Da. I don't know what you mean, Sir.

Fa. Are you willing and satisfied to come to prayer, when I call the family together to worship God, do you like it? And are you as willing when I do it here, as when your mother does it above stairs?

Da. O dear, willing, Sir! what can you think of me to ask such a question?

Fa. My dear, I think nothing amiss of thee; but there is a reason for my question, which perhaps you will know another time; speak now freely to me, are you willing and desirous to attend the family-worship?

Da. Yes, very willing, Sir.

Fa. And you too, my dear, speaking to the second daughter.

2d Da. Yes, Sir, will all my heart.

Fa. Have you any objections against it, my dear, or against my performing it?

Da. No, none at all, Sir.

Fa. Nor you neither, my dear.

2d Da. No, Sir, indeed, not I.

Fa. No! nor had you never any dislike of it in your thoughts?

Da. No, never, Sir; I can't imagine why you ask, Sir. Did I ever show any backwardness to come when you called? I am sure I was very sorry when you left it off.

Fa. My dear, I don't say you have shown any backwardness, nor have I known that you did; but you have been represented so to me, as if you disliked the duty, or your father's performance.

Da. They did me a great deal of wrong, Sir, whoever said so; you have taught me better than to dislike praying to God; and as for the other, I hope I do not set up to judge. I am sure I never heard any that I like better.

Fa. But, my dear, did you never speak a word of that kind in the house?

Da. No, never, Sir, not a word; I never had such a thought.

2d Da. Nor I neither, Sir. 1 wonder who should say so of us.

Fa. Well, my dear, I am satisfied, I hope you understand the nature of prayer to be such, that as we have a heavenly pattern set up in scripture, to direct our form, so we have a merciful heavenly father to pray to, who is pleased to pass over our imperfections, and to accept us for the sincerity of our hearts, not the aptness or excellence of our expressions.

Da. If it was not so, Sir, very few ought to say their own words when they pray.

Fa. It is true, my dear, and though forms of prayer may be useful to help the tongue, especially with respect to the edification of those that hear; yet, blessed be God, that he hears the thoughts of the heart, when the tongue has no words to express itself by, or forms to assist it in speaking.

Da. Sir, you always told us, that whatever form we prayed by, God would hear us if we prayed with sincerity and faith in the name of Jesus Christ.

Fa. I did so, and I have the scriptures to support it "Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name, believing that you shall receive it, you shall receive it.

Da. I don't remember, Sir, that in all my Bible I am forbid to join in prayer with any, on account of their words, or for any personal defect or infirmity; my business is to see that I am sincere myself.

Fa. Very true, child; if they that pray are not sincere in what they say, it is their fault: those that join may be accepted, when he whose words they join with may be rejected; else we should have a dreadful task in prayer, and such confusion of thoughts must follow, as would destroy the nature of the duty; for we should never know when we were to be accepted and when not.

Da. I am sure I need not pretend to make difficulties, any body may do it better than I...

Fa. Well, my dear, the Spirit of God will help your in

firmities, you must pray for the help of the Spirit. But 1 shall talk of that another time.

Upon this discourse, the father dismissed the children, charging them not to fail to be always ready when he should call to prayer. After which, that his wife might not pretend to interfere with him as to time, he resolved, if he could bring her to any thing to make terms with her about the time of her separate performance: besides, the child baving, as above, entirely contradicted what his wife had suggested about her aversion to his performance, he resolved to talk with her about that too.

In the mean time, the mother casually hearing some of his discourse to the children, and a little nettled the night before at the door's being fastened, while he was at prayer, was now in a perfect rage at him, and thought to have broke in upon him while he was talking to them; but something in the family calling her off, though she returned in a few minutes, it so happened, that he had dismissed the children first. However, she began with him in a manner as showed that she was quite destitute of all temper, and almost of good manners,

Wife. I have heard some of your wise discourse with your children, Mr. —------

[Her husband expected something of it by her carriage all the day, but had resolved to keep himself from any passion, and yet preserve the resolution he had taken.]

He gave her no answer for some time, which she took for a slight, and began again,

Wife. I tell you, I had heard some of your extraordinary talk to the children.

Husb. Well, then you have heard it, Madam.

Wife. You think, I suppose, that you have acted mighty wisely.

Husb. I have done what 1 think is my duty; I pray God you may do your's.

Wife: You made a wise discourse to them.

1

Husb. Whether you like what I said to them or not, you have reason to blush at what they said to me.

Wife. Learn to blush for your sins, and trouble not 'yourself with me.

Husb. Indeed, my dear, I wish I could do both perfectly.

Wife. You are not fit to talk to children of religious things.

husb. That's your opinion, the other is my duty; fit or not fit is not the question, 1 must do it as well as I can; God make both you and I better instructors, and teach us to give them better examples.

Wife. You understand nothing of religion; what example can you show them?

Husb. Not as 1 ought, my dear, that I acknowledge. Wife. Pray let my daughters alone.

Husb. No, my dear, I can't promise you that, unless you'll promise to answer at last for my neglect of my duty, in failing to instruct my children.

Wife. I tell you you don't understand it.

Husb. And I tell you, that for all that I am bound to do it.

Wife. Well, I think your discourse to your children was very impertinent silly stuff.

· Husb. But I assure you their discourse to me has been much to the purpose; and if I have not instructed them, I assure you they have instructed and informed me, and that of something their mother ought to be ashamed of.

Wife. I ashamed! you cannot make out that.

Husb. I wish, for your sake, it were not so. Did you not say my children cared not to join with me in my familyworship, that they would be Dissenters, and that if I obliged them to attend, it would be a force upon their inclinations?

Wife. Well, and so I believe it is.
Husb.'Have I forced their attendance?

Wife. Yes, did you not lock the door, when you were at your formal stuff you call prayer?

Husb. Yes, my dear, to keep you out, who I know by sad experience have respect little enough for me, and so little reverence to the duty, that I had reason enough to expect disturbance, at least discomposure, from your being present; but you know well enough by the lock, that though you could not come in, any one might have gone out.

Wife. What's that to the purpose? they might like it no better than I.

Husb. But they have both declared to the contrary, and that they never said any thing that looked like a dislike of it in their lives.

t

Wife. Then they are liars.

Husb. I am loth to bring in the poor children to prove their mother so; but I must acknowledge I am convinced of their innocence and sincerity, and have great reason to be fully satisfied of your crime.

Wife. I value not what you are convinced of, I know your hypocrisy,

Husb. And I bless God he knows my sincerity; I appeal from you.

Wife. You are hardened in your self-conceit in the midst of gross ignorance.

Husb. And you are hardened in your want of charity. But this is not to the purpose; the question between you and I is of another nature.

Wife. I know no question between us, I have nothing to do with your questions.

Hush. Well, but you must have something to say to them; my question is of a positive nature, and must have a direct answer.

Wife. I'll answer none of your questions.

Husb. Then I must answer them myself. The case is plain, I am resolved to serve and worship God in my family; I hope and believe I shall please and be accepted of