Note, The Names of the rest of the Books of Scripture are borrowed chiefly from the Name either of the Person who wrote them, as the Prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the lesser Prophets, the Epistles of Peter, John, James, and Jude; or of the Persons whose History is related in them, as Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Esther, Job, &c.; or of the Persons for whom they were written, as the Epistles to the Romans, the Galatians, to Timothy, Titus, &c. But the Occasion of writing the Prophecies and Epistles, as well as the Things contained in them, are so particular and so various, that Children can never be acquainted with them all; and there are many which are above the Reach of their Understanding.

A

SERIOUS ADDRESS

то

MASTERS OF FAMILIES;

WITH

FOR MS

OF

FAMILY-PRAYER.

By JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL.D. F.R.S.

THE THIRD EDITION.

If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, bow much more ball your Father who is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him.

JESUS.

London:

Printed for J. JOHNSON, N° 72, St. Paul's Church-Yard,

1794.

[Price ONE SHILLING.]

75

2. Prayev-books, Family.

THE

PREFACE.

HE

TH

great end of religion is a good life, and the highest happiness of man in confequence of it. Chrift came to bless us in turning us away from our iniquities, and to purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. The connection between virtue and happiness is evident. Without the due government of our paffions, and of our conduct, we can neither be truly happy in this life, nor in that which is to come. If, therefore, we be wife for ourselves, and be christians in deed, and in truth, and not in name only, we fhall cease to

do evil and learn to do well. We fhall be careful to discharge the proper duty of every station in which it fhall please Divine Providence to place us. And if we have any concern for the welfare of others, we shall diligently exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, left any of us be hardened by the deceitfulness of fin. We fhall, as the apostle directs us, confider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works.

This is the truest friendship, and it was in order to fulfil this duty, of a friend, as well as of a minister, that the following addrefs was drawn up; at first, for the use of one particular congregation, and afterwards made more public. Happy will the author think himself if it at all contribute to make ever fo few perfons more attentive to their duty, in fo important a relation, on which the virtue and happiness of others, as well as of themselves, fo much depend.