"One...cause of the decay of religion in our day...is the neglect of the worship of God in families." The articles in this issue of the Free Grace Broadcaster are designed to instruct and motivate heads of households to diligently pursue their duties in teaching their families the Word of God. We are reminded of the history of family worship in the Bible and church history. God is the founder, owner, master, and benefactor of families; and therefore, families should pray to Him. We have many motives and reasons provided to lead us to this glorious work. Family worship includes reading God's Word and praying together. The responsibility of family worship rests on the father, though mothers also have a responsiblity if the man is absent. John G. Paton provides a touching illustration of family worship from his Scottish boyhood home and from his missionary endeavors in the South Sea Islands. Implementing family worship needs a clear plan or strategy. Joel Beeke gives us this in helpful directions for how to put this into practice.
James Waddel Alexander was an American Presbyterian minister and theologian who followed in the footsteps of his father, Rev. Archibald Alexander. Alexander studied theology at the Princeton Seminary. In 1824 he was appointed a tutor, and during the same year he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was pastor of a Presbyterian church in Charlotte County, Virginia from 1826 to 1828, and of the First Presbyterian Church of Trenton, New Jersey from 1829 to 1832.
In 1833 he was appointed Professor of Rhetoric and Belles-Letters in the College of New Jersey. He served in this position until 1844, when he became pastor of New York City's Duane Street Presbyterian Church. He served as professor of ecclesiastical history and church government at Princeton Seminary from 1849 to 1851. He then returned to the New York church, which in its new location was known as the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He served as minister there until his death.
His published works include his sermons and a book on the life of his father. Alexander's English translation of the hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," became the most widely used version in 19th and 20th century hymnals.
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