SIRPooh Mano faraitp Zook. 3 /9 S. Q 3, Mali I pray in f cret, with nay wife and in, myfamily too, twice every dFay ? Only the General Rule of Edification, with your conveniences and opportunities muff here al% direct you. Family Prayer, is of greateft neceflity, becaufe there eachperfun is contained. But fecret prayer h.ath great advantages : The heart is there more free, to open its particular fins and wants. And they that can do ail muff do them. But if you cannot, .you -muff rather takeup with Family-Prayer alone, than fecret alone. S. What do you mean by [Cannot :] Muß not all bufinefs give place tofecret prayer ? P, No,, 1here are bufneifes of greater obligation which mull be preferred. Learn what this meaneth, I will hatemercy and not facrifce. APhyfician in cafe of neceflity may omit all Prayer to go help to fave a fick mans life. So may any man to relieve the poor and miferable, when it cannot be put off to another time. So may a Magiftrate to do juifice : And fo may a Pallor, to Preach to the Congregation ; when he häth not time forboth.. And poor men that cannot fpare time from their labour, arenot bound to fpend as much time in reading and prayer as Rich men are, who have fuller opportunities. a. But thecafe ofthofe that are the fpeakers in fa- mily-prayer, much differeth from the cafe of them that joyn. Forhe that jpeakfth, may put up all the fame requefis in the family, as he may do in fedret.; And therefore -a greater duty ; may oftner difpenfe with his fecret prayer ; (For it is not to be ufed as a formality.) But he that joyneth with the fpeaker, bath not the choice of his own matter, nor can fo eafily keep up a praying mind, without difira&ions, as he cando when . he fpeaketh t>_mfelfa JherefQre, (avoidi-ng. ülperlti Lions
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