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In times when many churches are closed, the temptation exists to neglect other duties of worship beyond corporate, such as family and private worship. John Holmes Agnew’s words about the blessings of family worship on the Lord’s Day serve as a good reminder that we ought not to neglect family worship on the Christian Sabbath, especially when families themselves may not be able to assemble in public.
In his 1842 volume A Manual on the Christian Sabbath, he paints a picture evocative of The Cotters’ Saturday Night, which highlights just how important and how special family worship is - especially on the first day of the week.
The Sabbath is the poor man's friend. It scatters joy and gladness over his path. To him it is the bursting of a bubbling fountain in the scorching desert—the green spot on earth's wilderness where his eye rests with pleasure, the rising of a star like that of Bethlehem, to point him to the place of peace!
On other days he may be cheerless, and perhaps alone; but on this, his eye sparkles with delight while he gazes on the little family circle, and his heart glows with new pleasure as he looks around upon the children whom God hath given him, and enjoys a day's communion with the wife of his bosom (p. 119).
He continues his sketch of family worship on the Sabbath day as it ought to be for all:
But leaving the pulpit, go into the domestic sanctuary, and witness there a scene which has sent gladness into many a heart, and has done more for the morality of this nation, than all her public schools, or legal enactments. See the father of a family, the paternal shepherd, gathering his little flock around him, making them to lie down in green pastures, and beside the still waters. See him in the midst of those whom his heart loves, open the sacred pages, and call their attention to the story of Joseph, and the goodness of Joseph's God — then point them to the babe of Bethlehem, the man of sorrows, the persecuted and dying, yet meek, submissive and benevolent Jesus ; and while he tells them that their sins were the nails and the spear, which fastened him to the cross, and opened the veins of his body; that he left heaven to die thus for them, you may see one and another catching his words with listening ear, and weeping tears of sympathy. Yes; and you may follow them out into the shadows and realities of life, and you will find that an impression has been made by the familiar instruction of the fireside, which has restrained them from the haunts of wickedness, and probably led them into the church of God (p. 126).
Agnew’s Manual is a wonderful book to read on the Lord’s Day, and his reminder about the value of family worship is very timely. Take time to peruse this delightful work, and to profit from his words of wisdom.
