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Author: Paget, Thomas, d. 1660.
Title: A demonstration of family-duties: or Certaine propositions and reasons of them taken [ou]t of the holy Scriptures, tending to shew the necessity, nature, and manner of performance of such religious duties, as Christian families ought to spare some time unto from common affaires every day. By T.P.
Print source: A demonstration of family-duties: or Certaine propositions and reasons of them taken [ou]t of the holy Scriptures, tending to shew the necessity, nature, and manner of performance of such religious duties, as Christian families ought to spare some time unto from common affaires every day. By T.P.
Paget, Thomas, d. 1660.
[London]: M DC XLIII. Printed by H.A. for Thomas Vnderhill, dwelling at the signe of the Bible, in Woodstreet, London, [1643]
Notes:
T. P. = Thomas Paget.
With marginal notes.
Imperfect; tightly bound with some loss of text.
Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.
Subject terms:
Christian life -- Early works to 1800.
Family -- Religious life -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A54497.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
To the truly Noble & much honoured GEORGE BOOTH, Esquire of Dunham-Massie, together vvith the Right Honourable, the Lady KA∣THARINE BOOTH, his pious Consort: And also to the vvel-affected Gentry and Commons in CHESHIRE, and in Manchester Parish in LANCASHIRE,
THE PREFACE.
A Series or order of the severall Propositions in the ensuing De∣monstration.
A DEMONSTRATION OF FAMILY-DUTIES.
I. PROPOSITION. It is the cheife & grand concern∣ment of all people to know & beleeve that the Lord is God.
Infallible proofes taken out of the word of God to confirme the Proposition.
Reasons or arguments taken out of Gods word to demonstrate the 1. Proposition.
Observation for better understanding the mea∣ning of the 1. Proposition.
II. PROPOSITION. Such people as doe know & be∣leeve that the Lord is God, ough to performe religious worship & service unto his divine Majesty.
III. PROPOSITION. The religious worship and ser∣vice, which people should per∣forme unto God, ought to b such as God himselfe doeth inst∣tute and appoint.
IV. PROPOSITION. The revealed will or word of God, which is conteined in the holy Scripture, or Canonicall books of the old, & new Testa∣ment, is the absolute rule of di∣rection unto such worship & reli∣gious service, as is of Gods owne institution and appointment to be observed and performed unto his most divine Majesty.
V. PROPOSITION. The direction or paterne of re∣ligious worship and service unto God, conteined in the holy Scrip∣ture, is propounded & set down in a various methode or manner viz. Somtimes some parts of i are directly expressed in Precept & Doctrines; and somtimes som parts of it are only implyed, and to be gathered by good conse∣quence from Promises, Threat∣nings, Examples, &c. mentione & historically related.
VI. PROPOSITION. One important direction, and speciall concernment which God requireth in the holy Scripture, is, That his people shall worship and serve him, in some religious performances every day, in the whole course of their naturall lives.
VII. PROPOSITION. The observing and sanctifying of the Lords day wholly in reli∣gious exercises, publickly & pri∣vately, by vertue of the fourth commandement of the morall Law, (viz. Exo. 20.4. Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy) doeth not exempt or free the people of God from spending some time in reli∣gious exercises every day of the weeke besides, according to that which hath beene declared in the sixt Proposition.
VIII. PROPOSITION. The worship and religious se∣vice which ought to be perfo∣med unto God every day, is, t Prayer; 11. Some exercise in th holy Scripture, and III. Godl Meditation.
IX. PROPOSITION. Prayer unto God is a princ∣pall part of such religious wo∣ship & service, as is taught in th holy Scriptures, in which the peo∣ple of God ought to spend som∣time every day.
X. PROPOSITION. The best and most acceptable way and course for the people of God to approve themselves in the performance of the service of prayer, is, that having a gift of knowledge and utterance, they doe not limit & stint themselves unto a set forme of words; but rather that they doe conceive their Prayer, as cause & occasion shall justly require.
