"The constituent parts of family worship, when fully observed, are, first, the reading of Scriptures; secondly, the singing of praise to God; and thirdly, prayer....
"The length... is worthy of attention. It was the fault of our forefathers to make it insufferably long. This goes far to destroy all good influence on the young by creating weariness and disgust.... We must not drive hard at such times as these. Religion should be prudently brought before a family. The old Dissenters wearied their families. Jacob reasoned well with Esau about the tenderness of his children, and his flocks and herds. Something gentle, quiet, moderate should be our aim.
"The manner and spirit of the service... should be solemn... silence and quiet will be enforced, even in the case of the youngest children, who thereby gain a most important lesson. The greatest simplicity should characterize every word and every petition. Those who have the greatest in the worship are often little more than babes. But we would especially recommend a holy animation as that which will arrest attention and make way for pleasant memories. [Quoting Rev. Richard Cecil:]'Tediousness will weary them. Fine language will shoot above them. Formality... in prayer they will not comprehend. Gloominess or austerity of devotion will make think it a hard service. Let them be met with smiles. Let them be met as friends. Let them be met as for the most delightful service in which they can be engaged. Let them find it short, savoury, simple, plain, tender, heavenly. I find it easy to keep the attention of a congregation compared with that of my family.'"
From Thoughts on Family Worship
by James W. Alexander, 1847
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