SEEMON PREACHED ON THE ISLAND. 303 
precept of our blessed Lord ; and parents are 
in a peculiar manner bound to instruct their 
children in the knowledge of the Word of 
God. Family prayer is a duty as absolutely 
necessary as reading the Word of God ; for 
prayer is an excellent means to render read- 
ing effectual. We read that our blessed 
Lord, when He dwelt on earth, promised 
a peculiar blessing to joint supplications : 
' Wheresoever two or three are gathered 
together in my name, there am I in the 
midst of them.' Add to this, that we are 
commanded by the Apostle to ' pray always 
with all manner of supplication,' which, 
doubtless, includes family prayer. 
" Remember, the time will come, and that, 
perhaps, very shortly, when we must all 
appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, 
where we must give a solemn and strict 
account how we have had our conversation 
in our respective families in this world. How 
will you endure to see your children, who 
ought to be your joy and crown of rejoicing in 
the day of our Lord Jesus, coming out as so 
many swift witnesses against you ! O consider 
this, all ye that forget to serve the Lord with 
