Toward the close of the Babylonish captivity, religion revived among the Jews.  Several zealous and able reformers were raised up and advanced to power, whose influence was blessed to call back that people from their declensions, and prepare them for mercy.  But the effect of their labors was only temporary.  When they were gone off the stage, the people again apostatized, neglected the worship and ordinances of God, and became vicious and corrupt.  This prophet, who lived several ages after their return to Canaan, was sent to reprove their irreligion and the immoralities, which abounded among them and had infected every order of men.

One of the sins then rife in Israel, was a family sin.  Family contentions, which frequently terminated in divorces, were become common.

Divorces were permitted to the Hebrews, “for the hardness of their hearts, but it was not so from the beginning.”

Larger communities are all made up of families.  Evils therefore which affect the latter, cannot but affect the former.  Were all the families which compose an empire divided and unhappy, the empire would be so.

It is also worthy of notice, that the first rudiments of character, which render good or bad, and cause people to be blessings or curses in society, are commonly begun in those nurseries of our race.  The bias there given, seldom wholly wears off; it is generally carried, in degree, through life.  Probably many of the evils which afflicted the Jews in the days of this prophet, had their origin in the cradles of the nation.  He was therefore directed to strike at the root of evils, and by endeavoring to reform the smaller societies of which the larger were composed, to reform the whole.  With this view he led back the minds of those among whom he ministered, to the origin of families, and declared the merciful design of the Most High, in their institution—­That he might seek a godly see.

Seeking a godly seed is not the only design.  It is however a principal design, and will be chiefly regarded in the following discourse.

One thing designed is the comfort and advantage of the several members of these little communities.  But to the attainment of these ends, they must keep respectively, in their places, and act faithfully in them.  The heads must live together in harmony, and unite in ordering the common affairs of the society; and the inferior members must submit to their authority, and do the duties of their stations.

Human happiness greatly depends on the temper and conduct of those who are connected in the nearest relations, and live together.  Suppose trouble abroad, yet if one hath peace and friendship in his family, and finds order and affection at home, he will not be very unhappy.  He will often “retire to his secret chambers, and shut the doors about him, till the evils are past.”  But the house divided against itself, is a scene of confusion and trouble.  Contentions there are like a continual dropping.