112, 114

116, 117

120, 122 a a fcq

as £§

Co •

lbs

Snhj

I

1 >3

W!0(^ffiOH'*»o(oa)iaeto(5iintot'i»o>ortnmoi^ocaO'-M NS)(N«MnnM«nn«j' . s* s< ©* s< <x s* co co co CO co co eo co ■* .

S id g

■*uococ<coTpioco-"cr*«Tt<i-i<N«^^G*M^ini-i«cocNM-<*<i«coi-i

if Sis ss a

►3 8 rH rM — 1 r- oo os co co -*> o» FiN«*wot'00050-ie»«'*io!D^xao r-t©»lrt00 OJ Or-(« CO rJilO CO i>00 OI^OO O rH «MO Oi S —> ^COQOOIO'H'* CO CO CO CO CO T tJ< i* Tf tjh rf ^ ■■* rf i-i—ii-i i-l i— i-H — i-( i-l 3* (J* <N

a a

I a >

CO O 03

go o o

(4 n CK d

a s>

as .s

| rH««^w t0 ^ooo J o- 23? , S!5SS ao 2 o s g.« SS »^aDOo-

I

"tooiN «> ©»* co co oo a ? o o i

* 1 a

1 1 a a

S

CO CO tO tO tO tO tO tO tO tO iO (0 ! — M i-^ M 1— ' >— » ^ — » ^- t— ' 1

£ ~ -S Sc -5 ~ ot iu ;o r. — crox-ic-. o-< ** to to — oooooa w^ww- !

to

O

>s«iii(0(a»Mi-i-'WHMWi-i- towtowhoiototoi-"-'

o e-i

a 5 h- to h- Cn *> to tO " tn >*- to tO H- > to CO — ' © CO 00 <J OS tn *■ CO tO i-" to to " to a

3 r fO tO tO lO tO tO tO tO I- 1 H H W F-i M l-J >— .— !-i r*

00 CO tO tO tO tO tO tO tO tO tO tO i— — ' l-i h-i " ^ — l— l— fc-i I — C(OQO«jaWibWtO- ©CO00O030t*.C0t0v-©C©00<10Siyi*.t0t0l-> 1 tO tO tO tO tO i-i l-i h- i— l-i l-i i-> l-i i-i h-i * rf>. to to to to to to to to to to

Q to WtO >—

JO to tO j-t-i h- to © o o 00 tO O OS *■ — . B" S* D*

to to to co to to to to ta to to to to to ^- — i-i*- t-i i-i -.--<• v « » -J OS ** to to *- o CO -1 os in >*>. to i— CO 00 -J Oi tO O CO 00 OS *»• to vx *• to to p

£ as a a

r 3

tototoi-ieotoeotototototototototototo^-i-ii-ii-ii-ii— umuh

" (StSHMM^MMMUWH tO tO tO tO tO ^ ■-■ I-" >-■ tOtOtOtOtOtOtOtOtOtOtO— >— >—*->— mmhh p— I O CO 00 -J cs Cn *• to tO — © CO 00 -4 OS in >*>. CO tO h- O CO 00 -I OS in ** CO tO w 1

I?

05^tWltOtOOCOOO^}OS*.OD05*.10tOOCOOO<!ClOn*.tOl-'i— CO00-JOS g

a i

H

W

in JO J^J^i •Pj'M i 55 i* ?°

00<J-J<l^<I^-^<JOSCSO3CSt^e^C^C^C^C^CVli*».>b-*.vto.*.iC'rfk>^tOtO ©CC00~3OS>^tOt0h-0D^]Olt0COa0<tOl0Ol— OCOOOMOli^COHOffltt a O

I • g a

O) p-

OStn>«^tOtO^-tOtO>— OCO00<JOS Uli*ktOtOi-iOSOl^CO<JO5CriOSCO0D<»

Pi

p w

p cd

OQ ■— <N CO ■* o 'iCMCOtJ<>CJOi>OOOJO>-i«NW<!f>0{oi>ooo>Oi-i< , <»

