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THE

ASSISTANT

ΤΟ

FAMILY RELIGION,

IN

SIX PARTS:

CONTAINING

A SERMON ON FAMILY RELIGION;

A SYSTEM OF NATURAL AND REVEALED RELIGION,
IN THE FORM OF QUESTION AND ANSWER, ACCOM-
PANIED WITH SCRIPTURE PROOFS, IN THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTERS;

A SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS, AND QUESTIONS OF
SELF-EXAMINATION;

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS FOR EVERY DAY
FOR TWO WEEKS, TOGETHER WITH OCCASIONAL
PRAYERS;

SELECT PSALMS AND HYMNS, ADAPTED TO FAMILY
DEVOTION; AND

SELECT HARMONY, OR PSALM TUNES, SUITABLE FOR
FAMILY WORSHIP.

BY

WILLIAM COGSWELL, A. M.

PASTOR OF THE SOUTH CHURCH IN DEDHAM.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY CROCKER & BREWSTER,
No. 47, Washington Street,-late 50, Cornhill.

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DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit: District Clerk's Office. BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty second day of March, A. D. 1827, in the fifty first year of the Independence of the United States of America, William Cogswell, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit:

"The Assistant to Family Religion, in Six Parts; containing a Sermon on Family Religion; a System of Natural and Revealed Religion, in the form of Question and Answer, accompanied with Scripture proofs, in thirty-two Chapters; a Series of Resolutions, and Questions of Self-examination; Morning and Evening Prayers for every Day for two Weeks, together with Occasional Prayers; Select Psalms and Hymns, adapted to Family Devotion; and Select Harmony, or Psalm Tunes suitable for Family Worship. By William Cogswell, A. M. Pastor of the South Church in Dedham."

In Conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies, of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an act, intitled, "An act supplementary to an act, intitled, An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical, and other prints."

JNO. W. DAVIS,

Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

RECOMMENDATION.

It

"HAVING seen the plan, and a part of the execution, of a book on Family Religion, about to be published by the Rev. William Cogswell of Dedham, we the undersigned, would express our cordial approbation of the same. is on a subject vitally important to the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom; and which claims the serious and earnest attention of the Christian Community. The plan and execution of the work, so far as we have attended to them, appear to be judicious, and well calculated to accomplish the end in view. The work we think will be very useful, and highly deserving the attention of individuals and families. We earnestly hope, that the publication may meet with liberal patronage, and be accompanied with the Divine blessing."

April, 1826.

The above recommendation is signed by the following gentlemen, Rev. Dr. Holmes, Cambridge, Rev. Dr. Kellogg, Framingham, Rev. Dr. Park, Providence, Rev. Dr. Jenks, Boston, Rev. Dr. Codman, Dorchester, Rev. Mr. Fisk, Wrentham, Rev. Mr. Wisner, Boston, Rev. Mr. Emerson, Salem, Rev. Mr. Fay, Charlestown, Rev. Mr. Curtis, Sharon, Rev. Mr. Ide, Medway, Rev. Mr. Dwight, Boston, Rev. Mr. Burgess, Dedham, Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, Randolph, Rev. Mr. Gile, Milton, Rev. Mr. Green, Boston, Rev. Mr. Storrs, Braintree, Rev. Mr. Huntington, North Bridgewater, and Rev. Mr. Cornelius, Salem.

PREFACE.

FAMILY Religion has ever been justly deemed of immense importance, as it respects the spiritual welfare of families, towns, and nations. The religious principles and practices of families have great effect upon Church and State. The latter have always risen or declined, according to the prevalence or declension of the former. Hence arises the importance of Family Religion. This consists of prayer, praise, and religious instruction. These services are, ordinarily, to be conducted by heads of families. That they may be acceptable and profitable, very much depends upon the right performance of them. Every thing, therefore, which contributes to this is desirable, and is to be viewed subsidiary to the cause of religion, and to the prosperity and happiness of man. The following work is designed to promote in this way the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. It was thought proper, therefore, to commence with a discussion of the subject of Family Religion. This is done in a sermon in which the arguments in favour of Family Religion are presented, the time for the observance of it, and the duties included in it are pointed out, the manner in which it should be observed is stated, and an attempt to answer the excuses for the neglect of Family Religion is made.As family instruction important part of Family Religion, the princi

is an

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