XI. PROPOSITION. Albeit conceived prayer (as hath beene said, Proposit. X.) is the best and most approved way ordinarily, to expresse the desires of the soule; as proceeding and issuing from a more speciall assi∣stance of the Spirit of God: yet it is not only lawfull, but may be also very expedient and requisite, for some persons, and at some times, to use set formes of prayer.
XII. PROPOSITION. Some exercise in the holy Scrip∣ture is also a part of that religious service which the people of God ought to observe daily.
XIII. PROPOSITION. The Scripture-exercise requisite every day, consisteth either I. In reading of it; II. In singing of Psalmes; III. In Catechising; or IV. In Conference. In any one, or two, or all of these, as op∣portunity may serve and permit.
XIV. PROPOSITION. Reading of the Scripture, or hearing it read, is a religious ser∣vice, which ought frequently to be performed.
XV. PROPOSITION. In reading the Scripture daily it seemeth to be most expedient & profitable to read in order the severall books and chapters, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Revelation.
XVI. PROPOSITION. Singing of Psalmes is a Scrip∣ture-exercise of divine institutiō that ought to be used frequently by the people of God.
XVII. PROPOSITION. Catechising in the Principles of Christian religion is a divine or∣dinance, and a Scripture-exercise, which ought to be used & practi∣sed by the people of God fre∣quently, as occasion offereth and requireth.
XVIII. PROPOSITION. In the religious exercise of Catechising, it is not only law∣full, but also it may seeme to be expedient to make use for the most part of a set forme of some approved Catechisme.
XIX. PROPOSITION. Religious conference, repet¦tion of Sermons, asking & answ¦ring of good questions, is a divi ordinance, which ought often be practised.
XX. PROPOSITION. Meditation on the Word (as likewise on the works) of God is a divine ordinance, in which the people of God ought to exercise themselves daily.
XXI. PROPOSITION. The most seasonable and fitting ime of every day, ought to be llotted and taken for the daily orship and service, which God equireth his people to performe unto him.
XXII. PROPOSITION. Morning and Evening are the most seasonable and fitting times of every day for the performance of the religious duties of prayer. nd Scripture-exercises above mentioned.
XXIII. PROPOSITION. Albeit Prayer and some Scrip∣ture-exercise ought to be conver∣sed in both morning and evening every day; yet in some cases, viz. of mercy and necessity, there may be an omission thereof: otherwise not.
XXIV. PROPOSITION. When by occasion of works of necessity, any one is necessitate to an omission of such religious serving of God in Prayer and Scripture-exercise, which ought to be performed morning and evening every day; Then such omission ought notwithstanding to be very greivous, and taken to heart greatly by him, that is ex∣posed to so great straits.
XXV. PROPOSITION. Vnjust and sleight pretences of want of leisure, through some ur∣gent necessity, for performance of religious service at seasonable times, ought carefully to be taken heed of and avoided.
XXVI. PROPOSITION. More or lesse time ought to be spent every day in religious exer∣cises according to the gifts, state, degree, calling, and condition of persons, as they shall require, or admit.
XXVII. PROPOSITION. The daily worship and service to be observed unto the Lord. Morning and Evening, ought t be performed by the Famili and housholds of the people o God.
XXVIII. PROPOSITION. Family-duties of religion ought to be performed both mornin and evening, every day, by the whole family of the people o God, joyntly, and together.
XXIX. PROPOSITION. Albeit in prayer and Scripture-exercises, there ought to be a joyning together by the mem∣bers of the family, morning and evening, every day, as hath beene shewed in the former Proposi∣tion; yet notwithstanding in the religious exercise of meditation it must be otherwise: viz. The severall members of the family ought to meditate alone & apa by themselves; as opportunity i the day time, or in the night sea¦son, serveth thereunto.
XXX. PROPOSITION. For the more decent, orderly, and edifying performance of re∣ligious family-duties morning and evening daily, some one of the Family ought to be, as it were, the mouth of the rest, going before them in the reading of the Scripture, and in making their requests knowne by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving: And the others of the family ought to testify their assent onely by a reverend & silent attention, and at the end of prayers, saying Amen, or So be it.
