So we find family duties urged in order to the carrying on of prayer, which must be family-prayer. Peter (1 Pet. 3.7.) saith, Likewise ye husbands dwell with them, (i.e. with their wives) according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. The neglect of mutual duties betwixt man and wife hindereth their prayers, as man and wife; and this cannot be of their separate prayers, or solitary prayers, only; but chiefly of their Family prayers. So Paul, 1 Cor. 7.5. saith, Defraud not one the other, except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and Prayer, and come together again. Hereby ordering their mutual duties, as man, and wife, in order to extraordinary duties of fasting and Prayer; which must be together, as man and wife, in their Family relation. And this would by parity hold good, in reference to ordinary family-prayer.
~ John Brown of Wamphray
Leave a Reply