My request to you is that you bring forth spiritual fruit by practicing the household duties described in this book. What farmer does not long to see his seed spring up and ripen for the harvest? Let there be not only good desires in your hearts but good works in your homes, so that your families may be as fields full of grain. Then, when you are ripe for the Lord’s garner, He may gather you as His finest wheat, while the chaff and thorns are burned with unquenchable fire.
If I were to urge this fruitfulness further, I would plead especially with you who are heads of households: for God’s sake, who will be honored by it; for your families’ sake, who will be blessed by it; for your own souls’ sake, which will be comforted by it; and for your ministers’ sake, who will be encouraged by it—be fruitful and abound in good works.
A faithful minister’s joy or sorrow depends largely on his people. Their faith gladdens him; their sin grieves him. Their lives make his labor pleasant or painful. Their condition sweetens or sours his food, softens or hardens his bed, strews his path with roses or with thorns. To see them running into sin pierces his heart; to see them steadfast in faith rejoices him.
If, after long labor, he should see little fruit—if profanity drives out the profession of the Gospel, if error devours truth like Pharaoh’s lean cows devouring the fat, if the zeal of God’s people is quenched and the world rises above heaven—how could he help but mourn? When those once honored for their faith fall into error; when their light becomes darkness; when those who were beacons to others lose their way—this is a minister’s deepest grief.
But when he sees his people alive to God and flourishing in goodness, his soul is filled with joy. His chief design in seeking their salvation becomes his delight when he sees it accomplished. Gifts and kindness from his people are welcome, but the fruit of righteousness is his truest reward.
What can a faithful pastor desire more than that his church should be like Isaac’s fruitful field or like the Garden of God? When he sees the vine flourishing and heavy with grapes, he rejoices. A true shepherd, giving all glory to God, calls an obedient people his Hephzibah— “my delight is in her.” And what joy will it be when pastor and people, united in faith, rise together to meet Christ at His coming! “For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19–20).
And now, dear friends, what I most long for and delight in is to find you and your families walking with God, performing what is good, and exalting religion in your homes and relationships. In all your family worship, see that what you do is done from love and with life.
May the living and gracious God kindle your hearts with His Spirit in all holy duties, so that you may know His favor and find His acceptance sweet even in your darkest hours.
Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
June 5, 1665
Yours, willing to serve you in spiritual matters,
Philip Goodwin
Source Note:
This article is excerpted from Family Religion Revived by Phillip Goodwin (originally published in London in 1655 as Religio Domestica Rediviva). The public-domain text has been lightly modernized for contemporary readers, including updates to spelling, punctuation, and some archaic phrasing, while preserving the author’s original meaning, pastoral tone, and biblical emphasis.