XXXI. PROPOSITION. Yet notwithstanding in the Scripture-exercise of singing of Psalmes, all the members of the family (aswell and like as all the members of the publick assembly) ought to lift up their voices to∣gether, to make a sweet spirituall melody, and an holy harmony before the Lord, to the prayse of his glory.
XXXII. PROPOSITION. The Governour or master of the family is the fittest person usually to goe before, and to be as the mouth of the rest in Scrip∣ture-exercises, and in expressing & uttering of the petitions, con∣fessions, and thanksgivings, whi are put up to God in Prayer.
XXXIII. PROPOSITION. The Governour of the family who hath speciall abilities and ifts of knowledge, utterance, nd memory, may not onely read he Scripture, use a forme of Ca∣echisme, repeat sermons, and ray with his family, but also each and instruct them out of he holy Scripture.
XXXIV. PROPOSITION. Albeit the Governour of th family be the meetest person goe before, in the presence of th rest, in the performance of fam¦ly-duties, as hath beene shewed roposit. 32. and may according o his gift teach them, as hath eene declared, Proposit. 33. et notwithstanding if the said Governour of the family be a pri∣ate man onely, and not an ap∣roved teacher of the word, then e may not presume above his ift and calling to interpret and pply the Scriptures, sith he is bordinate to the ministeriall ffice.
XXXV. PROPOSITION. The Governour of the fam in some cases, upon just and go grounds & reasons moving the unto, may lawfully depute substitute some one in the fam whom he judgeth fittest, u such service and imployment, himselfe should ordinarily p¦forme and execute: And con¦quently to performe the duties of eligion in his stead; or to be as were the mouth of the family that service to God.
XXXVI. PROPOSITION. If the Governour of the family be remisse, or carelesse, and d want zeale to performe fami duties in his owne person, b yet can be prevailed with by wife, or some other, to give w thereunto: Then ought some gifted for the worke, to put t same forward by setting up the performance thereof, havi the approbation of the said g¦vernour.
XXXVII. PROPOSITION. If the Governour of the family be froward and refractary, and neither will observe, nor allow, nor permit the exercise and prac∣tise of religious duties, in the pre∣sence of the whole family, joyn∣tly and together: Then the seve∣rall members of the family, that feare God, ought to redeem some times thereto, apart b themselves, with as good con∣veniency as possibly they can.
XXXVIII. PROPOSITION. Every member of a Christian family, who feareth God (not∣withstanding his partaking and joyning in the family-exercises both morning and evening, every day) ought to performe some re∣ligious duty unto God daily i secret and alone, as occasion of∣fereth, and opportunity will mo conveniently permit so to doe.
XXXIX. PROPOSITION. Albeit morning and evening every day, being the fittest sea∣sons for the performance of fami∣ly-duties (as hath beene already shewed) ought therefore to be observed; as likewise some ti ought to be redeemed to a priva course; yet upon extraordinar occasions, and as opportuni serveth thereunto, Christian fa¦milies or persons may, yea an ought to exercise themselves i prayer, and in the word, an other Spirituall duties, severa times on a day, and somtime whole daies together.
XL. PROPOSITION. Moreover, it is not only lawfu and expedient, but also usef and necessary, that the gove∣nour of a family sometimes, extraordinary occasions require and opportunities serve there¦unto, do call for and crave th company and assistance of som godly brethren and Christia neighbours, for the more so∣lemne performance of religion duties together.
XLI. PROPOSITION. Religious fasting is a singular helpe and meanes, ordained by God, to promote and further a due performance of the extraor∣dinary occasionall services of prayer and exercise in the Word
XLII. PROPOSITION. Religious fasting being such a excellent and quickning helpe devotion, as hath beene dec¦red in the former Proposition may and ought therefore to b exercised by godly families, and sometimes with their assistant (as hath beene shewed likewise formerly) according to the ex∣traordinary causes and occasions hat doe move & call thereunto.
XLIII. PROPOSITION. Extraordinary causes and occa∣sions of more solemne seeking of God by prayer and fasting, and of being more seriously humbled before him, are either I. When ome notorious wickednesse and grosse sinne is committed in the land or family; II. Or when so fearfull and greivous judgment imminent, and ready to surprise III. Or when some heavy cala¦mity is already inflicted and exe¦cuted; IV. Or when some im¦portant and weighty affaires a to be taken in hand, and go about; V. Or when some choy and speciall blessings are desired and sought after.
