"Pour out Thy fury upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and upon the families that call not upon Thy name." (Jer. 10:25.)

Family prayer is a most important matter, and has often proved one of the greatest blessings which a family could enjoy. It is not enough that we pray as private individuals in our closets; we must honor God in our families. Twice in the day if we can, at least once, every family where Jesus is professed should be called to bow before the Lord together,-parents and children, master and servants. The head of the family should lead the devotions if present, and his wife should he be absent. Family prayer should never be omitted if there be one of the family at home who can call upon God, even if the language be broken, and the time occupied be very brief. The "spirit of prayer" always grows by use, and small-ness of gift is no lawful excuse for omitting family prayer. If we cannot pray eloquently, we may pray earnestly, which is much better; if our language does not flow freely, we need not be long and tedious. Prevailing prayers are often short prayers. Family devotions should generally be short, especially where there are young children. Read a portion of God's holy Word. One may find it profitable sometimes to read also a few striking remarks on the subject by an approved author. If those present can sing, a few verses of praise greatly refresh. Along with this, prayer:a direct address to God, offered with fervor, under a sense of His presence, and edifying and blessing surely follow. God approves, an enlightened conscience commends, and all are benefitted.

Family prayer will prevent much sin. It keeps up a remembrance of God's presence, it brings important truths before the mind, it teaches the prayerless what prayer is, it leads children and servants to think, and brings down the blessing of God upon the house. We are to pray " with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit;" but this we cannot do if family prayer is neglected. We are to " pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting." This cannot be observed if we do not pray in our families. He who would excuse himself from family prayer, should expect to be excused from family blessings.

Reader, have you family prayer in your house? If not, allow me to ask, do you profess to be a Christian? Have you considered the solemn passage at the head of these remarks? If God was to pour out His fury upon the families which call not upon His name, and you have not family prayer, how could your family escape?

You ought to own God in your house, and daily should you acknowledge your dependence upon Him and obligation to Him. All your domestic comforts, all your temporal mercies, and all your spiritual privileges, flow from His love and grace; and will you daily as a family receive, and never as a family praise? The heathens have their household gods, and will not you have your family altar? Shall they honor idols of wood and stone, and must it be said of you, " The God in whose hands thy breath is hast thou not glorified"? An old writer says, "A family without prayer is like a house without a roof, open and exposed to all the storms of heaven." Again, " Family prayer bolts the door against dangers at night, and opens it for the admission of mercies in the morning." Private prayer was never intended to set aside family prayer, nor should family prayer be made an excuse for the neglect of private. The one is for the person; the other, for the household. Both are necessary, and, properly conducted, both are means of blessing.
" To God, most worthy to be praised,
Be our domestic altars raised;
Who, Lord of heaven, scorns not to dwell
With saints in their obscurest cell."