S.B .cb ® £

CO O OT3.2

-Teo QO-d^Mr^pTwr ,-h" i-T ,-T bo ,d efrfo "' 'V* ra. cf

S Ocg J "£ p, W N * c o is- « i — a w

pq

o

•a

<M

Is !■§ lrH | I i

HS 2W I fi fi i

B C '- , O

00— iTtilOOOOHfl^ifltCl-OmMW^lfltCt^QOOO- IMn*K5»t* G-} - M CO •>* ■<* ^(3 o

^ r-i ^ ,_,,_,,_,,_, _ r-d-iiyjcMWCNCN nMmmcoMn conn ■*•<)< tno 1

o s £

® a s - J J i a i

(IhOOOO OC5C5C5 ow to cooi-~ — lO^JS 03 i— li— 1 <-\ t-T , . Ci C* -V 3* G* a

OS^>--»»CCTtilCtOa0050-H«-*'0!OOOOiOC<'*<ir5^i-li9(M'^ilOOt>00 CO'*Tti , «*<'^iTt < '<*i-*'* l '<* , »OiOiOiCirtiOu , 5iO!OOtOtOvO .

Introduction

NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

Religious worship is the homage due to the Supreme Being. Its obligations are universal. To withhold it is to overlook the most ennobling necessity of a created being, deny the exercise of the highest instinct, the holiest institution of man's spiritual nature, and offer a greater violence to his constitution than the interdiction of the use of the lungs, the eye, the ear, the imagination, the judgment, or any other rational faculty. Idolatry itself is less irrational and disastrous to human wellbeing, than would be a commensurate reign of atheism. Idolatry is but a misplacement of supreme homage — its bestowment upon some created being, some attribute, law, or organization of matter — some object of utility, beauty, or grandeur, awakening the sensibilities or subserving the interests, passions or caprices of men. Thus mankind, instead of feeling the central attraction of the universe, and moving in appointed circles around its great central and glorious luminary, lawlessly fly off to artificial centres of supreme regard, often crossing each other's orbits, and coming into disastrous collision. The peace, harmony and joy of earth can be restored, only as man universally returns to his true normal state of supreme homage to the only true God. Then the golden age shall be enjoyed, the lion shall lie down with the lamb, and the nations shall learn war no more. Then shall the divided family of man be restored to the peace and fellowship of its great brotherhood, and there shall be nothing to hurt or harm in all the habitable earth. Then shall appear the new heavens and the new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness, and peace, and joy forever.

PRIVATE WORSHIP.

Religious worship attains a three-fold expression in the closet, the family, and the congregation. Its earliest expression is the homage of the individual soul awaking to a consciousness of its relations to the Deity, its sinfulness, and helplessness, and glowing with intense aspirations for divine forgiveness, protection and blessing.

Abraham worshiped God alone beneath the shadow of the grove of oaks which he planted in Beersheba. Alone Isaac walked in the field at eventide, for devotional meditation. In the solitariness of the desert Jacob wrestled in fervent supplication at midnight. In the rocky caverns and concealed mountain retreats David called upon the name of the Lord. The Saviour often withdrew from the bustle of the town and the noise of the multitude to commune with his heavenly Father. At the hour of evening prayer Peter was alone on the airy roof of his sea side lodging ; and all in every age distinguished for piety, have observed hours and consecrated bowers of secret prayer.

A noble superiority to the temptations and passions of the world, exalted character, universal respect, and extended usefulness, are the rewards openly bestowed upon those withdrawing often from the bustle and illusive scenes of life, to commune with their own hearts, and in distrust of their own wisdom and strength, to implore divine succor and guidance.

The primal g .-owth of virtue like that of the seed, is latent. In the closet is traced the unobserved germ which expands before all to the golden harvest. The nourishing deposit of the nut, is formed in the concealed recesses of an impervious shell. Beneath the unpromising bud, grow in delicate and untraced processes, the beauty and fragrance to be displayed, and exhaled, before all.

FAMILY WORSHIP.

The form of religious homage next in order and importance, is family worship. The duty of parental religious instruction is frequently enjoined in the Scriptures. The assurance that he would instruct and command his children and his household after him, was the ground of special confidence in the father of the faithful. Hebrew parents were specially charged to instruct their children in religious duties. " Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down and when thou risest up. (Deut. 6 : *7-9.) Joshua's immortal resurrection contemplated the religious instruction and discipline of his family. (Josh. 24 : 15.) Christian parents are charged to "bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. 6 :

But apart from Scripture precept and example, the family is commanded by its peculiar constitution as an important auxiliary to the cause of religion. And while its intimate alliance, facilities for mutual instruction and assistance, are made available to the pursuit of secular education, of literature and science, of arts and professions, of commerce and politics, shall they be denied to the incomparably more important pursuits of religious duties, virtues and happiness ?

