Family prayer is the nutriment of family piety, and woe to those who allow it to cease.
I read the other day of parents who said they could not have family prayer, and this question was asked of them—
‘If you knew that your children would be sick through the neglect of family prayer, would you not have it? If one child was smitten down with fever each morning that you neglected prayer, how then?’ Oh then they would have it! And if there was a law that you should be fined five shillings if you did not meet for prayer, would you find time for it? ‘Yes.’
‘And if there were five pounds given to all who had family prayer, would you not by some means arrange to have it?’
‘Yes.’
And so the inquirer went on with many questions, and wound up with this—
‘Then it is but an idle excuse when you, who profess to be children of God, say that you have no time or opportunity for family prayer?’
C. H. S.
“A minister observing a man on the road breaking stones, and kneeling to get at his work better, remarked, Ah, John, I wish I could break the stony hearts of my hearers as easily as you are breaking these stones. ‘Perhaps, master, you do not work on your knees,’ was the reply.”