Where note, that to a complete family must go four integral parts, _Pater-familias_, _mater-familias_, _filius_, _servus_, A father, mother, son, and servant. But to the essence of a family it sufficeth if there be but the _pars imperans, et pars subdita_, one head or governor, either father, mother, master, or mistress; and one or more governed under this head. Note therefore, that the governor is an essential part of the family, and so are some of the governed, (viz. that such there be,) but not each member. If therefore twenty children or servants shall worship God without the father, or master of the family, either present himself, or in some representative, it is not a family worship in strict sense. But if the head of the family in himself (or delegate or representative) be present, with any of his children or servants, though all the rest be absent, it is yet a family duty; though the family be incomplete and maimed (and so is the duty therefore, if culpably so performed). 4. When I say in and by a family, I mean not that each must do the same parts of the work, but that one (either the head, or some one deputed by him, and representing him) be the mouth, and the rest performing their parts by receiving instructions, or mentally concurring in the prayers and praise by him put up. Lastly, By divine appointment I mean any signification of God's will, that it is men's duty to perform this; whether a signification by natural means or supernatural, directly or by consequence, so we may be sure it is God's will. The sum of the question then is, whether any sacred actions religiously and ordinarily to be performed to God's honour by the head of the family, with the rest, be by God's appointment made our duty? My thoughts of this question I shall reduce to these heads, and propound in this order. 1. I shall speak of family worship in general. 2. Of the sorts of that worship in special. 3. Of the time. I. Concerning the first, I lay down my thoughts in these propositions following, for limitation and caution, and then prove the main conclusion. _Prop._ 1. It is not all sorts of God's worship which he hath appointed to be performed by families as such; there being some proper to more public assemblies.