The family embraces incomparable facilities for imparting the instructions, applying the obligations, and illustrating the virtues of religion. The eyes of the teacher may ever be upon the pupil, example may ever illustrate didactic lessons, and endeariug mutual relations, invest exemplified lessons with peculiar authority.

Religion reciprocates, and infinitely more than compensates the well directed patronage of the family. No where is the observance of its rules attended by greater reward, no where their violation by more baneful consequences. As its spirit obtains and its laws are observed the harmony, peace and fellowshirr~of the family are augmented. It reconciles differences, settles disputes, wipes out grudges, arrests the incipient dispositions and breaks up the forming habits of evil. By its recurring pauses of the varied march of life, before the altar of God, it facilitates recovery from the increasing power of temptation, incipient apostacy, or iniquitous pursuits, wipes out the zeal of worldliness, fosters pure aspirations, and elevates the aims to a future life. By familiarizing the mind with appeals to the ultimate standard of truth and duty, it raises the most impassable bulwarks against incursions of false principles, maxims, and temptations of the world. It invests parental government with its highest sanctions, and greatest efficiency. It imparts to it impartiality, and restrains it from petulence, rashness, and violence, and tempers it with firmness and mildness. It wins upon the waywardness of youth, and conciliates higher respect for filial obligations. It quickens the impulses of duty, and kindles emulation for the rewards and honors of obedience and virtue. How many badly governed families the introduction of family worship would restore to order ! How many unhappy families to peace !

But to accomplish these purposes for the family, religion must be honored in its domestic arrangements, her shrine elevated conspicuously, and her memorials recurring frequently before the eyes of the household. Her altars must be erected by the hearth stone, to give elevation to the aims and dignity to the pleasures of the circle often gathering there, and to remain a symbol of divine protection, and a talisman of hope amid the recurring adversities and sorrows of life, and a pledge of the future life, when that circle, broken here by death, may " meet no wanderer lost, a family in heaven."

The excuses commonly urged for the neglect of family worship, are not valid. Time may be found for the highest, if it can for the lower duties of the family. While time is allowed to innumerable inferior claims, and is wasted in vain pursuits and sinful indulgences, let it not be impiously denied to the pursuit of the approbation and blessing of heaven, and the hopes of immortality. Nor is the supposed want of gifts a sufficient excuse for the neglect of family worship. ~No higher order of gifts is required for this service than for various social entertainments, literary or political associations, in which those urging this excuse are found eagerly engaged. But if there were want of talents for extemporaneous worship, a resort to aids in devotion would be approved by all good men, as incomparably better than the entire omission of the duty. All other excuses vanish with pride, and impose no barrier to an enlightened and earnest piety.

SOCIAL WORSHIP.

In addition to the worship of the closet and the family, is commended by both reason and revelation the worship of the congregation. As sin in its most essential forms is committed before all, it should be humbly and publicly acknowledged. As there is a common participation of the greatest blessings of life, there should be a common celebration of gratitude. As religion is most impressively illustrated by example, it should be exemplified in its homage as well as its virtues before all. As it is the source of the strength and beauty, the peace and happiness of society, every community should recognize its laws and sanctions and provide for the inculcation of its doctrines, the observance of its rights and the expression of its homage. In accordance with its reasonableness and primary obligations, social worship is coeval with the race, and has been enjoined and exemplified under each succeeding dispensation.

The Shekinah was instituted as a symbol of the divine presence to guide the march and inspire the religious awe of the Hebrews in the wilderness. The temple was built in Jerusalem, to provide for the ordinary and occasional worship of the tribes. The synagogue was built as an auxiliary to this service.

Under the Christian dispensation, the Christian chapel has succeeded to the place and attractions of the temple and the synagogue. Under the new dispensation, special promise is given to associated prayer. Frequent intercourse in social worship remains characteristic of those fearing God, and believers are exhorted not to forsake the assembling of themselves together ; the homage of a worshiping assembly, comprehends all the features of the beauty of holiness, all the varieties of religious experience, of penitence, of faith, of joy, of hope. Compared with private worship, it is as the associated beauty of the bed or garden of flowers, compared with that of the single rose. It is the harmony of innumerable songsters in the vernal woods, compared with the song of the lone bird. It is the blended devotion, penitence, homage, faith and joy of the tribes assembled in the temple, compared with the lone Hebrew praying in the tent.

