The Third Excuse

The Third Excu[•]e.

But the excuse of some is, I want utterance for family prayer. I would pray, but I am not gifted for it. I cannot pray. To this I answer, we often say, I cannot, when I will not, is the bottom of it. Suppose a severe penal[•]y were by the magistrate laid upon every prayerless family. Daniel, because he would pray with his family, was thrown to the lions for it. Suppose a lighter punishment far away were to be inflicted on all them who do not pray in their family; suppose a fine were inflicted on you for it: would you then continue prayerless? Behold, the great God has by the statute laws of Heaven ordained that a prayerless family shall have all manner of calamities inflicted on it; the lions, the devils of the pit below, shall devour the unhappy master of such a family. And will not this make you pray? Besides, when you find that you want things, then you don't want words; the poor man does not want words when he is to ask alms. O sit down and look upon the wants and woes of your poor family, you cannot then but have something to say for them. And what though you cannot pray quaintly? Yet you may pray graciously, and pray acceptably. Florid, elegant orations in your prayers, God expects not; a few humble, penitent, broken-hearted groans, are of more account with Him. Though you chatter like a crane or a swallow, as once Hezekiah did, yet the success may be wonderful and glorious. What shall I say? Moses was unwilling to do what God bade, on this very score in (Exodus 4:10): I am not eloquent. But the reply of God was, Go, and I will teach you what you shall say. O that you would make a trial of it. Friend, by and by call your family together; tell them, that you must not let them remain prayerless any longer, lest the wrath of God break out upon them. So fall down before the Lord among them all, and pray as well as God shall enable you: go, I am verily persuaded, God will teach you what you shall say, I am sure, you will never have cause to repent of the attempt.