XLIV. PROPOSITION. As causes & occasions of extra∣ordinary religious services ma happen or fall out, and continue for some time, accordingly the ought to be more frequent and renewed answerable courses hel in the performance of the said re∣ligious duties.
XLV. PROPOSITION. As the sanctifying and religious observing of the Sabbath day, doeth not exempt and excuse Christians from the performance of some religious duties upon the sixe working daies (as it hath beene shewed and proved above, Proposit. 7.) so neither doeth the performance of some religious duties on the sixe working daies morning and evening usually, and at other times of the day, or whole daies occasionally, give any exemption or liberty unto them, from their sanctifying o the Sabbath day wholly: But they are bound to keepe the Sabbath day holy, both in a forbearance of all civill works & recreations; and also in an applying of them∣selves to pious services through∣out the day, either in publick or private, or secret, as occasion and opportunity serveth.
XLVI. PROPOSITION. The religious duties and ser∣vices which Christian families ought to observe and attend on the Sabbath day, are cheifly those which ought to be performed & conversed in, in the publick and solemne assemblies of the Church or Congregation assembled to∣gether to such end.
XLVII. PROPOSITION. Albeit a converse in religious services in the solemne assemblies of the Church, doth in speciall tend to a sanctifying of the Sab∣bath day: Yet the members of Christian families ought likewise to serve God in the family, and in secret, on the Sabbath day, as opportunity serveth thereunto when they are not imployed in publick.
XLVIII. PROPOSITION. All due caution and circum∣spection ought to be used by the people of God, for the declining and avoiding of vaine and sinister walking in the performances of religious duties, whether in the congregation, or family, or in se∣cret, whether the services be or∣dinary or extraordinary.
XLIX. PROPOSITION. Speciall care and regard ought kewise to be had, that religious duties and services be performed y the people of God, both in an holy and spirituall manner, and lso in a due order, according to he Lords owne direction and commandement.
L. PROPOSITION. The performance of religious worship & service in the family, or otherwhere, may not be rested on, or trusted unto, as if the work done, or duty performed, did, or could commend any one to God for the worke sake: but God is to be depended on only, and his blessing is to be waited for in his ordinance, and his providence to be served in the use of the meanes which he hath ordained to walked in.
LI. PROPOSITION. Those families are in a most dangerous and wretched state & condition, which doe wholly faile to serve the Lord in a perfor∣mance of family-duties.
LII. PROPOSITION. Moreover, such families doe ustly deserve and incurre blame nd reproofe, who doe performe religious duties & services amisse n any kind.
LIII. PROPOSITION. Neither can such families ex∣cuse themselves before the Lord, when he commeth to jugdment, who having opportunity and ca∣pacity to learne to reade, and abi∣lity and meanes to procure a Bi∣ble in their native language; yet cannot reade, nor have any Bible in their families.
LIV. PROPOSITION. Those families likewise are together faulty and inexcusable▪ who doe walke contrary, and do oppose and withstand the goo waies of God, walked in by h people, according to the rules Gods word.
LV. PROPOSITION. Governours of families ought to study and indeavour in a spe∣ciall manner for cleernesse of knowledge, and soundnesse of judgment in the waies and word of God, and to strive unto all godlinesse of conversation in their Christian walking; that so they may be approved of God, and not need to be ashamed in going in and out before their fa∣milies.
LVI. PROPOSITION. Moreover, Governours of fami∣lies ought to looke to the waies of their families, & to take co that the members of their ho¦holds doe joyne in the service God with them.
LVII. PROPOSITION. The members and inhabitant of Christian families ought to b willing and tractable to joyn readily together in the perfor∣mance of family-duties of religi∣on, and to submit to their gover∣nours going out and in before them therein.
LVIII. PROPOSITION. Those Christian families a thrice happy and blessed for eve more, whose God is the Lord and doe feare this glorious a fearefull Name, THE LORD THY GOD, walking in waies, and departing from all in quity.