The most important occasions of public worship are those contemplating the ordinary experience and wants of mankind, and therefore regularly recurring in the appointments of the Sabbath, and of social meetings during the week. But while we ought always to pray and in every thing give thanks, there is an obvious fitness in connecting special religious worship with particular occasions, as a funeral, ordination of a pastor, a meeting to promote the circulation of the Scriptures, the spread of the gospel, or any work of philanthrophy or reform.

As there is no law regulating these occasional services, they may be properly extended or varied according to the importance of the occasion, and the convenience or wishes of the worshippers.

AIDS TO WORSHIP.

As the homage of the heart is the essence of worship, the design of ordinances is to foster and express that homage. The Scriptures are a comprehensive liturgy, replete with the most suitable forms of worship. The Psalms of David are anthems of praise, and prayers clothed in poetic expression, and set to harmony. The Lord's Prayer may be repeated by the true worshipper, in every age and in every part of the world, or taken as a model upon which all acceptable prayer must be framed. The extemporaneous order of worship enacted by a public teacher is as much a prescribed form to the congregation as would be a printed liturgy. It is a help without which a large portion of the community would never approach an altar or cultivate religious sentiments. The most enlightened of all the evangelical denominations have never felt objections to the use of prepared helps and formulas, except as enforced to restrict the true liberty of worship. While extemporaneous devotion should always be encouraged, and its right can never be surrendered to the imperious claims of liturgy, or priesthood, without distrusting the teachings of the Spirit, or repressing the freedom and variety of devotion, the right of every worshipper to avail himself of helps to devotion is equally unquestionable, if not equally important. We should not repudiate any means of grace because perverted by some, and ranked too high by others. Creeds have been perverted to minister to sectarianism, bigotry and persecution : but enlightened Christians do not on that account repudiate all confessions of faith. JNor should we renounce or undervalue just helps to worship, because liturgies have been made to minister to formalism and hypocrisy. They may direct in devotional meditations thousands of individuals and families, who without such ministries and guides would never turn their thoughts devoutly to heaven. Thousands religiously inclined, and in the judgment of charity really pious, restrained from family worship by the same diffidence which has kept them from the public profession of religion, encouraged by the approved use of such helps, would erect family altars, and record public professions of religion.

Of the large class of church members who neglect family worship, many doubtless have been betrayed into their criminal neglect by sincere diffidence, and might be reclaimed from their delinquencies by being encouraged to avail themselves of the devotional meditations of eminent saints of the present, and of former generations, especially when taken in connection with scriptural selections setting forth particular doctrines and duties of religion, and adapted devotional hymns.

And even those who statedly observe private family and public worship, would derive material assistance from familiarity with devotional aids. A suitable study of helps, would elevate and render more edifying and impressive family and public worship, which too often runs in a rut of insipid and wearisome repetitions and formality. And in the army, navy, or merchant service or in frontier settlements, such helps are often the only means available for religious worship on the Sabbath, and even at funerals.

PECULIARITIES OF THIS WORK.

1. It provides for various important occasions of worship, which have sprung up in an age of religious enterprise and voluntary association not before discriminately provided for, as educational and agricultural conventions, temperance meetings, civic occasions, public thanksgivings, fasts, &c. &c.

2. Its great variety and new form of scripture selections, provide for the due prominence of the word of God in occasional worship, present a compendious system of the doctrines and duties of religion, amplified and illustrated in the rich and incomparable phraseology of the Scriptures, (a scriptural catechism or creed) for instruction in the family and Sunday school. And the numerous citations of parallel passages confirming and illustrating the lessons drawn out, may render these doctrines at once themes of scriptural investigation and devotional meditation.

3. The reciprocal adaptation of scriptures, hymns and prayers, gives a completeness of form, a fulness of instruction, and an impressiveness to the several services, which commend it as a directory of worship.

4. By abridging the list and length of prayers and hymns designed specifically for the family, we have confined the variety and length of services more nearly to the wants of family worship, and at the same time reserved larger space for topical services, equally adapted to private, family, and social worship, and general didactic instruction. A dozen well chosen prayers may comprise a larger variety of devotional sentiment and language than obtains in the devotions or experience of the most gifted person in a year. While shunning servile repetitions, and duly diversifying family and social worship, we should avoid that ambitious and artificial variety, which taxes the invention and memory, entertains the imagination, and exercises taste and criticism by studied novelties of expression, instead of fostering that devotion, which being accordant with the tenor of experience must be partial to familiar forms.