ON ST. PAUL'S EPISTLES TO THE BY THE REV. WILLIAM NIVEN, B.D. AUTHOR OF 'THOUGHTS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD,' 'FAMILY READINGS "To go about to explain any of St. Paul's Epistles, after so great LONDON: HATCHARDS, PICCADILLY. 1875. 138. L. 238. PREFACE. THERE is a peculiar sacredness in Family Religion. It seems to embrace the consecration of the house to God,-the hallowing of His Name within it, by the morning and evening sacrifices of prayer and praise,whilst it brings husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants, with one accord to the throne of grace, to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, to give thanks for His mercies, cast their care on Him, and supplicate those blessings of which they stand in need. Can we doubt that such an ordinance must have a sanctifying effect on those who devoutly observe it, that it must be the means of obtaining for them blessings both temporal and spiritual, and that to the youthful members of a family it must prove a valuable preparation for entering safely upon life. We could wish the resolution of Joshua to be adopted by every family in the land, 'As for me and my house, we will serve the |